QUALITANCE supports and ensures the free will of employees to work, as well as their freedom to leave the workplace at any moment or to establish a date for waiving the work commitment, without being applied any penalties.
Should QUALITANCE offer any personal loans to employees, such loans must be paid back within a quantum of maximum 10% of the basic gross monthly salary of the employee (including interests), within a maximum 6 months therefrom.
Education loans given to employees must not exceed 10% of their gross basic annual salary. No loan repayment term shall exceed 1 year.
A.1.2. QUALITANCE shall apply the same employment and labor conditions both to employees directly employed and to those employed through intermediaries. Employees are not requested to pay legal contributions, deposits or debts as part of the employment.
QUALITANCE employees may resign under the terms provided by the law, without being penalized and without any threat. In case of voluntary or involuntary termination of employment agreement, the employee will be paid for all worked hours.
Compliance with work conditions will be monitored in a planned and periodic manner and analyzed during management analysis meetings.
A.1.3. QUALITANCE does not require employees to pay expenses or other fees related to employment. In case of use of recruitment agents that may charge payments to the employer, as employment expenses or other fees, such payments will be repaid to employees by QUALITANCE.
A.1.4. QUALITANCE shall not hold or will destroy, dissimulate, seize or refuse the access of employees to their identity documents or stay documents, such as identification documents issued by the State, passports or work permits, except if the holding by the employer of work permits is required by the law.
QUALITANCE does not work with workforce recruitment agencies that do not comply with previous requirements referring to documents.
A.1.5. The management of QUALITANCE does not impose unreasonable restrictions to the freedom of movement at the workplace or to the entry into and exit from offices and installations made available by the organization and does not limit the access to basic freedoms.
2) Young workers
A.2.1. QUALITANCE does not admit the use of child labor in any compartment of its activity. ”Child” means an employee below 15 years of age, or below the legal age limit for employment (in Romania, 16 or, by exception, 15 years with the consent of parents or legal representatives, according to art. 13 of the Labor Code).
A.2.2. QUALITANCE monitors the requirements referring to child labor and applies proper procedures in this respect.
A.2.3. If underage workers are employed (below 18 years of age), they must not carry out any activities to the detriment of their health, such as night shifts, overtime or working in risky areas for occupational health and security.
A.2.4. Rights of those that study, be they interns or apprentices, are protected, according to all laws and regulations in force, and they receive remunerations equivalent to other beginner employees that carry out similar activities. QUALITANCE encourages and supports both the completion of basic studies and the permanent training of its employees.
QUALITANCE keeps up to date records of students and has collaborations with partners in the education field.
QUALITANCE undertakes to offer to students (or to possible apprentices) only internships and activities that supplement classes in their field of study or that help them study for a new vocation.
Assuming that they will hire as apprentices, the maximum term of the apprenticeship will be of 6 months, should the worker be paid below the minimum wage.
The use of an agency or intermediary to recruit, hire, control student employees, interns or apprentices is not allowed.
The work of student employees, possible interns or apprentices is voluntary (including the selection of the learning location).
QUALITANCE does not use, in any situation, student employees, interns or apprentices to cover the lack of workers in the workplace.
3) Working hours
QUALITANCE is interested in obtaining high productivity, low staff fluctuation, as well as in avoiding injuries and professional illnesses of employees. For this purpose, QUALITANCE has established the optimum working hours in compliance with the law and with the requirements of the RBA Code of Conduct.
A3.1
Weekly working hours of each employee shall not exceed the legal limit. The work duration of Qualitance employees is 8 hours/day, respectively, 40 hours per week.
In exceptional situations, such as the need to carry out urgent works, upon the request of QUALITANCE, employees may perform overtime of maximum 8 hours/week, resulting in a maximum of 48 working hours each week.
A.3.2. Every 5 days, employees are entitled to 2 days of rest, on Saturday and Sunday, according to the national law in force.
