Delta Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:30:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 Case study: How Delta promotes ethical conduct among employees https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-delta-promotes-ethical-conduct-among-employees/ Thu, 29 Aug 2019 14:14:28 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9989 Delta is a worldwide leader in the aviation industry, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the globe. Since 1928, Delta people have worked diligently to build Delta’s record for acting with honesty, integrity and professionalism. Cultivating and enhancing this legacy is, for Delta, a top priority. This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it […]

The post Case study: How Delta promotes ethical conduct among employees appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Delta is a worldwide leader in the aviation industry, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the globe. Since 1928, Delta people have worked diligently to build Delta’s record for acting with honesty, integrity and professionalism. Cultivating and enhancing this legacy is, for Delta, a top priority.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Though a company-wide compliance programme and mechanisms for raising ethics concerns, Delta seeks to foster a culture of trust, dignity and integrity among its over 80,000 employees.  Tweet This! In order to promote ethical conduct among employees Delta took action to:

  • implement a compliance programme
  • encourage employees to raise ethics concerns

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta identified a range of material issues, such as environmental compliance, carbon emissions/climate change, customer safety and security, community support and engagement, supply chain management. Among these, promoting ethical conduct among employees stands out as a key material issue for Delta.

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 organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 Delta engages with:   

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·       Annual shareholder meetings

·       Annual report, quarterly earnings and proxy statement

·       External recognition, ratings and rankings

·      Investor Day
Customers ·       Customer Satisfaction Survey

·      Social media
Employees ·       Employee Satisfaction Survey

·       Employee Involvement Group (EIG)

·       TechOps EIG

·       Reservations Liaison for Information Networking and Communication (ResLINC)

·       Airport Customer Service and Cargo Frontline Involvement Team (FIT)

·       Velvet-360 Tour

·       Town Hall Programme

·      Delta Board Council
Suppliers

 

 ·       Supplier ESG Assessment

·      Supplier Diversity (MBE, WBE and SBE) engagement
Governments ·      Collaborative partnerships with governments and NGOs around the world
Nongovernmental organisations ·       Industry associations

·      External recognition, ratings and rankings
Communities ·       Delta Air Lines Foundation

·      Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Delta engaged with its stakeholders through a questionnaire focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, that was distributed to stakeholder groups.

What actions were taken by Delta to promote ethical conduct among employees?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical conduct among employees:

  • Implementing a compliance programme
  • Three key documents describe and reinforce the fundamental values and basic behaviours required of all Delta employees, and what employees can expect of Delta in return. These documents are the centrepiece of Delta’s company-wide compliance programme, and are supported by the Board of Directors and senior officers. They are:
    • Rules of the Road, the foundation of Delta’s core values and principles, which define clear unifying behaviours that are Delta’s cultural foundation and outline expectations for modelling leadership at every level of the company.
    • The Way We Fly helps Delta put its culture into practice by outlining the basic expectations of trust, dignity, respect, common sense and good judgment.
    • The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct provides the people of Delta, its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide with a summary of standards for business conduct so that everyone understands the basic rules that apply. The Code also describes some of the resources available that help Delta maintain its standards.
  • Encouraging employees to raise ethics concerns
  • Every Delta employee is encouraged and expected to raise concerns if he or she becomes aware of practices or work environments that do not meet Delta’s expectations, particularly for issues like safety, harassment and discrimination. Delta encourages employees to speak to their immediate leaders about questions or concerns, but they can also report concerns through the following channels:
    • Divisional and corporate leadership
    • Human Resources professionals
    • The Equal Opportunity department
    • Delta’s Safety, Ethics & Compliance HelpLine: The Delta Safety, Ethics & Compliance HelpLine was established to make it easier to report conduct that may be unethical, illegal, a violation of professional standards or contradictory to Delta’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct – such as concerns regarding safety, labour practices, harassment or discrimination. The HelpLine is available to employees, customers, vendors and others in a business relationship with Delta, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls to the Safety, Ethics & Compliance HelpLine can be made anonymously, and procedures ensure that confidentiality will be maintained to an extent consistent with Delta’s obligations under law. The Delta Safety, Ethics & Compliance HelpLine can be accessed via the web or via toll-free global telephone numbers.
  • Additionally, Delta provides anti-bribery and anti-corruption training to all Delta personnel and agents who may interact with foreign officials on Delta matters. Training available to employees is provided in-person, to supplement mandatory online training.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

 

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Business theme: Anti-corruption

 

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 Delta, 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/

Note to Delta: 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.

