Human Rights

Human Rights

As a company with global operations, the Hoshizaki Group recognizes that respect for human rights is a vital element of our business activities. We have set out our approach to respect for fundamental human rights and strive to create a comfortable working environment for all employees.

Respect for Human Rights

The Hoshizaki Group recognizes that respect for human rights is a vital element of our business activities.
We have set forth our approach to respect for fundamental human rights, including the prevention of discrimination and harassment and the creation of a corporate culture of mutual respect, and strive to create a highly psychologically secure working environment.
We respect the human rights of all people involved in our business activities.

Key Points on Conduct

  • We respect international frameworks and rules for the respect of human rights, including the “International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights),” “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” “ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,” “UN Global Compact,” and “Children's Rights and Business Principles.” We also understand different backgrounds and values and respect diverse opinions and cultures.
  • We do not tolerate any discrimination based on race, ethnicity, creed, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, religion, place of origin, social status, disability, skin color, or any other grounds.
  • We verify our business partners' human rights initiatives and do not tolerate forced labor, child labor, or discrimination in our supply chain.
  • We do not tolerate any form of harassment (including sexual harassment, power harassment, and customer harassment). We always conduct ourselves while considering others’ position and feelings, and respect their opinions, choices, and privacy.

Prevention of Harassment

In order to prevent harassment, the Hoshizaki Compliance Handbook is used to ensure that all employees are aware that harassment is prohibited. And in order to raise awareness of harassment, we strive to educate our employees through such means as harassment prevention training. We have set up dedicated harassment hotlines at each Hoshizaki Group company separately of whistleblowing hotlines.

Hoshizaki Customer Harassment Policy

Introduction

The Hoshizaki Group aims to be an evolving company that supports customers as well as society. Our purpose is to create unique products based on our proprietary technologies, and to provide new proposals and prompt, high-quality services in order to achieve more comfortable and efficient food environments.

To achieve this, we maintain safe and comfortable work environments in which each and every employee can be physically and mentally healthy and thrive, and can utilize their capabilities to the fullest.

At the same time, in the unlikely event that a customer engages in disruptive behavior that constitutes customer harassment, such behavior would be a blow to the dignity of employees working for our Group, who are responsible for providing safe, high-quality products and services, and would lead to a deterioration of our safe and comfortable work environments.

The Group will continue to take customer opinions and requests seriously. However, we believe that it is also essential to take firm action in the event of customer harassment and to protect each and every employee working for the Hoshizaki Group. We have therefore formulated the Hoshizaki Group Customer Harassment Policy as follows.

Definition of Customer Harassment

Opinions and requests from customers that are deemed to be inappropriate, or whose means or manner of implementation are socially inappropriate and may harm the working environments of employees working at our Group.

Examples of applicable actions

The following are examples; applicable actions are not limited to those listed below.

  • Physical aggression (assault, injury)
  • Psychological attacks (threats, slander, libel, insults, verbal abuse)
  • Intimidating language and behavior
  • Continuous (repeated), persistent (insistent) behavior
  • Requests for kneeling on the ground
  • Restrictive behavior (refusal to leave, remaining seated, confinement)
  • Discriminatory language and behavior
  • Sexual language and behavior
  • Attacks or demands made on individual employees working for the Group
  • Posting of personal information, etc. relating to employees working at the Group on social media/online, etc. (e.g., publication of names, photos, audio, and video)
  • Requests for unreasonable or excessive services
  • Demands for exchange of goods without just cause, demands for monetary compensation, demands for apologies

Our stance in response to customer harassment

In the event that language or behavior deemed to constitute customer harassment is observed, the Group will take firm action to protect its employees and may refuse to respond to the customer. If the behavior is judged to be malicious, it will be dealt with strictly after consulting with lawyers and outside experts, such as the police.

Initiatives at the Hoshizaki Group

We clarify our corporate stance through this policy, and share this knowledge with and raise awareness among our employees.
We establish methods and procedures for responding to customer harassment.
We provide education and training for employees working at our Group.
We establish a consultation and reporting system for employees working at our Group.

Initiatives for Healthy Labor Relations

The Company holds regular meetings with labor unions. Through these meetings, we share important information on company management with the labor unions as necessary, maintaining healthy relationships between labor and management.