A.3.3. QUALITANCE shall monitor and control employees’ working hours. The specialized Human Resources department shall precisely determine, communicate, register, manage and control working hours, including overtime, with detailed and trustworthy registrations of working hours within and outside business hours.
When an act of non-compliance is detected, corrective action is implemented, and the progress towards the achievement thereof is documented.
A.3.4. QUALITANCE employees are entitled to rest leaves, medical leaves, and maternity (or paternity) leaves, public holidays, days off, under the terms provided by the law and the Internal Regulation. Employees have the right to daily breaks for lunch and rest.
4) Salaries and benefits
QUALITANCE offers its employees remuneration and corresponding social advantages according to the law in force. All employees receive a remuneration above the minimum wage provided by the law.
A.4.1. Salaries for normal working hours and overtime are correctly and timely calculated and paid.
QUALITANCE ensures the payment of salaries at the deadlines provided in the individual labor agreements.
The equal labor, equal payment principle is applied for any activity carried out at QUALITANCE.
All employees are paid at least the value of the wage provided in the individual labor agreement for normal working hours.
The time allotted to meetings, trainings, and other similar activities is paid at the same level as the basic activity.
Overtime and other compensations and benefits are paid in addition to the normal working hours.
The increment for overtime given to employees shall not exceed 75% of the basic salary.
A.4.2. Each month, employees shall receive written and sufficient information to verify the compliance of the salary with the work carried out.
For each monthly paycheck, employees shall receive a clear salary payslip that includes sufficient information to verify the accuracy of the compensation for the work carried out and all contributions according to applicable laws.
The remuneration for the temporary, delegated or subcontracted workforce shall be done according to the law in force.
A.4.3. QUALITANCE shall not apply wage cuts for disciplinary reasons.
A.4.4. QUALITANCE shall ensure to all team members the payment of social contributions according to the law.
Wage cuts according to the law are properly calculated by the specialized department and notified to the National Agency for Fiscal Administration at the terms established according to the law.
5) Treatment of humans
A.5.1. Any maltreatment, inhuman and/or degrading treatment is forbidden. This category of forbidden behavior also includes sexual harassment, sexual abuse, body punishments, mental or physical coercion and any threat of such treatments. In case of misconduct, sanctions related to disciplinary misconduct provided by the Internal Regulation shall apply.
A.5.2. All disciplinary procedures that sustain such requirements are clearly defined and communicated to employees. QUALITANCE management is extremely interested in assuring decent and human work conditions and a proper treatment of workers. Thus, it allots all necessary resources and has established a proper organizational framework.
A.5.3 Disciplinary misconducts are registered, according to internal procedures, and are analyzed by the Disciplinary Research Commission of QUALITANCE.
Registrations of disciplinary misconducts are communicated to the employee in a verifiable manner.
Registrations of disciplinary misconducts are signed and confirmed by the employee.
6) Non-discrimination
A.6.1. QUALITANCE forbids staff harassment and discrimination. QUALITANCE shall not exercise and shall not allow any discrimination referring to: -race; -skin color; -age; -sex; -sexual orientation, identity and expression; -ethnicity or national origin; -handicap; -pregnancy; -religion; -political affiliation; -affiliation to a trade union; -status of war veteran; -protected genetic information; -civil status during employment; in human resources practices, such as salary, promotions, rewards and access to training.
During the recruitment process, no improper or irrelevant questions to evaluate if the employee is fit for the job shall be addressed. The information found by the QUALITANCE recruitment team during the recruitment process, i.e. during the notice is exclusively based upon candidate’s ability to comply with the requirements of the desired job. Recruitment announcements and related information are not discriminating.
Job descriptions can include references to occupational qualifications, and not to personal characteristics.
Existing or potential employees are not subject to medical examinations that might be used in a discriminating manner.
No employee or candidate for employment shall be subject to medical examinations (except for those expressly provided by the law in force), to pregnancy tests or physical skills tests that may be used in a discriminating manner.
