Human Rights Policy

This policy sets out our commitment and the steps we take to meet our responsibility to respect internationally recognised human rights standards. It is guided by the International Bill of Human Rights and the principles concerning fundamental rights set out in the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Northern Tree Services complies with national laws and regulations in the jurisdictions within which it operates. In the event of a conflict between national laws and regulations and international human rights standards, Northern Tree Services will always seek to implement processes that respect those international human rights standards.

This policy provides the basis for embedding responsibility to respect human rights throughout all our business functions and applies not only to Northern Tree Services, but also to its employees, contractors, suppliers, and any other third party working with us as part of our operations.

This policy is approved and overseen by the Director. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure compliance, with the Director maintaining overall responsibility.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

Diversity and Inclusion.At Northern Tree Services we believe that people have a right to be treated with dignity. NTS is committed to providing a working environment free from harassment and bullying and ensuring all employees are treated, and treat others, with dignity and respect.

Northern Tree Services recognises that our ongoing success in meeting or exceeding the needs and expectations of our customers, both internal and external, requires the full and active involvement and participation of multitalented and committed individuals regardless of their gender, race, ethnic origin, disabilities, age, or sexual orientation.

Therefore, by fostering and developing an atmosphere of acceptance and support, we will nurture and value the synergies afforded by the diverse styles, ideas, and contributions of each person within our organisation.

We will continually strive to maintain the ultimate goal of workplace diversity and will enhance our ability to recruit, retain, and tap the full potential of employees at all levels to achieve the following result:

• Reflect and enhance the social and economic circumstances of citizens in the areas in which we are located.
• Work towards the elimination of any bias that may exist in the work environment.

Diversity complements other organisational values such as leadership, teamwork, empowerment, and quality of service.

It includes the work environment, and respect for other people and ideas and is inclusive of everyone. Whilst its primary focus may revolve around issues, ideas and examples of discrimination based on religion, race, and gender, we shall neither define nor limit diversity to be determined solely by these issues.

Diversity is inclusive of age, personal and work history, education, function, and personality including sexual orientation, ethnic origin, tenure, and status within the organisation. It shall also encompass management styles and ways of thinking, leadership abilities, skill levels, experiences, viewpoints, expression of thoughts and ideas and differing ways of delivering the diversity of services that together make up our business equation whilst offering consistency in the values we share.

Diversity is all-inclusive, it focuses on equality of opportunity, and recognises and respects the many differences that employees bring to their work environment, and also acknowledges the needs of the communities and the markets, which we serve.

Adherence to and the ongoing development of this policy on diversity therefore forms an important part of our business philosophy.

Equal Opportunities –

It is the policy of Northern Tree Services in compliance with all relevant laws, to provide equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We will prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, creed, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability, citizenship, and marital or veteran status.

We will provide equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants and will encourage the same attitude with participating business partners. All recruitment, promotion, training, and transfer will be based upon ability and exclude any consideration of an applicant’s employee’s or trainees’ sex, religion, politics or disability.

To ensure that the Equal Opportunity Policy is effective Northern Tree Services will: –

1. 1. Allocate responsibility for the implementation of the policy to the Director for the effective application of this policy.
   2. Make the policy known to all employees, trainees, and job applicants.
   3. Maintain a neutral working environment for all employees, that is, an environment free from flags, posters or any other display or sectarian allegiance, which might give offence or cause

apprehension to any individual or any group of trainees/employees.

• Ensure that all managers are fully aware of their obligations to provide Equal Opportunities in accordance with this policy.
• Advise trainees/employees of procedures for dealing with complaints of discrimination and deal efficiently, effectively, and promptly with any complaints.
• Regard breaches of the Equal Opportunities Policy as a disciplinary offence.
• This policy will be subject to regular review to ensure its ongoing suitability and effectiveness.

Health, Safety and Hygiene in the Workplace

Please refer to our HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY.

Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Child Labour

NTS is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains. There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour used in any part of NTS. Employees and workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers and are free to leave their employment after reasonable notice is given in accordance with their contract. Identity papers may be checked to ensure we comply with our legal obligation to ensure individuals have the right to work in the UK but these are always returned.

We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We expect the same high standards from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners, and as part of our contracting processes, we include specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.

The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control.

NTS is aware of the increased risks to the health and safety of young persons (Under 18) due to their lack of experience of work place hazards.

NTS will take all reasonable measures to ensure the health and safety of young persons whilst employed or under the control of the Company.

Before employing a young person a risk assessment of the work activities to be undertaken and the place of work will be undertaken to identify any significant risks to health and safety and the measures required to ensure they are not injured or experience ill health.

The risk assessment will take into consideration the inexperience, lack of awareness of risks and immaturity of the young person. Consideration will also be given to the layout of the workplace, nature and degree of exposure to hazardous substances, work equipment and the way in which it is handled, organisation of work and extent of health and safety training.

Young persons will be under constant supervision until they have the required training and competence to complete their work in a safe and healthy manner.

Young persons who have not reached school leaving age will not normally be employed. Such persons however may be under the control of NTS on work experience. In these situations the parent or guardian of the young person will be provided with information on the risks to health and safety and the measures to be implemented before the young person commences work experience.

NTS will follow the guidance given in the HSE document ‘Young People at Work, a Guide for Employers’ HSG165

Treatment of Workers

Physical abuse, the threat of physical abuse, verbal abuse, violence, sexual or other harassment, bullying or other forms of intimidation are prohibited.

Wages, Benefits and Working Hours

We compensate employees competitively relative to the industry and local labour market. We ensure full compliance with applicable wage, work hours, overtime and benefits laws (including but not limited to the laws applicable to the national minimum and living wage). In any event, wages should always be enough to meet the basic needs and provide some discretionary income.

All workers shall be provided with understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the period concerned each time that they are paid.

Deductions from basic wages as a disciplinary measure is not permitted; nor are any deductions from wages not provided for by national law, without the express permission of the worker concerned. Working hours will be defined by contract. Workers may be offered overtime hours from time to time, but there is no obligation to work any overtime. Overtime shall be used responsibly, taking into account the extent and frequency of the hours worked by individual workers and the workforce as a whole. Appropriate safeguards are always taken to protect the worker’s health and safety. Overtime shall not be used to replace regular employment and shall always be compensated for appropriately.

Communication and Review

Northern Tree Services undertakes to ensure that its Human Rights Policy and those policies which derive from it is communicated effectively to all employees, contractors, suppliers, agents and any other third party working with us as part of our operations.

Northern Tree Services strives to create an open and honest working environment in which everyone’s views are valued and respected. All employees can raise any concerns they have regarding any human rights violations through our confidential meetings which the Employee can set up with a manager or the Director whenever best suits them, with complete anonymity and without fear of reprisal. Any customer with concerns regarding Northern Tree Services’ activities and compliance with our Human Rights Policy or legal obligations can raise these through our office to lodge a complaint. This policy shall be reviewed and updated as and when necessary, to reflect changes in relevant legislation and improvements in approach.