
Policies related to own workforce
The company’s principles for managing material sustainability issues
related to its own workforce are documented in the company’s Code of
Conduct and further detailed in the Personnel policy. Additionally, the
company’s operations are guided by applicable legislation.
In accordance with its Code of Conduct, the company respects and
promotes internationally recognized human rights. This also relates to
its own workforce. As outlined in more detail in the Personnel policy,
the company avoids causing or contributing to adverse human rights
impacts and addresses any potential impacts. The company does not
tolerate human trafficking or the use of child labor or forced labor. The
company upholds the right to fair working conditions, a healthy and
safe working environment, reasonable working hours, and adequate
compensation for work. The company respects employees’ freedom of
association and the right to collective bargaining.
In line with its Personnel policy, the company does not tolerate any
form of discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment based on race
or ethnic origin, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,
gender expression, disability, age, religion or belief, political opinions,
trade union activity, national or social origin, educational background,
nationality, language, economic status, health, appearance, family
relationships, family responsibilities, or any other personal reason. A
model for addressing harassment and inappropriate behavior is in place,
and employees are instructed to raise any issues. Cases are promptly
addressed on discovery, and all reports are handled fairly, impartially,
and confidentially. The company has principles for creating a safer
space to ensure that everyone can feel mentally and physically safe
without fear of discrimination, harassment or bullying. The experience
of diversity and equality is monitored as part of employee surveys.
In accordance with its Code of Conduct, the company’s
operations are guided by international declarations, agreements, and
recommendations, such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ILO Convention
on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the OECD Guidelines for
Multinational Enterprises, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business
and Human Rights. The company’s Code of Conduct related to its own
workforce are derived from internationally recognized standards and
the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and, in the
company’s interpretation, are in line with them.
The company has an occupational safety program, with the main
target of preventing workplace accidents and developing occupational
safety work, including an annual assessment of risks and hazards
in all operations. These plans and programs are developed in
collaboration with employee representatives and are a significant part
of communication with the company’s own workforce.
Knowledge and respect for human rights and labor rights are ensured
through annual Code of Conduct training, which is required for all
employees. Additionally, training is available to employees to promote
diversity and inclusion, and various models are in place to address
potential issues.
Measures to address and/or enable the correction of human rights
impacts related to own workforce are detailed in the Stakeholder
Dialogue table.
The scope, responsibilities, and availability of the company’s policies
are presented in the Policies adopted to manage material sustainability
matters section.
Processes for engaging with own workforce and
workers’ representatives about impacts
In addition to daily interactions, the company’s general processes for
communication with employees and their representatives include
the employee survey conducted 3-4 times a year, the internal
personnel development plan, the equality and non-discrimination
plan, the occupational safety program, the activities of the diversity
group, various training sessions and coaching, a transparent process
for employee ideas, the reporting channel, employee information
sessions, and readiness group activities. The company’s operating
model involves engaging employees in the planning and development
of operations both directly and through employee representatives and
considering employees’ perspectives in decisions and actions related
to the workforce and operational development. The company has shop
stewards and occupational safety representatives at each location.
Senior employees are represented by a trust representative. Informative
cooperation negotiations are widely and purposefully utilized. The
company maintains continuous and transparent dialogue between the
employer and employee representatives through regular discussions.
• Quarterly discussions are held between the CEO, the Chief HR Officer,
selected Management Team members, and employee representatives
about the company’s development prospects, financial situation,
workplace rules, practices and principles, workforce utilization,
employee structure, skill development, maintaining and promoting
well-being, and other current issues from the last quarter.
• The HR manager conducts a status review with shop stewards 2-4
times a month on current issues.
• If necessary, changes are negotiated with employee representatives
before implementation.
The Chief HR Officer has operational responsibility for communication
and incorporating the results into the company’s practices.
The company applies the collective agreement between the retail
employers’ association and the service sector union to the extent
applicable to the workforce, and the dialogue model of the collective
agreement to the entire staff. The effectiveness of communication is
demonstrated by various agreements and results that have arisen from
employee initiatives. Recent examples are related to the pay grades and
working hours of logistics employees and the use of temporary workers
in after-sales tasks.
The perspectives of the company’s workforce on diversity and
inclusion are measured as part of the employee survey, which allows free-
form anonymous feedback. Statutory workplace surveys also address
inclusion and diversity. Additionally, both the company’s own and external
workforce can use the company’s reporting channel. The diversity group’s
activities support increasing awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In addition to regular dialogue, the company plans to conduct a survey on
the experiences of minority groups regarding vulnerability and develop
practices to improve the treatment of minority groups if necessary.
54Report of the Board of Directors
2024