The post Case study: How Delta promotes ethical conduct among employees appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Delta reduces the waste it generates https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-delta-reduces-the-waste-it-generates/ Fri, 28 Jun 2019 08:41:24 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9752 As a global aviation industry leader, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo across the United States and around the globe, . This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Delta continually assesses its waste streams and waste handling operations […]

The post Case study: How Delta reduces the waste it generates appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> As a global aviation industry leader, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo across the United States and around the globe, reducing the waste that it generates is important both for meeting Delta’s environmental compliance commitments and for reducing its overall environmental impact  Tweet This!.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Delta continually assesses its waste streams and waste handling operations to identify high-value materials for reuse and recycling, as well as ways to minimise what it sends to landfills. In order to reduce the waste it generates Delta took action to:

  • reduce hazardous waste
  • responsibly manage non-hazardous waste
  • reuse materials
  • recycle materials

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta identified a range of material issues, such as environmental compliance, carbon emissions/climate change, community support and engagement, customer safety and security, supply chain management. Among these, reducing the waste it generates stands out as a key material issue for Delta.

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 organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 Delta engages with:   

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·      Annual shareholder meetings

·      Annual report, quarterly earnings and proxy statement

·      External recognition, ratings and rankings

·      Investor Day
Customers ·      Customer Satisfaction Survey

·      Social media
Employees ·      Employee Satisfaction Survey

·      Employee Involvement Group (EIG)

·      TechOps EIG

·      Reservations Liaison for Information Networking and Communication (ResLINC)

·      Airport Customer Service and Cargo Frontline Involvement Team (FIT)

·      Velvet-360 Tour

·      Town Hall Program

·      Delta Board Council
Suppliers

 

 ·      Supplier ESG Assessment

·      Supplier Diversity (MBE, WBE and SBE) engagement
Governments ·      Collaborative partnerships with governments and NGOs around the world
Nongovernmental organisations ·      Industry associations

·      External recognition, ratings and rankings
Communities ·      Delta Air Lines Foundation

·      Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Delta distributed a questionnaire on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to its stakeholders, who included customers, employees, investors, governments, suppliers, nongovernmental organisations and communities.

What actions were taken by Delta to reduce the waste it generates?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta reports that it took the following actions for reducing the waste it generates:

  • Reducing hazardous waste
  • Delta recognises the negative societal and environmental impacts of the improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste – including harm to the health of employees and local communities. Accordingly, Delta meets all applicable regulatory handling and disposal requirements, and achieved its 2016 goal for reducing hazardous waste: 432.22 tons, a reduction of more than 13 tons compared to 2015. Establishing such goals increases transparency, and compels Delta to constantly identify ways to reduce its environmental impact.
  • Responsibly managing non-hazardous waste
  • Understanding and handling Delta’s complex mix of waste material streams means that not all non-hazardous waste that is generated can be recycled or diverted from a landfill. Working to achieve the highest possible diversion rate, Delta continually tries to identify both materials and opportunities to increase its landfill diversion efforts. Thus, in 2016, Delta targeted year-over-year improvements for reducing the non-hazardous waste volume generated in its operations.
  • Reusing materials
  • Delta has established relationships with a variety of vendors and partners, to further reduce its environmental impact. Through these partnerships, Delta employees identify high-value items for reuse, and Delta’s vendors and partners receive the materials to give them a second life, as new products or as product inputs. These innovative diversion programmes, known as upcycling, also contribute to environmental responsibility, by reducing the amount of new materials needed to produce new products in the marketplace. Accordingly, working with its partners, in 2016 Delta diverted 11,456 pounds of life vests, 22,771 pounds of leather seat covers and 12,537 pounds of curtains from landfills through upcycling efforts. Additionally, stations across the system routinely donate Delta’s red in-flight blankets to shelters, and in 2016 Delta added reusable cabin curtains to its landfill diversion efforts.
  • Recycling materials
  • A major way Delta is reducing its environmental impact is by identifying and diverting valuable recyclable materials from its waste streams. Delta is doing this both through recycling goods on flights where it maintains control of the materials at a station level, and by encouraging employees to recycle at home and at work using Delta’s Atlanta-based Employee Recycling Centre. In both efforts, Delta donates all rebate funds earned to Delta community and employee support programmes.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method

2) Disclosure 306-4 Transport of hazardous waste

 

Disclosure 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method corresponds to:

Disclosure 306-4 Transport of hazardous waste corresponds to:

 

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 Delta, 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/

Note to Delta: 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.