A.6.2. Internal policies and procedures of QUALITANCE are periodically analyzed and amendments thereto are communicated to employees and workforce collaborators.
A.6.3. QUALITANCE shall make available to employees, upon request, a reasonably arranged area for religious practices.
The reasonable area for religious practices and the adjustment to the work environment are ensured to allow the employee to comply with their religious beliefs, either at work or during the job recruiting process.
QUALITANCE makes available to employees a mechanism for the receipt of requests for pray areas.
7) Freedom of association
A.7.1. QUALITANCE sustains and respects employees’ right to set up or to be part of trade unions, at their own discretion, to collectively negotiate and participate in peaceful meetings. Moreover, QUALITANCE respects employees’ right to refrain from participating in such activities.
Employees and their representatives have the right to communicate and openly share with the management of the organization their ideas and concerns related to work conditions and managerial practices, without any fear of being subject to discriminations, punitive measures, intimidations or harassments.
Workers can set up or register in a trade union, as they wish.
QUALITANCE shall not interfere with the trade union or finance it.
A.7.2 QUALITANCE respects employees’ right to collective negotiation or to refrain therefrom.
Legal rights of all workers are complied with, either if they have been collectively negotiated or if they have refrained from such association.
QUALITANCE participates in good faith in the collective negotiation process with employees’ representatives.
A.7.3 QUALITANCE respects employees’ right to participate in peaceful meetings, as well as their right to refrain from such meetings, and makes available to them all the necessary premises.
The individual or collective right of workers to express, promote, pursue, and defend their interests or ideas, or to refrain from this are guaranteed during such meetings.
A.7.4 Representatives of employees and trade union leaders will not be subject to discrimination.
QUALITANCE shall not dismiss, shall not take any disciplinary measures or threaten employees to encourage or discourage them to form or join a trade union or to refrain from doing so.
B. Health and security
To achieve organizational targets, to ensure a higher quality of offered services, to daily select and collaborate with the staff, QUALITANCE supports and implements any necessary measures which aim at minimizing the number of work accidents and professional illnesses and at ensuring a healthy and secure workplace. QUALITANCE puts great value on and encourages continuous employee communication and training, in order to identify and solve occupational health and security issues.
1) Occupational security
B.1.1 QUALITANCE controls occupational health and security risks. These have been identified and evaluated by qualified specialists. Moreover, QUALITANCE sustains the implementation of necessary administrative measures, the application of preventive maintenance, safe work procedures, as well as the signaling or closing of dangerous premises.
Employees are periodically trained in occupational security and are encouraged to communicate to QUALITANCE any concern related to occupational security.
All authorizations and licenses needed by QUALITANCE must be obtained and updated within scheduled time-intervals.
B.1.2. QUALITANCE ensures keeping under control of the exposure of employees to possible occupational hazards (e.g., electrical sources, fire, vehicles and fall hazards).
B.1.3. If the periodical analysis of occupational health and security risks results in the need for personal protection equipment (PPE), the management of QUALITANCE shall ensure such equipment.
In the case of pregnant women and nursing mothers, QUALITANCE shall ensure additional protection as to the work conditions, according to the law in force. Under these circumstances, pregnant women and mothers of small children are ensured workplaces that are not dangerous for their health and security. QUALITANCE ensures, upon request, corresponding premises for nursing mothers, and nursing breaks are paid.
2) Preparing for emergency situations
B.2.1. QUALITANCE is concerned with potential emergency situations and events as well as with the organization’s ability to respond.
In case potential emergency situations are identified and assessed, QUALITANCE will prepare emergency plans and related procedures that will decrease the impact of such emergency situations. Such plans are periodically verified through simulations of emergency situations.
Employees are periodically trained for emergency situations, and QUALITANCE has implemented warning, notification, and evacuation means. Work areas have proper fire detection and extinction equipment, as well as properly signaled safety exits.
