What happens if a factory is found to be out of compliance with Patagonia’s Workplace Code of Conduct?
We use professional third-party auditors to perform most of our social audits. They provide us with a report that outlines how a factory conforms to the requirements of our workplace code of conduct. This report goes to Patagonia’s social responsibility manager, who then, if necessary, works with the factory to develop a corrective action plan. The plan lists the problems and corrective actions. It includes a timeline for compliance. At that stage it’s incumbent upon the factory to take ownership of its shortcomings and embrace the fact that rectifying them is good for its business.
We use professional third-party auditors to perform most of our social audits and our Director of Social/ Environmental Responsibility, a former social auditor and trainer with 12 years experience, conducts a portion of the audits. A post-audit report describes factory compliance with the requirements of our workplace Code of Conduct and local law. This report goes to Patagonia’s Social/Environmental Responsibility Director and Analyst, who then, if necessary, work with the factory to develop a corrective action plan. The plan lists the problems and corrective actions and includes a timeline for compliance. Where problems are serious, we will engage a factory in a continuous improvement process that includes further audits, longer-term training and onsite help to resolve the issues. There is much follow up from our SER team, but at that stage it’s also incumbent upon the factory to take ownership of its shortcomings and rectify them.
Related Questions
- What happens if I make a complaint to the Standards Board for England that another member has broken the Code of Conduct, and then I am sued for defamation?
- What happens when issues are raised that question an employees compliance with the Code of Business Conduct?
- How do I know whether a labor problem at a factory is a violation of the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct?
