What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018-2019 Sustainability Report Landmark Group identified a range of material issues, such as packaging, circularity, carbon footprint, product quality, health and safety, chemical and waste management. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Landmark Group.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Landmark Group engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Landmark Group engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Partners	·      Supplier selection and onboarding ·      Progress meetings ·      Emails, phone calls and meetings ·      Appreciation events
Environment	·      Monitoring Landmark Group’s environmental footprint ·      Addressing circularity of fashion ·      Environmentally-friendly sourcing of materials ·      Preserving natural resources ·      Sustainability team
Customers	·      Specialised customer service teams ·      Stores, outlets, malls and online ·      Social networks ·      Customers satisfaction surveys ·      Call centres, emails and phone calls ·      Advertisements, promotions and press releases ·      Loyalty programmes
Community	·      Community programmes and initiatives ·      Cooperation with NGOs ·      Social networks and events ·      Philanthropy and sponsorships
People	·      Employee engagement surveys ·      Training and development programmes ·      Internal communications ·      Volunteer programmes ·      Face-to-face meetings ·      Emails, calls and instant messaging software ·      Performance management programmes

What actions were taken by Landmark Group to promote employee development?

In its 2018-2019 Sustainability Report Landmark Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Promoting frontline development
• Landmark Group’s frontline programmes include:
  • Learn and grow: Career training for sales associates, supervisors and store managers that includes 70% on-the-job training, 20% coaching with managers and 10% workshops and e-learning. In Saudi Arabia, succession role assessments were piloted for 1,000 store managers.
  • Store leadership programme: Redefines capabilities of store managers as customer- and business-focused whilst improving their work environment. In financial year 2018-19, 986 Store Leaders participated with 101 High Potentials identified to progress to the next level in their career.
  • Career passport: Tracks career progression of store employees offering a structured plan for skill development. It ensures managers have a comprehensive overview of employee performance over a long period of time, and not just on their recent achievements.
  • Race: Retail Academy for Career Enhancement are certified courses to create a talent pool for critical roles, while upskilling and retaining existing talent coaches.

• Fostering functional development
• Landmark Group’s functional programmes include:
  • Analytics teams: Capacity-building online and classroom courses for 95 data analytics employees and customer experience optimisation sessions for 25 senior leaders.
  • Finance teams: Landmark Group worked with PwC to standardise finance processes across the Group and deliver workshops for 100 finance managers.
  • Planning teams: Learn and Grow for planning and digitalising planning fundamentals for scalability, linked to career path. Knowledge assessment scores went from 39% to 85% and individual development plans were created for all 126 planners.
  • Buying teams: Landmark Group worked with Trendstop and WGSN on workshops for 35 buyers from its fashion and shoe divisions on trends, product direction, commercial range building and setting strategic buying plans.
  • Warehouse teams: Emerging Supervisor Development Programme trains supervisors, managers and senior managers on supervisory skills.

• Promoting leadership development
• In 2018-19, 199 Landmark Group mid-senior leaders were enrolled in a Group Leadership Development in Landmark Middle East. Landmark Group also partnered with SP Jain Institute of Management & Research and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to support growth and career development of High Potential employees, co-delivered with an internal faculty of leaders. 86 High Potentials took part in a nine-month blended programme of workshops, mentoring, action learning projects and coursework. 24 of the 51 midlevel High Potentials and 12 of the 35 senior-level High Potentials were promoted or moved roles during or within six months of completing the programme. Other programmes included Emerging Leaders for mid-level managers and Leaders Coaching Leaders, to equip employees with the ability to play a proactive role in the development of Landmark talent. Landmark India’s Executive Coaching Creating Leaders programme identifies senior leaders through one-on-one coaching. A detailed skill assessment exercise is conducted to identify employees’ strengths and weaknesses, with bespoke development plans created with assigned coaches.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Landmark Group, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Landmark Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report Attica Group identified a range of material issues, such as passenger safety, CO2 emissions, responsible communication and sales, sea pollution, products and services quality. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Attica Group.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Attica Group engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Events / Meetings ·      Training ·      Negotiations with Employee Unions (through Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships – SEEN) ·      Corporate Intranet
Shareholders	·      Shareholders General Assembly (annually/extraordinary) ·      Websites ·      Meetings
Customers	·      Qualitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years) ·      Quantitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years) ·      Customer Services Division ·      Websites ·      Satisfaction / Complaints Questionnaires ·      Social media ·      Information leaflets
Sales Network	·      Events / Meetings ·      Information systems ·      Travel agents’ online portal ·      Websites
Suppliers	·      Supplier evaluation ·      Meetings ·      Contracts
State	·      Discussion with representatives at local and national level ·      Meetings / Presentations ·      Participation in organisations and associations ·      Vessel inspections ·      Formal communication
Associations and Unions	·      Participation in associations ·      Meetings / Presentations ·      Discussion with representatives at local and national ·      level ·      Formal communication
Local Communities	·      Qualitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years) ·      Quantitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years) ·      Meetings / Presentations ·      Local events and programmes
Citizens	·      Qualitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years) ·      Quantitative Greek Domestic Lines Survey (every 2-3 years ·      Websites ·      Social media
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)	·      Collaborations ·      Meetings / Presentations
Media	·      Press releases ·      Press conferences ·      Websites

