Carphone Warehouse 2004 Annual Report Download - page 18

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During the year, the UK business joined forces with the
Capital Radio Group, promoting Hang Up or Go Hands Free
throughout the breakfast and drivetime shows, and handing
out free handsfree kits to the first 100 listeners to get to
a specified Carphone Warehouse store. We also joined
up with The Sun newspaper offering all readers a free
handsfree pack, and promoted safe driving across the
UK through our radio advertising.
Since the UK law changed in December 2003, the UK
business has run an ongoing PR campaign to encourage
safe driving and all UK stores now display safe driving
leaflets, informing customers of the risks and of the
new legislation.
To encourage our own employees to drive safely the UK
business installs a free handsfree kit in every company car
and provides every employee with a free handsfree earpiece.
It is also an employee disciplinary offence to use a handheld
mobile phone while driving.
Mobile phones and adult content
With the advent of mass market availability of colour
screen handsets, improving bandwidth and falling prices,
the development of content-based business models
focused on the distribution of pornography via mobile
phones is already accelerating. There is a clear risk that
adult content will become easily accessible by under-age
mobile phone users.
In the UK, network operators have collectively developed
a code of practice for the self-regulation of new forms of
content on mobiles. As part of this, they will appoint an
independent classification body to provide a framework
for classifying commercial content that is unsuitable for
customers under the age of 18. Within the retail business
we have now adopted a policy of taking date of birth details
on all sales, including pre-pay, so that the network operators
will know if users are under 18 and will be able to filter
content accordingly.
Ethical supplier policy
We have introduced an ethical purchasing policy for the
procurement of all goods and services to ensure that we
are operating to the highest standards both legally and
morally. The policy provides guidance on identified criteria
as well as requesting audits and activity reviews in order
to demonstrate a supplier’s compliance.
Disability discrimination
We are constantly reviewing and improving our websites
and stores to provide greater accessibility for our disabled
customers. We have a special needs section on our
website providing clear impartial advice as well as offering
a dedicated e-mail address enabling our special needs
champions to provide the best advice. A dedicated
special needs phone number will go live in June 2004.
We keep up to date with advances in technology and
consult with appropriate charities to provide the best
possible advice on handsets and other accessories and
services. We also provide training for all retail employees
on these matters and our obligations under the Disability
Discrimination Act.
The majority of our stores offer disabled access and at
the few that do not we publish information on the nearest
alternative store with disabled access while a solution is
sought in time for October 2004, when the act comes into
force. Induction loops and drop counters are now being
installed in new stores as standard and by October 2004
they will be available in all stores.
Employee policies
The Group recognises the importance of diversity and
inclusion and has systems in place to recruit employees
of different genders, ages, disabilities and ethnic origins
and recruits through ethnic and female targeted media as
well as advertising all roles internally to aid transparency. All
employees have the right to apply for a more flexible pattern
of working in terms of hours, times or place of work.
2004 will see the fifth year of Backchat, a comprehensive
survey of Carphone Warehouse employees across the
Group, soliciting their views on many issues, from work / life
balance to understanding Group aims. There was an
unprecedented 85% participation rate in the UK, with 81%
of employees stating that they are proud to work for The
Carphone Warehouse. This was reflected in our inclusion
in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For in
2003. The results of the survey are published and analysed
against external benchmarks by a committee representing
all areas of the business, and appropriate action is taken
to address any areas of concern.
Corporate Responsibility continued