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Sustainable Value SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS PLC ANNuaL REPORT 2012 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT Sustainable value Corporate responsibility is integral to the way Spirent conducts its business and we are committed to advancing our policies and systems across the Group to ensure that we address all aspects of corporate social responsibility (“CSR”). The Board takes ultimate responsibility for CSR with a fundamental commitment Our responsibility framework to create and sustain long term value for shareholders, recognising that acting Ethics Spirent expects that all of its business is conducted responsibly and sustainably creates in compliance with high ethical standards of business value. Spirent’s CSR strategy covers our practice. We apply these standards to all dealings accountability to all of our stakeholders, with employees, customers, suppliers and this includes striving for the highest other stakeholders. ethical standards of business practice; Spirent is its employees. To sustain our competitive how we support, develop and reward our Employees advantage, the Group maintains an environment where employees; how we minimise our impact all employees can develop to their fullest potential, on the environment; and how we support have the opportunity to give back to their communities, and engage in the communities in which and advance their careers. we operate. Health and safety Spirent is committed to continually improving its health and safety performance and is also committed to employee wellbeing by encouraging the adoption of healthier lifestyles by its staff members. Sustainability The Group is committed to the concepts of pollution prevention, minimising environmental impacts and and eco‑efficiency. environmental Community Spirent aims to build stronger and healthier global communities through education, charitable donations and support of non‑profit agencies in the communities in which we operate. 32 OVERVIEW BUSINESS REVIEW GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS • we aim to be a responsible partner Investing in our employees Ethics within our local communities; and For more than 75 years, Spirent has • employees are encouraged and sustained a globally effective organisation supported to report, in confidence, and provided a great place to work through Spirent expects that all of its business is any suspected wrongdoings career advancement opportunities conducted in compliance with high ethical (“whistleblowing”). (resulting in more than 8 per cent of standards of business practice. We apply employees receiving a promotion in 2012), these standards to all dealings with Appropriate ethical behaviour is reviewed as workforce diversity and transparent employees, customers, suppliers and part of the Group’s internal control process. communication. To find, keep and bring other stakeholders. During 2012, Spirent’s out the best in our people, we constantly employees were again clearly reminded of the review and improve our benefits, standards expected of them by the regular Employees retention, development programmes communication and explanation of Spirent’s and career growth opportunities to ensure Vision, Mission and Values statements. Spirent is its people that Spirent remains a great place to work. Spirent understands that the key to success Spirent has continued to ensure that all its is centered on our employees and that one At Spirent there are several reward and systems, controls and training comply with of our primary responsibilities in CSR is to recognition programmes. One way we the anti‑bribery and corruption legislation the people who are Spirent. We rely on our reward and recognise excellence is through in all the countries where we operate and highly skilled, motivated and empowered our Global Recognition Programme, which that a culture of prevention and detection employees to drive the growth of our provides Spot, Excellence and Executive of all forms of bribery and corruption is in business. These 1,400+ employees, Awards. These awards are one‑time cash place. This policy applies to Spirent’s working in over 25 locations in more incentives as recognition for exemplary subsidiaries and business partners. than 12 countries, provide a matchless contributions that demonstrate one or more competitive advantage for us creating of our key values. Spirent also provides The Group’s Ethics Policy, which has innovative products for our customers. project based incentives to recognise and been approved by the Board, is available reward employees for extraordinary work on our website at www.spirent.com. To sustain our competitive advantage and that results in significant overachievement Our Ethics Policy has been developed bring together this culturally diverse group of critical projects. Spirent’s Patent Award to ensure that the Group’s business is of employees, Spirent has built a global programme rewards employees for conducted in adherence with high ethical culture based on four values – being being innovative, while protecting the and legal principles and sets standards creative, competitive, customer focused Company’s investment and intellectual of professionalism and integrity for all and collaborative. These values form the property rights. employees and operations worldwide. foundation of Spirent’s ability to inspire innovation and enrich the lives of millions Spirent believes in sharing its success The following is a summary of the of people around the world. with its employees, with all employees Ethics Policy: participating in some form of variable Employees by geographic location – compensation tied to the achievement • all employees have the right and continuing operations of key goals such as revenue growth responsibility to ensure that Spirent’s and profitability: Growth Sharing Plan for business is conducted with high ethical 1 3 individual contributors through managers; and legal principles; Sales Commission Plan for sales • our policy is to operate within employees; and Management Incentive applicable laws; Plan for senior managers and above. • discrimination or harassment of any 2 kind will not be tolerated; Our challenging work environment inspires • as a matter of policy, we do not make innovation, with continuous learning as an political donations; • no bribes shall be given or received; 1 North America 64% • conflicts of interest must be avoided; 2 Asia 23% 3 Europe 13% 33 SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS PLC ANNuaL REPORT 2012 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT continUED Celebrating our diversity Spirent is committed to upholding human rights and fully believes that diversity fuels business success in a multicultural world. Our rich diversity is reflected in our work environment – including ethnicity, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, culture and global experiences. We believe that this variety of backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, personalities, knowledge, skills and ideas not only creates an enriching experience for our employees, diversity also yields the innovation and creativity demanded by our customers. The Group is committed to providing equality of opportunity to all existing and prospective employees without unlawful discrimination on the basis of religion, disability, gender, age, marital status, Toastmasters@Centennial Campus, in Raleigh NC, was started in 2011 and is one of five Toastmasters International sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or clubs at Spirent. any other protected status. essential part of our human resources and providing competitive compensation philosophy. In 2012, career development and benefits programmes. Our efforts Health and safety centered on the individual, providing continue to bear positive fruit, with global a variety of education and learning voluntary turnover at 8 per cent, a result opportunities over time in a number of that stands out among our competitors The Chief Financial Officer is the different ways. Senior leaders participated where turnover in the high tech industry director appointed by the Board to have in the Leadership 360 Feedback averages over 10 per cent. responsibility for the health and safety Programme and employees completed over performance of the Group. No major health 500 hours of e‑learning on a wide range of Spirent believes that access to health care and safety issues were reported by the technical and business topics. In our Asia benefits is a fundamental responsibility Chief Financial Officer to the Audit Pacific region, employees participated to our employees. Results from our most Committee and Board during the year. in technical workshops, lunch and learn recent Employee Opinion Survey showed sessions, and one of five Toastmasters a marked increase in satisfaction with The health and safety risk profile of the International clubs at Spirent. We also benefit programmes. Around the world Group improved again in 2012 with the launched the new Spirent Learning Center in all of our locations, we align employee disposal of the Systems division, which on our intranet, which offers information needs with the healthcare and wellness was the only division within Spirent which on career management, tools for managers, options available in each country that had not completely outsourced all its and resources for new employees. are both comprehensive and competitive. manufacturing. The new businesses In the United States, where more than acquired by Spirent in 2012, Mu Dynamics and Metrico Wireless, both have the same Engaging our employees 60 per cent of our employees reside, Spirent understands, like all businesses, we offer competitive
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