The post Case study: How Delta reduces the waste it generates appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Delta helps improve air quality around airports https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-delta-helps-improve-air-quality-around-airports/ Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:40:25 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8074 As a global aviation industry leader, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world, with over 180 million customers and more than 15,000 daily flights, , complying with all environmental laws and regulations. This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, […]

The post Case study: How Delta helps improve air quality around airports appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>

As a global aviation industry leader, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world, with over 180 million customers and more than 15,000 daily flights, Delta is committed to being environmentally responsible  Tweet This!, complying with all environmental laws and regulations.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

With 335 destinations in 58 countries around the globe, minimising the environmental impact of its operations in all places where it operates, is a top priority for Delta. In order to help improve air quality around airports Delta took action to:

  • comply with air quality standards
  • prevent the release of ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere
  • track air pollutants that may contribute to climate change

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta identified a range of material issues, such as community support and engagement, waste, customer service, supply chain management, financial performance, labour relations. Among these, helping improve air quality around airports stands out as a key material issue for Delta.

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 organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 Delta engages with:   

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·         Annual shareholder meetings

·         Annual report, quarterly earnings and proxy statement

·         External recognition, ratings and rankings

·         Investor Day
Customers ·         Customer Satisfaction Survey

·         Social media
Employees ·         Employee Satisfaction Survey

·         Employee Involvement Group (EIG)

·         TechOps EIG

·         Reservations Liaison for Information Networking and Communication (ResLINC)

·         Airport Customer Service and Cargo Frontline Involvement Team (FIT)

·         Velvet-360 Tour

·         Town Hall Program

·         Delta Board Council
Suppliers

 

 ·         Supplier ESG Assessment

·         Supplier Diversity (MBE, WBE and SBE) engagement
Governments ·         Collaborative partnerships with governments and NGOs around the world
Nongovernmental organisations ·         Industry associations

·         External recognition, ratings and rankings
Communities ·         Delta Air Lines Foundation

·         Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Delta distributed a questionnaire focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to stakeholder groups that included customers, employees, investors, governments, suppliers, nongovernmental organisations and communities.

What actions were taken by Delta to help improve air quality around airports?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta reports that it took the following actions for helping improve air quality around airports:

  • Complying with air quality standards
  • Delta’s airport stations and Technical Operations facilities comply with local, state, city, county and district environmental requirements. Third-party environmental professionals review and audit Delta’s air quality programs for compliance, as required. These audits include a multi-layered inspection of agency reporting, emissions records and work practices.
  • Preventing the release of ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere
  • Delta tracks stationary and mobile equipment containing ozone-depleting substances (ODS), chemicals which destroy stratospheric ozone. These substances are usually found in aerosol products, foams and fire extinguishers, and used as refrigerants in air conditioning and cooling equipment. During mandatory maintenance and servicing of such equipment, Delta takes all suitable measures to prevent the release of ODS into the atmosphere. In addition, where possible, Delta acquires or retrofits equipment that contains a substitute refrigerant, with a lower global warming potential.
  • Tracking air pollutants that may contribute to climate change
  • Eight Delta facilities file routine emissions inventory reports, because of individual state requirements. This includes tracking five criteria pollutants, which may contribute to climate change. These air pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SO2x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The eight facilities are:
    • Atlanta Technical Operations Center, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Atlanta Airport Station, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Atlanta Corporate Headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Minneapolis Airport Station and Technical Operations Center (combined reporting), Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Office Building J, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • Iron Range/Hibbing Reservation Center, Hibbing, Minnesota
    • Cincinnati Airport Station, Cincinnati, Ohio
    • Salt Lake City Airport Station, Salt Lake City, Utah

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 305-6 Emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS)

2) Disclosure 305-7 Nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), and other significant air emissions

 

Disclosure 305-6 Emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) corresponds to:

Disclosure 305-7 Nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), and other significant air emissions corresponds to:

 

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 Delta, 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/

Note to Delta: 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.