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Attica Group engaged with its stakeholders through relevant surveys.

What actions were taken by Attica Group to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report Attica Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Implementing an annual Training Plan
• To design its annual Training Plan, Attica Group considers identified training needs, responsibilities and requirements for every job position and changes in the shipping industry (e.g. legal framework). Attica Group delivers a wide range of training programmes and seminars for its marine and office employees each year, which indicatively include:
  • Marine employees:
    • Corporate Responsibility (e.g. responsible procurement)
    • Foreign languages
    • Safety and security issues.
    • Response to pollution incidents
    • Fire fighting
    • Cleaning processes
  • Office employees:
    • Shipping
    • Finance / Taxation (e.g. International Financial Reporting Standards)
    • Management issues (e.g. Strategy, Corporate Governance, Protection of Personal Information, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Legal)
    • Information Technology
    • Marketing
    • Foreign languages
    • Safety
    • Corporate Responsibility (e.g. environmental protection)
    • First Aid
    • Digitisation
    • Cybersecurity
  • Within 2019, Attica Group:
    • Conducted trainings on its human rights policies and processes to 2 office employees, with a total duration of 80 training hours
    • Conducted training programmes on Corporate Responsibility issues to its office employees, with the participation of 13% of employees, 92% of Managers and 96% of Directors and Top Management members, as well as to marine employees, with the participation of 1% of vessel Officers and 6% of Master and Senior Officers
    • Included Corporate Responsibility issues in 3 in-house training programmes related to environmental management, responsible procurement and responsible communication issues
    • Trained 10 marine employees on safety and Corporate Responsibility issues
    • Conducted training programmes on digitisation with a total duration of 230 training hours

• Applying a Performance Appraisal System
• Attica Group implements a Performance Appraisal System for its office and marine employees, with a three-phase Performance Appraisal System for office employees to identify their strengths and areas for improvement and improve their overall performance. The Performance Appraisal System for office employees consists of 5 main areas:
  • Performance Criteria
    • Personal Objectives
    • Performance Standards (one of which is Compliance with Procedures)
    • Attributes (Common Attributes and Team Leading Position Attributes)
  • Appraisal Summary
  • Employee Professional Requirements
  • Training and Development Activities
  • Comments
• At the same time, Attica Group appraises all vessel Officers and marine employees (including employees whose employment tenure onboard its vessels has expired) four times per year, in order to ensure efficient crew selection and proper vessel manning. The appraisal results are included in a relevant Report which is forwarded to the Marine Personnel Department and assesses marine employees’ performance, skills and diligence throughout their service onboard Attica Group’s

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

3) Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Attica Group, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Attica Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?            

