FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
1. Protecting our planet’s environment
We’re committed to:
- sourcing products and services that minimise environmental harm, and
- working with suppliers on ways to understand the environmental impact of our products, and
- encouraging the continual evaluation of environmental best practices.
2. Conduct business lawfully and with integrity
We expect our suppliers to adhere to local laws and international standards regarding human rights, workplace safety, workers compensation and treatment.
3. Treat employees with dignity and respect
We believe employee equality is a fundamental human right. We expect all suppliers to establish a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for their employees.
4. A safe and healthy workplace for everyone
We expect our suppliers to conduct their activities in a manner that respects human rights as set out by international frameworks, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
5. Respect and support local communities
We believe every company has a responsibility to the local communities on which they have an impact and from which they profit. We are committed to working with suppliers who understand the issues facing the communities in which they operate, and to endeavour to conduct business in a way that builds social capital and achieves a positive impact.
Protecting the environment
Environmental protection
As a minimum, suppliers must comply with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements and employ reasonable measures to mitigate any adverse impacts its products and services may have on the environment.
Where we classify a supplier as having either a high or medium environmental impact, they should have policies and procedures in place to manage these risks.
Environmental impact
Suppliers recognise the importance of addressing environmental sustainability in their business, and continuously work to minimise the environmental impact of their operations, as much as possible.
ESG Policy
We seek to ensure that best practice in environmental principles, statements and metrics are incorporated in our business policies. We pay particular attention to ethical and sustainable sourcing, environmental performance and our relationships with our suppliers and customers.
Our positive selection of suppliers will, where practicable, include a review of the suppliers' objectives and actions in relation to best practices, via our detailed Supplier Evaluation Questionnaire on Sustainability. We expect our larger suppliers to meet a robust set of ESG criteria and we encourage and assist the adoption of best practice amongst all suppliers.
Conduct business lawfully and with integrity
Compliance with Laws
Suppliers must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards within the countries in which they operate and in which they carry out activities for IWG. Suppliers will conduct business in an honest and ethical manner.
Bribery and Corruption
IWG has zero-tolerance for any form of bribery, corruption, extortion, fraud, theft, or embezzlement. All of IWG’s Suppliers must comply with all applicable anti-bribery laws and maintain accurate records that correctly reflect their transactions and contain no false or misleading information.
Suppliers will not give, offer to give, request from, or agree to accept money or anything of value from anyone, directly or indirectly through another party, to gain an improper advantage related to IWG.
Conflicts of Interest
IWG expects suppliers to disclose any and all conflicts of interest in any business dealings. Suppliers must avoid all conflicts of interest that may adversely influence business relationships.
Any ownership or beneficial interest in a Supplier’s (including a Supplier’s subcontractors or agents), business by a government official, representative of a political party, or an IWG employee must be declared to IWG prior to entering into any business relationship with us.
Confidential and Competitor Information
IWG expects Suppliers to obtain and use all market intelligence legitimately and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Suppliers should not attempt to divulge to IWG any non-public competitive information about its competitors obtained illegally and unethically. Likewise, IWG’s confidential information must not be shared with any third party including the media unless expressly permitted by us in writing.
Gifts and Entertainment
IWG strongly discourages gift giving, however, we appreciate that in limited instances, gift-giving (of nominal value) may be customary in some countries and cultures to maintain business relations. Gift-giving should occur sparingly and always be legitimate and aligned with IWG’s Code of Conduct.
In no instances shall Suppliers accept from or offer to IWG employees any cash or cash equivalent gifts. Any gifts, entertainment, or hospitality must always be of nominal value and, regardless of amount, never received or offered during contract negotiation, bidding, tender, or award. All employees are provided with training on gifts and hospitality and all employees and Board members must disclose all gifts on the IWG Gift Register.
Sanctions
Suppliers must comply with applicable embargoes and trade sanctions, including the restrictions maintained by the EU, UN, US, and the UK (or all other applicable laws). These laws prohibit dealings with restricted countries, governments, businesses, and individuals.
Financial Records, Money Laundering, and Insider Trading
All business and commercial dealings are transparently performed and must be accurately recorded in the Supplier’s records. Suppliers will not falsify records or misrepresent conditions or practices. There must be no actual or attempted participation in financial crime, tax evasion, facilitation of tax evasion, and money laundering and Suppliers will take steps to prevent financial transactions from being used by others to launder money or evade or facilitate the evasion of taxes.