The post Case study: How Delta helps improve air quality around airports appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Delta promotes employee health, safety and security https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-delta-ensures-employee-health-safety-and-security/ Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:25:09 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=5850 As a global aviation leader, with 180 million customers in the United States and around the globe and 335 destinations in 58 countries, employing 84,245 people, , through a range of safety and health policies, regulations and programs. This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and […]

The post Case study: How Delta promotes employee health, safety and security appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> As a global aviation leader, with 180 million customers in the United States and around the globe and 335 destinations in 58 countries, employing 84,245 people, Delta tries to provide a healthy and safe workplace for all employees  Tweet This!, through a range of safety and health policies, regulations and programs.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Layout 1

Abstract

Creating a proactive safety culture for all employees, through a number of procedures and initiatives intended to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, is a key priority for Delta. In order to promote employee health, safety and security Delta took action to:

  • improve safety at facilities through annual Safety Business Plans
  • increase employee awareness of health and safety through the National Safety Month
  • offer health benefits to employees
  • protect the health of traveling employees

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta identified a range of material issues, such as environmental compliance, community support and engagement, carbon emissions/climate change, customer service, supply chain management, financial performance. Among these, promoting employee health, safety and security stands out as a key material issue for Delta.

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 organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 Delta engages with:   

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·         Annual shareholder meetings

·         Annual report, quarterly earnings and proxy statement

·         External recognition, ratings and rankings

·         Investor Day
Customers ·         Customer Satisfaction Survey

·         Social media
Employees ·         Employee Satisfaction Survey

·         Employee Involvement Group (EIG)

·         TechOps EIG

·         Reservations Liaison for Information Networking and Communication (ResLINC)

·         Airport Customer Service and Cargo Frontline Involvement Team (FIT)

·         Velvet-360 Tour

·         Town Hall Program

·         Delta Board Council
Suppliers

 

 ·         Supplier ESG Assessment

·         Supplier Diversity (MBE, WBE and SBE) engagement
Governments ·         Collaborative partnerships with governments and NGOs around the world
Nongovernmental organizations ·         Industry associations

·         External recognition, ratings and rankings
Communities ·         Delta Air Lines Foundation

·         Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritize material issues Delta distributed a questionnaire focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to stakeholder groups that included customers, employees, investors, governments, suppliers, nongovernmental organizations and communities.

What actions were taken by Delta to promote employee health, safety and security?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee health, safety and security:

  • Improving safety at facilities through annual Safety Business Plans
  • Every Delta facility prepares an Annual Safety Business Plan, to ensure prevention of incidents and regulatory compliance. Moreover, Safety Business Plans describe how to plan, organize, communicate, apply, measure and enforce workplace safety procedures. In addition, Safety Business Plans include elements such as a hazard prevention and control plan, an overview of involvement by employees and a health and safety training plan.
  • Increasing employee awareness of health and safety through the National Safety Month
  • Each June, Delta celebrates the National Safety Month. During the National Safety Month, Delta provides employees with health and safety information regarding specific areas of focus, and health and safety fairs take place at Delta’s facilities.
  • Offering health benefits to employees
  • Delta employees are provided with a range of health benefits through various programs and initiatives. These benefits include:
    • dental, vision and flexible spending account benefits for eligible employees
    • 100% coverage for preventive care services through the Delta Account-Based Healthcare Plan
    • support with healthcare questions and needs through the Delta Health Direct program
    • confidential counseling, evaluation and referral service support for employees and their eligible family members through Delta’s Employee Assistance Program
    • a minimum six weeks of 100% pay maternity leave, for all U.S.-based expectant mothers
    • rewards dollars for completing specific health actions (such as not using tobacco products), that help U.S. employees and their spouses or same-sex domestic partners achieve health goals, through Delta Health Rewards (a voluntary, incentive-based wellness program)
  • Protecting the health of traveling employees
  • To protect the health of employees on business travel Delta:
    • makes sure they are offered travel health consultation and company-paid vaccine coverage, anti-malaria medication and insect repellent
    • implements a new WHO International Health Regulation relating to lifetime yellow fever vaccination status
    • provides medical support to employees who become ill or injured while traveling internationally on company business

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-LA2: Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees, by significant locations of operation – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 401-2 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees

2) G4-LA6: Type of injury and rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and total number of work-related fatalities, by region and by gender – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 403-2 Types of injury and rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities

3) G4-LA8: Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 403-4 Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions

 

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 Delta, 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/

 

Note to Delta: 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.

The post Case study: How Delta promotes employee health, safety and security appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>