In its 2018-2019 Sustainability Report Bapco identified a range of material issues, such as health, safety and wellbeing, value generation and distribution, emergency preparedness, human rights, asset integrity. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Bapco.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Bapco engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Government and Regulatory Authorities	·      Formal review of company strategy and plan with third parties, including reporting on the outputs of internal governance activities where appropriate ·      Regular coordination meetings ·      Direct meetings and consultation with regards to compliance and planning of new projects ·      Bapco website, emails and letters ·      Conferences, forums and workshops ·      Events and other outreach campaigns regularly coordinated with relevant government authorities
Financiers and insurers	·      Face-to-face meetings and conference calls ·      Written communication through letters and emails ·      Site visits and inspections
Suppliers and contractors	·      Formal joint venture arrangements for projects ·      Meetings with suppliers, as mandated in relevant procurement management procedures ·      Audits and other formal feedback mechanisms on contractor performance ·      Established supplier agreements ·      Formal feedback from vendors and suppliers
Customers	·      Meetings, including direct face-to face meetings and regional sector meetings ·      Daily communications, including emails and telephone calls ·      Customer feedback
Non-Governmental Organisations and academia	·      Joint research projects and Memoranda of Understanding, including collaboration with Ph.D. students to develop innovative solutions ·      Direct meetings, company events and campaigns
Local communities	·      Focus group meetings with local community representatives, specifically for BMP, including special interest groups such as the elderly and the disabled ·      Emails, telephone calls and social media (including WhatsApp and Instagram) ·      Visual material presentation, e.g. billboards ·      Media outreach through TV and Radio ·      Company publications in the Arabic language weekly Star magazine and English language Islander ·      Targeted campaigns
Local industries	·      Direct face-to-face and regional meetings, including regular established networking committee meetings ·      Conferences, forums and workshops
Employees	·      Forums and events which run throughout the year ·      Regular meetings at all levels of the organisation ·      Communication using a variety of media, including the Bapco intranet portal, the large electronic screen placed at the Refinery main entrance, desktop screensavers, departmental posters, and various Company information boards

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Bapco engaged with its stakeholders through internal stakeholder workshops.

What actions were taken by Bapco to promote employee development?

In its 2018-2019 Sustainability Report Bapco reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Offering internal and external training programmes
• Bapco’s Learning and Development Department offers a wide range of internal and external training programmes to Bapco’s employees. Bapco reports on a yearly basis the total number of employees trained, the total number of training programmes and the total learning hours, and continues to add new training programmes that will help the personnel and support the professional development of its employees. Bapco has also created the ‘Seed’ programme, under which employees who propose an idea receive a recognition award if their idea is adopted. During 2018-2019 the average hours of training per year per employee increased from 31 to 39 hours.

• Implementing a Performance Management Process
• Bapco implements a Performance Management Process (PMP), which is a tool that helps management and the individual employee to plan, manage, document, and evaluate their performance. One of the key elements of the PMP is the performance agreement, which is a ‘smart’ goal statement aligned with the department and company objectives. The PMP is used as an input to other human resources processes, such as promotions, transfers, leader development, talent identification, succession planning and rewards for good performance. Bapco has also developed Individual Development Plans (IDP) for all fresh graduates joining Bapco, to support them in their career progression.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Bapco, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Bapco: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report D&G identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, air emissions control, compliance, hazardous waste management. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for D&G.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 D&G engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Quality / environmental / occupational health and safety management system training ·      Quality / environmental / occupational health and safety management system three-aspect audit ·      Employee meeting / satisfaction questionnaire ·      On-the-job training and physical examination
Customers	·      Satisfaction questionnaire ·      Factory inspection ·      Site visit
Suppliers	·      Study visit ·      Product technical standards exchange forum ·      Supplier capability survey ·      Supplier assessment
Education and research partners	·      The 10th China Asphalt Mixing Plant Industry Summit ·      Teaching and technical sharing and exchange forum
Government and other public bodies	·      Inspection ·      Factory exchange interview
Business partners	·      Seminar ·      Training session ·      Meeting and discussion
Social media	·      Collaboration and cooperation ·      Advertising and promotion

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics D&G engaged with a total of 251 stakeholders through questionnaires, asking participants to rate anonymously various economic, environmental and social issues.