Upon the occurrence of emergency situations and events, QUALITANCE has prepared continuity plans which aim at minimizing human, environmental, material or computer losses. All permits and licenses for activities and equipment must be kept up to date.
B.2.2. QUALITANCE offices have proper and efficient fire detection systems, alarm and firefighting systems.
B.2.3. Possible emergency situations are identified and evaluated. Proper and efficient training and response to emergency situations programs and procedures are drafted.
B.2.4. Emergency exits are easily accessible and properly signaled.
B.2.5. Employees must carry out simulations of emergency situations, for which records must be kept, periodically and in a planned manner.
B.2.6. An intervention team trained in emergency situations (ERT) and equipped with PPE (protection equipment) operates at the QUALITANCE office.
3) Work accidents and professional illness
To avoid work accidents and professional illness, QUALITANCE has ordered the issue and implementation of procedures and systems designed to prevent, manage, monitor and report possible incidents of this type. Such procedures include provisions referring to encouraging employees to notify such issues, to the classification and registration of accidents or professional illness situations, to ensure proper medical treatment, to analyze and apply corrective measures and to facilitate the return of affected employees to the workplaces.
B.3.1. QUALITANCE holds all authorizations and licenses requested by law in order to be able to operate. Authorizations are periodically analyzed to be renewed.
In case of work accidents or professional illness, trial reports are prepared.
B.3.2. All incidents, accidents, and professional illnesses are investigated and corrective actions are taken by the competent departments of QUALITANCE.
B.3.3. First aid is offered under optimum conditions and by a sufficient number of trained and identifiable persons (e.g. name tags).
B.3.4. QUALITANCE offices are equipped with first aid kits which are verified on a monthly basis.
4) Industrial hygiene
QUALITANCE has ordered the identification and evaluation, respectively the maintenance under control of risks of exposing employees to chemical, biological and physical agents by specialists that are qualified in this respect. Possible risks identified are eliminated or controlled. If risks cannot be properly controlled, employees will be provided with individual protection equipment. Employees exposed to such risks are trained with regard to such risks by means of educational materials.
B.4.1. QUALITANCE holds all the authorizations and licenses requested by law in order to be able to operate. If upon the evaluation of exposure risks of employees to chemical, biological, and physical agents there is sufficient probability of occurrence thereof, QUALITANCE will make the necessary verifications and will prepare trial reports for possible exposure to industrial hygiene risks.
B.4.2. Controls concerning the exposure of employees to chemical, biological, and physical agents are properly implemented. Possible risks are eliminated or controlled through proper design as well as through technical and administrative controls.
5) Challenging physical work
QUALITANCE has ordered the identification and evaluation, respectively the keeping under control of risks of exposing employees to chemical, biological, and physical agents by specialists that are qualified in this field.
QUALITANCE has evaluated and identified possible security risks associated with the work equipment used by employees and has ordered the keeping of such risks under control by implementing proper administrative measures.
6) Protection equipment systems
Work equipment used by QUALITANCE employees is verified in order to identify and evaluate possible security risks. Identified risks are kept under control through proper administrative measures.
B.6.1. QUALITANCE will obtain the necessary authorizations for work equipment, which must be updated, if necessary.
B.6.2. A proper and efficient security program is implemented so that employees can work under security conditions.
7) Sanitation, food, and living
B.7.1. QUALITANCE employees have access to clean sanitary installations, freshwater, proper installations and devices to keep and prepare food, proper locations for having lunch.
B.7.2. The nature of the activities carried out by QUALITANCE does not require providing team members with access to sleeping facilities. However, it benefits from creating an adequate environment under the form of relaxation and recreation areas.
Necessary licenses and authorizations are obtained by QUALITANCE, where necessary. If accommodation facilities are made available to employees, they shall comply with the corresponding hygiene conditions.
B.7.3. QUALITANCE has no cafeteria. If commissioned, the cafeteria will be kept clean and will comply with hygiene conditions according to the law in force.
