Human Rights Policy Statement

At Amicus Talent Solutions, we are dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards and conducting our business with honesty, integrity, and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We take our legal and ethical obligations seriously and are committed to respecting human rights throughout our operations. We expect our suppliers and business partners to share this commitment.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that could lead to a failure to comply with human rights laws. Respect for human rights is fundamental to the sustainability of our business, and we care deeply about the communities in which we operate.

We will not tolerate human rights breaches—either within our own business or our supply chains. We are committed to identifying, preventing, and mitigating adverse human rights impacts resulting from or caused by our business activities.

We strive to comply with human rights and modern slavery laws in all the countries where we operate and are committed to respecting human rights in line with international principles, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Global Compact, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the human rights standards we adhere to, detail our human rights efforts in line with legislation, describe our prevention and remediation approach, and provide guidance to colleagues and non-permanent workers on how to comply with legislation in their day-to-day work and how to raise concerns related to human rights.

This policy covers several important areas, including:

  • Safe and healthy workplace

  • Dignity at work

  • Work hours, wages, and benefits (fair pay)

  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Collective bargaining and freedom of association

  • Forced labor and human trafficking

  • Child labor

Addressing Human Rights

We recognize the need to take steps to identify and address any actual or potential adverse impacts with which we may be involved, whether directly or indirectly through our own activities or our business relationships. We manage these risks by conducting due diligence, engaging with suppliers, conducting site visits, audits, and continuous monitoring.

We understand that human rights due diligence is an ongoing process that requires particular attention at certain stages in our business activities, such as when forming new partnerships or when our operating conditions change, as these changes may create new potential or actual impacts on human rights.

Assessing Risk

In certain countries where we source, there may be potentially high and inherent systemic risks of human rights abuses. In these cases, we undertake enhanced due diligence to assess risks in a bespoke manner. This allows us to mitigate any known issues effectively before engaging in a commercial relationship. Ethical due diligence is an essential component of our human rights risk management. On a risk-proportionate basis, we may obtain independent third-party assessments of selected third parties for assurance purposes or where due diligence requires further information.

Communities We Engage With

We recognize our impact on the communities in which we operate and are committed to engaging with stakeholders in those communities to listen to, learn from, and consider their views as we conduct our business. Not only are we responsible for preventing and mitigating accidents and/or emergencies related to our operations, but we also collaborate to remedy potential or actual negative impacts.

We are committed to fostering goodwill in the communities in which we operate through locally relevant initiatives.

Key Areas of Risk Identified

Human rights breaches can occur in many ways. Below are key areas of risk you should be aware of (although this is not an exhaustive list):

  • Health and Safety in the Workplace: We are committed to ensuring that each one of us goes home safe and well every day. Our vision is for a safe workplace, which means ensuring zero harm for our colleagues and the public. We recognize that our people are at the heart of everything we do and are fundamental to our overall success. Together, we all share responsibility for the safety, health, and well-being of ourselves and our colleagues. We apply systematic ways to identify risks and a hierarchy of control to mitigate them effectively. We comply with all applicable safety, health, and well-being requirements, legal and otherwise, wherever we conduct business and wherever we undertake work activities. We consult and seek participation from colleagues on our risks so we can proactively look for ways to improve our performance. We are committed to ensuring that protective equipment is provided for all relevant roles and that working conditions are safe.

  • Dignity at Work: We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from violence, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and other unsafe or disruptive conditions due to internal and external threats. Where a complaint of bullying or harassment is raised, prompt action will be taken to investigate the complaint, which may lead to corrective action, including disciplinary action against the offender. Appropriate safeguards for colleagues will be provided as needed and will be maintained with respect for employee privacy and dignity.

  • Work Hours, Wages, and Benefits (Fair Pay): We compensate colleagues competitively relative to the industry and local labor market. We operate in full compliance with applicable wage, work hours, overtime, and benefits laws (including pension and health) and expect suppliers to do likewise. In the UK, we pay all colleagues the equivalent of the real Living Wage (as a minimum) and encourage our suppliers operating in the UK to do the same. Outside of the UK, we pay all colleagues in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements for their work location.

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We value all employees and non-permanent workers. The diversity of the people with whom we work and the contributions they make. We have a long-standing commitment to equality and intolerance of discrimination and harassment. We seek to create and maintain a working environment that is both safe and supportive of all our people and where everyone can realize their potential. We are dedicated to maintaining workplaces that are free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, sex, color, national or social origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, political opinion, or any other status protected by applicable law. The basis for recruitment, hiring, placement, training, compensation, and advancement is qualifications, performance, skills, and experience. Regardless of personal characteristics or status, we do not tolerate disrespectful or inappropriate behavior, unfair treatment, or retaliation of any kind. Harassment is unacceptable in the workplace and in any work-related circumstance outside the workplace. These principles apply not only to our employees but also to the business partners with whom we work.

  • Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining: We respect our colleagues’ right to join (or not) or form a labor union without fear of reprisal, intimidation, or harassment. Where colleagues are represented by a legally recognized union, we are committed to establishing a constructive dialogue with their freely chosen representatives. We are committed to bargaining in good faith with such representatives.

  • Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: We prohibit the use of all forms of forced and compulsory labor. All employment relationships are voluntary and based on mutual consent, without the threat of a penalty. We seek to prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are linked to our operations through our business relationships. We conduct due diligence on those we work with.

    January 2025