What actions were taken by D&G to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report D&G reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Providing training programmes
• Based on the training needs of employees and their positions, D&G provides suitable, extensive and diverse training programmes:
  • Value training: Convey the company’s strategy, behavioural norms, occupational ethics and values, and increase employees’ working motivation
  • Professional knowledge training: Enhance professional knowledge and skills training related to employees’ positions
  • Job skills training: Provide standardised training corresponding to job duties and improve employees’ skills in process and operation
  • Management training: Provide management knowledge and idea training for the management and employees with management potential, enabling them to understand the company’s development goals and business strategies

• Formulating the “Employee Training Management Guidebook”
• D&G has formulated the “Employee Training Management Guidebook”, which designates the HR Department to carry out an annual survey on employees’ training needs, and evaluates the training plans provided by all departments to construct a training strategy for the upcoming year. The HR Department is also responsible for monitoring, organising and implementing the training plans, in an effort to consistently improve the overall professional level of the employees. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the training, the HR Department distributes questionnaires to participating employees after each training to collect their feedbacks, and takes it as a reference for improvement of future training plans. The HR Department also assesses the employees’ training outcomes and effectiveness through written test or live demonstration. D&G’s training plan is mainly classified into four categories, namely occupational health and safety, management and operation, professional knowledge and environmental protection. By providing diversified and high-quality training opportunities, D&G pledges to continuously assist employees to develop their strengths and achieve their work ambitions, which drives steady business development and delivers a corporate culture of sustainability.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by D&G, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to D&G: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 ESG Report Atlantica identified a range of material issues, such as occupational health and safety, economic and financial performance, asset management, climate change. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Atlantica.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Atlantica engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Atlantica engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media ·      Internal Intranet Communications ·      Internal Training with Q&A
Suppliers	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media
Customers	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media
Business Partners	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media
Local Communities	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media
Investors	·      Face-to-face meetings video or phone calls ·      ESG Report ·      Website Content ·      Whistleblower Channel ·      Social Media ·      Earning Presentations with Q&A

What actions were taken by Atlantica to promote employee development?

In its 2019 ESG Report Atlantica reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Evaluating employee performance
• Atlantica has built a strong standardised process to evaluate employee performance in its Human Resources platform, Meta4. Part of every supervisor’s mission is to collaborate with each of his or her team members to evaluate performance through the Annual Performance Appraisal (the “APA”), a talent and development management module of Meta4. As part of the individual appraisal process, the supervisor evaluates the performance during the period in nine standardised areas. The manager also identifies individual targets for the coming period and sets training actions in the Annual Training Plan (the “ATP”). Supervisors set individual meetings with their teams once the assessment is completed to share results and explain in depth the action plan defined. Employees can provide their feedback about their own performance, improvement opportunities, proposals, etc. which can contribute to a better performance. This is an ongoing process, normally spread over a year to ensure its effectiveness and practical application success. Once the APA is completed by supervisors Atlantica conducts a calibration process that seeks to ensure that evaluations are consistent and as fair as possible across the entire organisation. In addition, every three years Atlantica performs a 360º feedback process for certain management profiles, including senior and middle management, where managers receive feedback from their supervisor, peers and direct reports. Full confidentiality is guaranteed, as the data is processed and summarised by external consultants. In 2019, Atlantica also launched a “High Potential Programme” for key members of its workforce. The goal of this initiative is to consider the employees’ capabilities towards internal transfers to other positions, functions or geographies. In 2019, Atlantica announced it had agreed with several employees to undertake new roles within the organisation, including changing functions and international mobility. Atlantica also has an internal job site in its intranet where it informs employees of job vacancies in order to promote internal mobility between different departments.

• Implementing training programmes
• Atlantica’s training programmes include the following:
  • Atlantica: all new employees must attend Atlantica’s “Introduction to Atlantica” course during their induction period. “More about Atlantica” is a second level of corporate training offered either to employees that hit their two-year anniversary in the company or those who were promoted. In addition, all employees receive training about Atlantica’s compliance policies and management policies on an annual basis.
  • Management skills: soft-skill training to improve negotiation, team-work, teambuilding, decision-making, leadership and communication, among other skills.
  • Technical knowledge courses, specific to each technical field. For example, Atlantica provides technical, health and safety and environmental and risks training. The effectiveness of this training is evaluated periodically. Atlantica provides an annual training programme on safety awareness to managers and employees, designed in accordance with the risks in the different job positions and work centres as well as with the local regulations.
  • Languages: to allow Atlantica’s employees to effectively operate in an international setting, Atlantica offers a number of language courses.
  • Health & Safety is a key part of Atlantica’s culture and philosophy and Atlantica offers a number of training programmes to reinforce it. Health and safety training is fulfilled with other specific initiatives to help employees increase their health and safety knowledge. Atlantica periodically issues Safety Bulletins and shares “Lessons Learnt” through videos, specific bulletins, its Safety App and through safety boards held in its assets.
  • In addition, Atlantica offers Executive Programmes to certain employees with a certain level of experience, excellent performance and good potential.