No confidential information in the Supplier’s possession regarding IWG or its affiliates is used to either engage in or support insider trading.
Anti-Facilitation of Tax Evasion
IWG has a zero-tolerance policy towards tax evasion or facilitation of tax evasion. We are fully committed to complying with all legislation, regulation, and applicable guidelines designed to prevent tax evasion and the facilitation of tax evasion wherever we, our clients, our Suppliers, and our business partners operate. At all times, business is to be conducted in a manner such that the opportunity for, and incidence of, tax evasion is prevented.
Safeguarding Information and Property
IWGs’ confidential information, know-how, and intellectual property must be respected and safeguarded. Any and all personal information about individuals, such as IWG’s consumers or employees, must be handled with full respect for the protection of their privacy and for all relevant privacy laws and regulations. All information provided by IWG that is not in the public domain is deemed confidential and it is only used for its intended and designated purpose.
IWG expects Suppliers not to misuse or misappropriate IWG’s physical assets and proprietary information. All such information and data must be kept confidential and protected from any unauthorised access, destruction, use, modification, and disclosure, through appropriate organisational and technical controls. Suppliers must respect the intellectual property rights of all third parties.
Reporting Concerns and Non-retaliation
All employees (whether directly employed or not) are provided with means by which to raise their concerns about any of these requirements.
Processes are in place to ensure that employees who raise concerns and speak up in good faith are protected from retaliation.
Treat employees with dignity and respect
Workplace Respect
IWG expects Suppliers to establish a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for their employees. All employees are treated with respect and dignity. No employee is subject to any threats, bullying, or unlawful harassment of any type, including emotional, physical, or sexual harassment. IWG expects Suppliers not to discriminate against any person or group of people in its hiring and employment practices, codes of conduct, programs, services, compensation, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement or in any other aspect of its operations or activities on the basis of that person or group of people's personal characteristics or attributes.
Any form of disrespect and abuse towards IWGs’ employees is not tolerated.
Diversity and Inclusion
IWG expects Suppliers to create a work environment where all individuals have equal opportunities and are treated with dignity and respect. IWG encourages Suppliers to seek to create an equally diverse and global workforce, and to expect their employees to embrace norms that support an inclusive culture, workplace, and community.
A healthy and safe workplace
Work is conducted on a voluntary basis
Under no circumstances should a Supplier use forced labour, whether in the form of compulsory or trafficked labour, bonded labour, indentured labour, or other forms. Mental and physical coercion, slavery, and human trafficking are prohibited.
Wages and working hours are reasonable
All employees are paid fair wages which meet or exceed the legal minimum standards or appropriate prevailing industry standards, whichever is higher. Other than legally mandated deductions, all other deductions from wages must be made only with the express and written consent of the employees concerned and in compliance with applicable laws and international human rights standards.
Working hours for all employees are reasonable, and employees are not required to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country where the employees are employed. All overtime work by employees is on a voluntary basis and compensated in line with relevant regulations.
All employee’s health and safety are protected at work
IWG expects all Suppliers to provide their employees with a healthy and safe workplace, as per local health and safety laws and regulations, to prevent accidents and injury arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the Supplier/employer’s operations.
Work is conducted on the basis of freely agreed and documented terms of employment
All employees - whether permanent, fixed term, or casual - are provided with employment documents that are freely agreed to and respect employees’ legal and contractual rights.
All employees are of an appropriate age
Under no circumstances should a Supplier employ individuals under the local legal minimum age for work or mandatory schooling. When young employees are employed, they must not do work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous or harmful or interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school.
All employees are free to exercise their right to form and/or join trade unions or to refrain from doing so, and to bargain collectively
The rights of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining are recognised and respected. Employees are not intimidated or harassed in the exercise of their right to join or refrain from joining any organisation.
Respect local communities
Community Involvement
IWG encourages Suppliers to bolster the well-being of the local community through their business. Suppliers must operate with respect for local communities and indigenous people and their rights and title to property and land.
IWG encourages Suppliers to understand and observe the cultural and economic context in which they are working, to operate safely and responsibly, to be mindful of the wellbeing of communities and to foster positive social and economic relationships with local communities.
Social Value
IWG recognise the mutual influence between supply chains and communities and encourage our Supplier to take opportunities to integrate sustainability initiatives into their supply chain - through creating value for communities and providing a more integrated and holistic consideration of supply chain-community interactions.