Corporate Social Responsibility

Social, Environmental & Ethical Policies

Health & Safety

The health and safety of Parity's employees is paramount. Group policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all employees and to provide such information, training and supervision as is needed for this purpose.

Appropriate written health and safety information outlining the Group's policy in each area will be issued to all new employees. This will include:

First aid - Each office will have a person qualified in first aid. First aid boxes will be readily accessible and records kept of all accidents and injuries

Fire safety - Each office will have an evaluation marshall who will liaise with building management or local emergency authorities, as appropriate. Evacuation assembly points will be agreed for every location and a full evacuation carried out every six months. Fire alarms should be tested regularly.

Employees health - Any employee who believes he / she is suffering from an illness or condition related to their working environment should report this to his / her manager for investigation.

Social Responsibilities

Parity Group is an international business and its policy is to be a good corporate citizen in whichever country it operates. As part of the Group's social responsibility, employees are encouraged to become involved in their local communities and local MDs are authorised to incorporate modest donations to local charities in the annual budget.

The Environment

Transport

• Public transport should be used whenever possible
• Interest-free season ticket loans may be made to staff at the discretion of local management
• Relevant staff are encouraged to take a car allowance rather than company car
• Teleconference facilities will be extended to main office locations to minimise business travel and increase efficiency
• PCs (portable or desktop) will be made available to consultancy staff where needed to facilitate home working and minimise the need to travel to offices

Energy

• Only energy-efficient computers and peripherals will be acquired and they should be turned off at the end of each day
• As a normal part of its operations the Group will seek to occupy offices which have efficient building management systems and, ideally, low energy lighting
• Office lighting should be turned off at the end of each day

Consumables

• Whenever economically justifiable, paper and other consumables used will be made from environmentally-friendly or recycled material or from renewable resources
• Corporate publication and literature will be printed on recycled paper or paper made from environmentally-friendly renewable resources

Recycling

• The Group will make every effort to recycle office paper and envelopes. Appropriate receptacles should be provided at all offices and all paper collected there sent to recycling plants
• The Group will also recycle as much other material, such as toner cartridges, as is economically viable
• When replaced, computers and peripherals will be offered to local schools or charities, or sent to recycling plants.

Ethics

Parity Group's policy is to comply with all national and local laws in the countries in which it operates. The Group also operates a non-discriminatory equal opportunities policy in employment, training and promotion.

All job applicants and employees receive fair and equal treatment irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, nationality, colour, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion or disability. Diversity in the workforce is to be encouraged to reflect, where practicable, the diversity of the working population in each company's area of operation.