• As of December 31, 2019, Atlantica offers over 100 different training programmes to its employees. The final training programme is agreed between the employee and his or her Manager and the Human Resources department.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

3) Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Atlantica, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Atlantica: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Greenalia identified a range of material issues, such as good governance and ethics, climate change, financial excellence, impact in local communities, biodiversity. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Greenalia.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Greenalia engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Environmental organisations

Universities

Investors/ Funders

Local Communities

Employees

Public Administration

Suppliers

Social NGOs

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Greenalia gathered stakeholders’ feedback through 30 surveys and personal interviews with representatives of each group.

What actions were taken by Greenalia to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Greenalia reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Implementing a development programme
• Within its Talent Strategy framework, Greenalia designed a professional development programme that allows it to accompany new talent throughout the different development stages, from the onboarding phase. This programme allows Greenalia’s specialists, middle managers and executives to actively participate in the development of the most junior talent (through Coaching and Mentoring programmes and training initiatives) and foster a collaborative, agile culture focused on self-leadership, excellence and high performance.

• Applying a general training programme
• This programme, as implemented by Greenalia, focuses on training for basic professional skills and general competences, in line with the objectives of Greenalia’s new Training Plan and with priorities that are reviewed annually. Some of the training areas Greenalia identified are: languages, productivity and work systems/methodologies, cybersecurity, risk prevention, gender equality, sustainability and culture of the organisation, among others. For its execution, Greenalia uses a combination of in-house training and specialised consultants. In 2019, 1,060 hours of internal training were completed (490 hours for women and 570 hours for men), corresponding to 19 hours of training per employee.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Greenalia, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Greenalia: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Integrated Report UniCredit identified a range of material issues, such as business ethics, cyber security, fair business behaviour, climate change. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for UniCredit.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 UniCredit engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics UniCredit engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·      Customer satisfaction assessment ·      Brand reputation assessment ·      Mystery shopping ·      Instant feedback ·      Focus groups, workshops, seminars
Employees	·      People Survey of professional engagement ·      Internal clients’ perceptions of headquarters services ·      Group Intranet Portal ·      Departmental online communities
Investors/ shareholders	·      Quarterly webcasts and conference calls to present results ·      One-on-one and group meetings, calls ·      Shareholders’ meeting
Regulators	·      One-on-one and group meetings, calls
Communities	·      Surveys ·      Social Media

What actions were taken by UniCredit to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Integrated Report UniCredit reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Managing employee performance
• UniCredit implements processes to set goals, assess employee performance and define career development based on the following key principles: achieving ambitious goals connecting the Group’s strategy with individual contributions; empowering managers to make decisions about their people; rewarding merit and performance; ensuring respect of its Ethics and Respect values and Five Fundamentals; encouraging individual development and learning; increasing transparency with continuous feedback. UniCredit Performance Management is the Group-wide appraisal and development process for all employees. All employees receive a performance review from their manager and the behaviours expected are based on UniCredit’s guiding principle Do the right thing!. This process ensures a common approach to performance management and decisions on reward, career development and learning opportunities. In addition, UniCredit’s annual review enables it to define career and succession plans that ensure a sustainable leadership pipeline with regard to both executives and employees on the executive track.

