Human Rights Standard
PURPOSE
This Human Rights Standard (the “Standard”) is designed to establish standards related to human rights and labour for all Spartan employees and contractors (“Spartans”) and each of Spartan’s suppliers and other business partners (the “Business Partners”). This Standard is informed by, among other things, the International Bill of Human Rights, the Canadian Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Spartan requires our Business Partners to use best efforts to extend the principles embodied in this Standard to their suppliers and agents that are engaged in the production, supply and support of products or services for Spartan. Operating our worldwide business in accordance with these standards is imperative to ensuring that Spartan represents the highest ideals of ethics and integrity.
Oversight, Implementation and Stakeholder Feedback
Spartan’s Board of Directors maintains general oversight for the matters contemplated by this Standard. To ensure that we are listening to, learning from and taking into account all the various stakeholder views as we operate our business and administer this Standard, we are committed to continued engagement with all of our stakeholders.
SPARTAN Training
When applicable, Spartans will receive training on requirements and principles within this Standard as part of their training on Spartan’s Code of Ethics & Conduct. Additionally, our Business Partners are expected to provide training, aligned with the requirements and principles of this Standard, to their employees as appropriate.
Human Rights Principles
As part of our commitment to human rights, we expect Spartans and Business Partners to adhere to these principles:
We are committed to fostering a culture where every individual is valued and respected for their experiences and perspectives – and that reflects the world around us. We believe diverse viewpoints, cultures, races and genders, within an inclusive work environment, contributes to the rich exchange of ideas that inspires innovation and brings the best solutions to our customers.
Further, Spartan strictly prohibits and requires Spartans and Business Partners to prohibit discrimination against or harassment of any employee or applicant on the basis of mental and physical disability, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, sexual orientation, race and color, religious beliefs, ancestry and place of origin, age, and marital and family status or other factors in accordance with the laws and regulations of each province and country where we do business. We expect Spartans and Business Partners to treat each individual with dignity and respect.
2. Health and Safety
Protecting health and safety is a core value and it is against our guidelines and standards for any individual to work in unsafe conditions or in an unsafe manner. At Spartan, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment that complies with applicable health and safety laws, regulations and internal requirements, and require our Business Partners to do the same in order to protect employees from short, immediate and long-term harm.
We are committed to engaging with Spartans to continually improve health and safety in our workplaces, including the identification of hazards and remediation of health and safety issues.
3. Forced Labour and Human Trafficking
Spartan will not tolerate, and we forbid Spartans and Business Partners from using any form of forced, bonded or indentured labor, debt or involuntary servitude, any other form of modern slavery, or involuntary prison work in their operations or within their supply chain. Further, compensation practices should comply with applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime compensation and legally mandated benefits.
Spartans and our Business Partners must have the right to freely terminate employment in accordance with applicable laws and regulations without fear of physical, psychological, sexual or verbal abuse.
Recruitment fees may not be charged to workers or potential workers.
4. Child Labour
Spartan will not tolerate the use of child labour and we forbid our Business Partners to use child labour in our operations or within our supply chain. We require that all Spartans and employees or contractors of our Business Partners be of the appropriate age as defined by applicable local and national laws.
5. Employment Standards, Working Conditions and Compensation
Spartan operates within reasonable working hours and maintains a positive and productive work environment consistent with commonly accepted practices in each locale, and we require the same of our Business Partners. Spartan will not tolerate any form of harsh or inhumane treatment, including sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse. Spartan requires our Business Partners to have a healthy and safe working environment in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and to protect employees from short, immediate and long-term harm.
Where housing is provided, Spartan requires a healthy and safe living environment for Spartans in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, we comply with all applicable wage and hour laws and regulations and provide legally mandated benefits, and we expect Business Partners to do the same.
6. Freedom of Association
Spartan and our Business Partners must respect the rights of workers to associate freely and seek representation in accordance with local laws.
Reporting Concerns or Raising Questions
Spartans and our Business Partners may report any violations of this Standard or other concerns by:
- Contacting a local supervisor/manager or Human Resources; or
- Using Spartan’s Ethics Reporting email address, please click here to file a confidential report: