Charter is committed to understanding and responsibly managing risks to the environment and the communities in which it has a presence and where it has operational control or significant influence. Continuous improvement in Charter is driven by appropriate policies, management systems, resources and operational performance measurement.
Charter’s policies apply to all Group subsidiaries, other than AGI and its subsidiaries which have adopted their own, broadly similar policies. They are communicated via an overall policies and procedures manual provided to the Managing Directors of all Charter businesses, who in turn have the responsibility to disseminate the relevant contents to all employees. They also have responsibility for providing adequate resources and for ensuring the operational management framework and culture are fit for implementation of the policies.
The policies that provide the framework for the management of CR are:
- Code of conduct. Charter’s success flows from our commitment to sound business conduct and the way we interact with our shareholders, employees, customers, business partners and suppliers, government and regulators, communities, society and the environment. Our Code of Conduct provides a framework for all Charter employees, anywhere in the world, in the conduct of the business. Policy
- Bribery and Corruption. A new anti-bribery corruption policy was published in December 2009, to supplement the principles set out in the Code of Conduct aimed at ensuring that all Charter entities operate fairly, transparently and with integrity. Policy
- Whistleblowing. Charter’s Whistleblowing policy states that employees have a right, indeed a responsibility, to report any concerns they may have concerning actual, suspected or planned wrongdoings involving a Charter company or any of its directors, officers or employees. Arrangements are in place to enable employees to report any issues of concern in confidence, to ensure that such reports are investigated quickly and thoroughly, and to enable appropriate actions to be taken. Policy
- Employment. Charter’s people are our most valuable resource and retaining, recruiting and training are vital to the continuing success of the business. The value of diversity in the workforce is recognised and Charter is committed to providing a working environment in which employees are able to recognise their full potential. The Equal Opportunities Policy, which supports the Employment Policy, specifically addresses the need to ensure that no employee, job applicant, customer or supplier is discriminated against, either directly or indirectly, on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or racial origins, marital status, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability. Policy
- Environmental, Health & Safety. Charter is committed to the continuous improvement of its environmental performance and to safeguarding the health and safety of its employees, contractors, customers and the community. In 2009, a new EHS policy was formally adopted by the Board, signed by the CEO and distributed to all businesses. New Charter travel guidelines were also issued in respect of health, safety and securityfor employees when travelling. Policy
- Competition Policy. The Charter policy is that there must be no interference with the principle of unfettered competition in any industry with which it is involved. This covers any oral or written contact with direct or indirect competitors. Policy