• Creating a development track
• A development track is available to all UniCredit employees. Both vertical growth and horizontal moves may be possible, based on emerging opportunities and the fulfilment of individual goals. The track can be locally customised to meet specific business needs. For a selected pool of employees, identified according to outstanding performance and potential, a fast-track development path is available. In 2019, UniCredit redesigned its executive development offer with the intention of supporting its executives in each stage of their career. Five phases have been identified: onboarding, settlement, performance, consolidation and transition. In particular, UniCredit introduced dedicated paths to meet the development needs in the onboarding and settlement phase, in order to support those skills required to face new challenges and tasks versus key competencies. These leadership development paths last from 18 to 36 months and in 2019 were initiated by more than 300 executives. Over the course of the year UniCredit continued to foster professional growth in its competence and business lines using the modular and flexible programmes available in its learning catalogue, in fields such as finance and risk management. In addition, training opportunities specific to local business needs in each country and division were provided in order to enhance professional skills and assist employees in their roles. UniCredit’s efforts address skills in retail, corporate and private banking and upskilling in data science, advanced analytics and engineering. UniCredit achieved a total of more than 30 hours training per capita in 2019.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

3) Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by UniCredit, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to UniCredit: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report TISCO identified a range of material issues, such as corporate governance, business performance and growth, customer data protection, risk management and business continuity, responsible lending. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for TISCO.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 TISCO engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Shareholders	·      General and extraordinary shareholders’ meeting ·      Analyst meetings ·      Investor roadshows and TISCO meetings with institutional investors and analysts ·      Tele-Conference with institutional investors and analysts ·      Information disclosure via SET Portal, print media, and TISCO website ·      Inquiries handled by the Investor Relations Unit
Employees	·      Monthly meetings of executives at all levels ·      Training for employees at all levels ·      Staff Newsletters ·      Organising activities to support good relations, exchange and share experiences of employees, such as TISTALK ·      Employee engagement survey ·      TISCO HR Helpline ·      Communication programmes to instil knowledge, values and corporate culture for new employees ·      Direct communication from Top Management to Mid-level Management
Supervisory Authorities	·      Communicate through Compliance function and Regulatory Reporting unit ·      Related activities such as examinations conducted by regulators, discussions between management and regulators on important issues
Business Partners and Creditors	·      Meetings with business partners ·      Assessments of business partner satisfaction
Customers	·      Individual meetings with customers ·      TISCO Contact Centre ·      Site visits to corporate customers ·      Training and seminars arranged on economy, finance and investments for customers ·      Channels to get feedback and complaints from customers ·      Public Relations via various channels such as press releases, TISCO website and mobile application
Community and Society	·      Surveys on community/ public needs ·      Engaging with communities in social activities ·      Promoting financial literacy through: – “TISCO Financial Camp” for youth and teachers – “Smart Saving, Smart Spending” for communities nationwide – Staying abreast of financial deception which might be harmful to motorcycle loan customers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics TISCO engaged with its stakeholders through surveys of opinions.

What actions were taken by TISCO to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report TISCO reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Establishing the TISCO Learning Centre
• The TISCO Learning Centre Co., Ltd. was established by TISCO to plan HR development and produce curricula for the purpose of capacity building in the organisation. TISCO’s mission is to develop the organisation and staff of all levels in order to nurture leadership skills, enable personnel to reach their full potential, increase productivity and align with strategic direction.

• Evaluating employee performance
• Aside from providing training, TISCO evaluates staff across various perspectives, including skills and performance, leadership, and alignment with corporate values. These evaluations help staff learn more about their potential for further improvement and development. TISCO uses evaluation results to identify those who need further development and, accordingly, a project to enhance the potential of staff whose evaluation may be lower than the threshold has been set up, so that they are closely mentored by their respective supervisors. In addition, individual development plans are designed for staff whose performance is in line with the TISCO’s expectations. Employees support is provided to increase job satisfaction and subsequently raise workplace productivity and success as targeted in TISCO’s business plan. However, if an employee continues to perform under the required standard, the HR Department is obliged to provide advice to the department and the employee. Possible advice will include skill enhancement, increase of his/her performance and relocation to a position that better suits the employee’s qualifications and interests.

• Initiating the OASIS project
• In 2019, TISCO initiated the OASIS project, which focuses on building a work culture that can cope with technological, economic and social disruptions. The aim is to plant a growth mindset in staff at all levels so that employees are equipped with open-mindedness to welcome new ideas and concepts, implement them and transfer them within the organisation. The OASIS project is a starting point for innovation at both the business and organisational levels through learning, research and co-creation.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

3) Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

Disclosure 404-3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by TISCO, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to TISCO: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?  