8) Communication on security and health
QUALITANCE ensures the periodical training of employees in occupational health and security. Relevant information concerning occupational health and security is displayed in the workplace.
Employees are encouraged to express their concerns referring to health and security.
C. Work environment
The provision of world-class software-related services also involves environmental responsibilities. QUALITANCE acts to reduce negative effects on community, environment and natural resources through measures involving the optimum use of resources and management of wastes and emissions. For this purpose, the organization has established, documented, implemented, maintained, and improved an environmental protection management system according to SR EN ISO 14001 certified by Certind SA, an accredited certification organism.
1) Environmental permits and reporting
C.1.1. QUALITANCE holds all the necessary authorizations and licenses to carry out its activities. According to the law in force, the activities and operations carried out by QUALITANCE do not require an environmental authorization or a statement on the environmental fund.
C1.2 QUALITANCE prepares and sends, within legal terms, all reports provided by the law in force.
2) Preventing pollution and decrease of resources
QUALITANCE sustains the optimum use of resources, the decrease of consumption of energy and water, the decrease of the waste rate, as well as the increase of recycling and reuse of materials. To comply with these objectives, QUALITANCE has approved, implemented, monitored and improved environmental management programs.
3) Hazardous substances
C.3.1. QUALITANCE is concerned about the possible danger of releasing into the environment certain chemical products or dangerous materials, even if, according to the nature of its activities, it does not use such materials throughout the provision of services.
C.3.2. To avoid the release into the environment of certain substances included in electronic equipment of products that have been decommissioned, the equipment or products must be recycled or eliminated by specialized companies based upon service agreements. Until the takeover by specialized companies, decommissioned electronic equipment and products must be handled, stored, and transported in a controlled manner.
4) Solid waste
By implementing an environmental management system, solid wastes resulting from own activities must be identified, evaluated and managed.
5) Atmospheric emissions
C.5.1. QUALITANCE services provision processes release no polluting agents into the atmosphere.
C.5.2. QUALITANCE services provision processes do not generate noise above the normal limits of office activities. The environmental noise on QUALITANCE premises is monitored.
6) Restriction of materials
The nature of the activities and operations carried out by QUALITANCE does not involve the manufacturing of products or the use of restricted or forbidden substances according to the law in force.
7) Management of water resources
Production processes of QUALITANCE do not involve the use of water for technological purposes.
For hygienic and food purposes, water in the urban network is used.
QUALITANCE management is interested in avoiding access to the wastewater collection system of contaminated substances.
QUALITANCE controls possible wastewater contamination channels by ensuring the permanent cleaning of sanitary equipment and by training employees in this respect.
8) Energy consumption and release of greenhouse gases
C.8.1. Activities that directly or indirectly produce greenhouse gas are kept under control.
C.8.2. Various measures to decrease the consumption of energy and fuels are applied in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and their effects are visible at the level of costs.
D. Ethics
QUALITANCE management undertakes social responsibilities and the success of the organization on the market. Thus, the organization and employees will comply with the most exigent ethical rules.
1) Business integrity
QUALITANCE management and employees comply with the most exigent ethical rules in all business relationships.
QUALITANCE management does not allow gifts accepted or offered in exchange of favors, corruption, extortion of funds, misappropriation of funds.
QUALITANCE develops and maintains all its business relationships in a transparent manner and are accurately registered in the organization’s accounting records.
QUALITANCE complies with the anti-corruption law.
Small attentions will be accepted and/or offered strictly under procedural conditions and within the procedural amount.
2) No undue advantage
QUALITANCE employees must not promise, offer, accept or authorize gifts, bribe or other means to obtain undue or illegal advantages.
It is also forbidden to promise, to offer, to authorize, to give or accept any object of value, directly or through intermediaries, to obtain or keep a market, to transfer the business to someone else or to obtain illegal advantages.
3) Disclosure of information
QUALITANCE management publishes, according to the law in force and to the RBA code requirements, information referring to: