Case study: How SIX creates a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best
As a leading global provider of financial technology and services, SIX relies on skilled, committed employees to successfully deal with current and future challenges. Tweet This! Accordingly, SIX tries to be a responsible employer, providing all employees with an attractive work environment that supports them in giving their best.
This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by SIX published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.
Abstract
Developing, educating and training employees, in addition to retaining and recruiting highly qualified professionals, not least through an attractive work environment, is a key priority for SIX. In order to create a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best, SIX took action to:
- provide training and education
- attract highly qualified professionals
- create an attractive workplace
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With this case study you will see:
- Which are the most important impacts (material issues) SIX has identified;
- How SIX proceeded with stakeholder engagement, and
- What actions were taken by SIX to create a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best
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What are the material issues the company has identified?
In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report SIX identified a range of material issues, such as client satisfaction, ensuring personal integrity and non-discrimination of employees, contributing to the stability and attractiveness of the financial center, forward-looking services. Among these, creating a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best, stands out as a key material issue for SIX.
Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:
Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.
Key stakeholder groups SIX engages with:
| Stakeholder Group | Method of engagement |
| Owners | · Continuous dialogue |
| Politicians | · Continuous and active relationship management |
| Suppliers | · Project-related discussions |
| Industry associations
| · Active cooperation in working groups · Management of membership |
| Regulatory and supervisory authorities | · Regular reporting · Cooperation in working groups and consultations/hearings |
| Academia | · Project-related dialogue |
| Employees | · Biannual employee survey |
| Customers | · Annual customer satisfaction survey · Dialogue about top account management |
How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues
In 2016, to identify material aspects, SIX carried out an employee and client satisfaction survey, in addition to dialogue with representatives from a number of stakeholder groups.
What actions were taken by SIX to create a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best?
In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report SIX reports that it took the following actions for creating a work environment that provides opportunities for all employees, empowering them to give their best:
- Providing training and education
- During 2016, 1,974 SIX employees (approximately half of all staff) were offered further education and training at the SIX Group Academy, also enjoying opportunities for e-learning and external learning and training. SIX employees can also participate in the company’s three programs for promoting talented staff: the Junior, the Senior and the Executive Development Program.
- Attracting highly qualified professionals
- SIX organizes an annual Hackathon, intended to offer young IT specialists an opportunity to come into contact with the company in a professional, and at the same time informal, environment. During the event innovative solutions to challenging tasks are developed, and SIX gains immediate access to a pool of talented young professionals.
- Creating an attractive workplace
- To provide an attractive work environment for all employees SIX makes sure:
- workplaces are easily accessible by public transport
- flexible working times are offered, on the basis of an annual working time model
- employees are able to work from home
- attractive employment conditions are provided, including a family allowance, contributions for using public transport to and from work, childcare, fitness memberships
Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?
The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:
1) G4-LA1: Total number and rates of new employee hires and employee turnover by age group, gender and region – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 401-1 New employee hires and employee turnover
2) G4-LA9: Average hours of training per year per employee by gender, and by employee category – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee
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References:
1) This case study is based on published information by SIX, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:
http://database.globalreporting.org/
2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page
3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx
4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/
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