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Emirates NBD identified a range of material issues, such as governance, compliance and ethics, human rights and labour conditions, privacy and security, responsible finance, product and service responsibility. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Emirates NBD.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Emirates NBD engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Emirates NBD engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Bank’s intranet ·      Employee’s engagement
Board of Directors	·      Board of Directors meetings (around 6 times a year)
Investors	·      Investors Relations Team and website section
Customers	·      Voice of Customer satisfaction surveys
Suppliers	·      Tenders & RFPs
Local Community	·      Partnerships with community organisations
Government	·      Compliance with, among other things, the UAE Central Bank directives and the Dubai Financial Services Authority directive
Environment	·      Partnerships with environmental organisations, both locally and globally
Media	·      Radio/TV interviews ·      Daily market commentary ·      Weekly and monthly newsletters

What actions were taken by Emirates NBD to promote employee development?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Emirates NBD reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Blending classroom and digital learning
• The year 2019 witnessed, for Emirates NBD, a shift towards investing in digital content, which has increased to represent 45% of Emirates NBD’s learning material versus 29% in 2018. This strategic focus resulted in an increased number of learners (10,300 in 2019, compared to 8,820 in 2018), courses and reach in 2019. Emirates NBD’s learning platforms include:
  • MYQUEST Mobile App by Emirates Islamic: A gamified learning platform which enables employees to embark on a learning journey broken into four progression levels and eleven learning ‘missions’.
  • Virtual Reality Academy by Emirates NBD Bank: A Virtual Reality (VR) Academy that enables the Bank to provide a more intuitive and engaging learning experience for all employees.

• Implementing a Leadership & Management Development model
• Emirates NBD’s Leadership & Management Development (L&MD) training courses offer world-class competency-based learning programmes that are targeted at building Emirates NBD Group specific competencies of associates, officers and managers. They include three methods to build knowledge:
  • In-person workshops: A fully immersive learning experience where participants interact with the instructor and engage in team collaboration activities
  • Case studies: Participants acquire negotiation skills, learn to consider different aspects of business cases and take a deep dive into strategic thinking
  • Role playing: Participants consider different points of views by participating in simulations of real-life situations
• Emirates NBD’s L&MD model ensures the integration of Community Development as a key learning outcome in each of the programmes offered, with an introduction to sustainability and community development as a vital component to each course.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Emirates NBD, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Emirates NBD: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Samsung SDI identified a range of material issues, such as promotion of a safe workplace culture, enhancement of product safety evaluations and managements, responsible mineral sourcing, energy conservation and use of renewable energy. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Samsung SDI.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Samsung SDI engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·      Customer visits ·      QBR (Quarterly Business Review) meetings ·      QTR (Quarterly Technical Review) meetings ·      Website
Partner Companies	·      Purchase portal system ·      SSP (Samsung SDI Partner’s Association) meetings ·      Supplier meetings ·      Visits to partner companies by the CEO and senior executives
Employees	·      Labour-Management Council ·      Open Counselling Centre ·      Management briefings ·      Satisfaction surveys ·      Culture Leader ·      SDI Talk ·      Global SDI Pick! ·      Newsletters
Industry Associations, Universities & Research Centres	·      Active participation in associations and societies including the Korea Battery Industry Association ·      R&D (Open innovation) ·      Joint cooperation programmes
Local Community & Civic Organisations	·      Local Community Council ·      Social contributions ·      Sisterhood relations
Government	·      Participation in national projects ·      Operation of joint cooperative programmes ·      Organisation of conferences and meetings
Shareholders/ Investors	·      General Meetings ·      IR earnings conference calls ·      IR road shows ·      IR conferences ·      Public notices ·      IR website ·      IR phone contact and ad hoc meetings

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Samsung SDI carried out surveys among experts on sustainability management who were external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Samsung SDI to promote employee development?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Samsung SDI reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Launching a Human Resource Development Centre
• In June 2018, Giheung HQ completed construction of the Human Resource Development Centre with language test rooms and language classrooms to enable employees to sit for exams and study foreign languages. In addition to having in-house official language test rooms, the centre offers five foreign language courses to help employees enhance their global competitiveness. In December 2018, more than 120 employees enrolled in various language courses, with more than 300 attending the Global Biz Writing Practice course designed for those who frequently communicate with Samsung SDI’s overseas corporations and customers.

