Saffron Building Society has become only the second mutual to become accredited as a Good Business Charter (GBC) member.
The GBC is a not-for-profit organisation supported by the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry which identifies 10 specific workplace criteria to ensure organisations are committed to improving employee wellbeing.
The criteria includes paying employees the real living wage and having fair working hours, as well as focusing on diversity and inclusion. To receive GBC accreditation, a company must meet all of the obligations it sets out.
Colin Field, CEO at Saffron Building Society, said: “We are incredibly proud to have joined the GBC. Our society values are community, service, responsibility, and problem solving – all of which are cared deeply for by the GBC.
“We wanted to get behind an accreditation that was meaningful and aligned with our values. The GBC demonstrates how passionately we care about our people and our communities under our Amazing Employer Brand.”
He added: “The GBC upholds the values closest to us – supporting the real living wage, employee wellbeing, prompt payment, commitment to customers, environment and more.
The GBC was only launched last February, but despite the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic it already has more than 200 members. Those accredited to the charter include the University of York, TSB bank, Capita and Deloitte.
According to the GBC “members are expected to adhere to the spirit of the Good Business Charter in their dealings with all stakeholders in their approach to the environment and in their legal and financial compliance. These include workers, customers, subcontractors, suppliers, and the community”.
Employees of member companies are actively encouraged to be whistle-blowers if they see practices outside of its charters.
The Good Business Charter was the idea of Julian Richer, who was the initial funder and is now a trustee of the Good Business Foundation.