Social Responsibility
OLM Group is committed to conducting our business in a socially responsible manner, to contribute to the communities in which we operate and to respect the needs of our colleagues, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
We are also part of the wider community; interacting with many different stakeholders and suppliers in the course of our work. As a Group, we seek to widen our perspective and think about how our ethical, social and environmental responsibilities fit alongside our corporate values of innovation, development, good practice and business excellence.
Our success depends on many factors: how we treat each other, how we choose to get involved in the wider community, and how effective our environmental policies are.
We are also part of the wider community; interacting with many different stakeholders and suppliers in the course of our work. As a Group, we seek to widen our perspective and think about how our ethical, social and environmental responsibilities fit alongside our corporate values of innovation, development, good practice and business excellence. Our success depends on many factors: how we treat each other, how we choose to get involved in the wider community, and how effective our environmental policies are.
Our People
Our staff are undoubtedly our greatest asset. We recognise the value and importance of our employees, and managing talent within our company is a priority.
1. Equal Opportunities and Diversity
Our aim is to promote and develop equality in the workplace; to ensure fairness in our decision-making and maintain a good working relationship with all employees and stakeholders.
The underlying principle of OLM Group’s Equality and Diversity policy is to treat everyone with respect and consideration. Our employment policies comply with all relevant legislation and seek to ensure that the working environment within all areas of our business embraces diversity, offers fairness and equality of opportunity in every respect.
2. Recruitment
Applicants for employment within our business will be assessed fairly, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity or religious belief. They will be treated with honesty and respect at every stage of the recruitment process.
3. Training and Development
OLM Group’s policy is to ensure that all our employees receive appropriate training so that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their role and contribute to business success. We also support employees to maximise their potential to enable progression within the company.
In order to further support up-skilling, OLM Group is committed to assisting employees in furthering their education. Our Education and Study policy supports employees who wish to build their skills and knowledge either as part of or outside their current role.
4. Health and Safety
OLM Group aims to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all our employees and visitors, not only on our premises, but also for those staff and contractors working on customer sites. We recognise and accept our responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management Of Health and Safety Work Regulations 1999, to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of our employees and stakeholders.
5. Flexibility
OLM Group recognises the need for our employees to have a meaningful work-life balance. We aim to address this by offering a range of solutions to assist employees in managing commitments at work and at home:
• Flexible working hours
• Home-based working
• Annual leave and additional leave – we have a generous leave allowance which can be supplemented by additional unpaid leave if required
• Sabbaticals
• Maternity / paternity leave – we meet all the statutory requirements and beyond. We also offer flexible working to employees with children under the age of 6
Effective Communication
OLM Group recognises that effective communication is key to success and we place emphasis on both formal and informal communication:
• OnLine Monthly
This regular email newsletter is circulated to all OLM Group employees. It promotes social activities and highlights business achievements, individual performance excellence and provides the opportunity for all colleagues to submit either business or human interest/personal stories.
• Colleague Portal
Our colleague portal is an online engagement platform which is updated on a daily basis and is a central hub which allows employees at all locations and levels access to the latest information, networking opportunities, collaboration on projects and social activities. Regular updates are provided via video and presentations.
• Customer Portal
Our customer portal provides a forum for our customers to keep abreast with the latest news, product and service developments from OLM Group as well as communicate with each other and share best practice. Importantly, it is interactive and allows open dialogue between all users.
Our Environment
At OLM Group, we understand that our normal business activities have an impact on the wider environment and recognise our responsibility for achieving good environmental practice.
We aim to minimise any harmful effects and consider the development and implementation of environmental standards to achieve this to be of great importance. As such, we strongly encourage the internationally established 3 Rs: reduce, re-use, recycle:
Recycling
A key part of OLM Group’s corporate environmental strategy is sustainable waste management. As such, we encourage recycling wherever possible. We have established recycling programmes at all our offices through the introduction of desk-side recycling facilities. We are also aware of the environmental cost of internal communication and dissemination of information and to this end, communicate corporate announcements and documentation through our intranet and email with the consequent reduction in use of paper and carbon fuels. We promote a paper free office environment in all business offices to minimise wastage of material.
All mobile phones whether in working order or not are recycled through a scheme that refurbishes handsets whilst making a donation to a named charity.
Reducing paper use and energy emissions
OLM Group seeks to reduce fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions through coordinating route planning and delivery schedules. When our consultants travel to customer sites we endeavour to seek the most environmentally friendly transport method, whilst planning continuous journeys to minimise travel.
Our bicycle loan and interest free season ticket loan schemes encourage staff to use more efficient modes of transport to and from work, reducing car travel.
We strive to recruit locally based employees for field-based roles where travel across the UK is required, which helps to reduce affects on the environment.
We also encourage alternative methods of communication where possible, such as conference calling and webinars.
All our printers have been pre-set to double-sided printing to reduce the demands we make on finite natural resources.
Re-use
Where possible we look to replace the reliance on disposable items with re-useable items. We no longer use disposable cups for drinks, instead providing glasses and cups for staff. Technical equipment is either passed to members of the community to use or recycled within the regulations.
Charitable giving and involvement in the community
As an organisation, we are committed to encouraging and supporting the charitable activities of our employees who devote their time and resources to helping good causes. This is part of our responsibility as a good corporate citizen, as an employer, and as a firm that believes in initiative and partnership.
Individual and group activities are organised throughout the year and past activities have included: sponsored bike rides and runs, auctions, cake bakes, food sales, raffles and quizzes.
In 2010, the charities and causes we raised money for include: Children in Need, Comic Relief, Shooting Stars Hospice, the Haiti Appeal, Pakistan Flood Appeal, the Poppy Appeal,
We have been the principal sponsor of the Association of the Directors of Social Work in Scotland since 2005 and a key sponsor of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services since 2007, both of which are registered charities. OLM Group recognises the importance of the advisory work that these organisations perform and is proud to support their efforts.
In 2008, we decided that we would switch from paper Christmas cards to email versions, and instead make a charitable donation to either a local charity or one which has been nominated by one of our staff. Our donations have ranged from £500-£1000 each year and as well as helping a good cause, we are minimising our impact on the environment.