• Operating a Facilities Training Centre
• The Facilities Training Centre that opened its doors in June 2018 in Cheonan is in charge of overall facilities education, from design to operation and maintenance. Equipped with training facilities, the centre can offer customised education to anybody when required. With core parts and modules of the equipment used in actual production sites, the centre offers theory and practice-based education with one kit per person. The centre is responsible for producing experts through improving the quality of education in the field. One difference from outside education is that in addition to regular technical education, the centre plays the role of a test bench for engineers who would like to have their ideas verified.

• Strengthening technological leadership
• Samsung SDI introduced the “Technical Meister” system in 2013 to cultivate employees’ job expertise and promote a culture of self-directed learning. The title Technical Meister is awarded to employees who have obtained three master technician certificates or two master technician certificates and one technician certificate. A meister is given a certificate allowance, additional points for promotion, and inducted into the hall of fame with the creation of a copperplate made in their honour. Starting with the installation of a hall of fame at the Cheongju plant in 2018, Samsung SDI has installed halls of fame at all its domestic production sites (Gumi, Cheongju, Cheonan, Ulsan). The technical meister system was expanded to all production sites in 2016 and starting in 2017, all the sites began to produce technical meisters. The system has not only improved individuals’ job performance and competitiveness but also helped raise Samsung SDI’s overall technological competence.

• Training job experts
• To enhance its employees’ competencies, Samsung SDI offers online and offline education programmes related to all aspects of its business such as development, technology, sales and marketing, and management support. Most notably, Samsung SDI has developed sophisticated courses on development, process technologies and facilities technologies that are offered by in-house expert instructors. Samsung SDI promotes in-house seminars and learning cell activities while launching in-house courses according to technical need. To cultivate experts in the fields of development and technology, Samsung SDI offers to employees academic training for master’s or doctorate degrees as well as non-degree training programmes through an industry-academia collaboration. For those engaged in procurement, quality, management, and finance, Samsung SDI helps employees obtain national and international certificates through a professional certificate support programme as part of its efforts to cultivate employees into experts in their respective fields.

• Implementing global capacity-building programmes
• Samsung SDI has launched various foreign language courses to fully support its employees’ efforts to improve their foreign language proficiency and engage in self-development. As self-development programmes, Samsung SDI runs 4- to 10-week residential intensive foreign language courses, in-house foreign language courses, OPIc courses, and global biz writing courses. The residential programmes are designed to teach not only language, but also about business practices and culture. Foreign languages taught at the courses as well as global biz writing courses, in-house foreign language courses and special OPIc lectures include English, Chinese, Japanese and strategic languages. Samsung SDI helps its employees obtain foreign language certificates. Currently, Samsung SDI runs such foreign language courses at all six of its workplaces in Korea. In addition, Samsung SDI runs local expert education programmes as key global leader training courses including intensive foreign language classes and overseas study classes. In 2018, Samsung SDI dispatched its regional experts to China, Vietnam, Germany, and Hungary. They also helped the local personnel of Samsung SDI’s overseas corporations enhance their capabilities.

• Providing education to overseas personnel
• More than half of SDI personnel working around the globe are foreigners. They work in Asia, Europe, the Americas and elsewhere. Previously, Samsung SDI provided the personnel working at its overseas marketing firms with local education or headquarters education. In 2018, Samsung SDI offered them more field-oriented education in Korea at places such as Suwon, Cheonan, and Ulsan production sites as well as at the headquarters. Samsung SDI invited outstanding personnel from its marketing firms in China, Taiwan, the US, and Germany among others to Korea. During the first week, Samsung SDI shared its basic principles through classes such as core DNA, companywide compliance and information security policies. During the second and third weeks, Samsung SDI provided them with technology and manufacturing site education, including intensive battery courses at its Cheonan and Ulsan production sites.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee

2) Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

 

Disclosure 404-1 Average hours of training per year per employee corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education
• Targets: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Targets: 10.3

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.2, 8.5

 

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References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Samsung SDI, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

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