Human rights

2022 Global Impact Report

Building better futures

Deloitte’s commitment to human rights is inherent in our Shared Values and ALL IN, our global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. We believe all people are endowed with fundamental human rights, including the right to equal treatment under the law, freedom of mobility, and other rights as outlined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and UN Standards of Conduct for Business in Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people. Deloitte’s commitment to protecting these human rights is expressed in our organisation’s Commitment to Responsible Business and Global Principles of Business Conduct.

Deloitte Global is a founding member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). In addition, Deloitte was an early signatory to The World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI). Deloitte also supports the principles and standards for responsible business conduct espoused in several international instruments, including the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, OECD Anti-bribery Convention, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In addition, Deloitte has committed to the US Business Roundtable Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation.

Human rights risk assessments

Following the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we focus on our business and operations, including our global supply chains, to identify and evaluate potential human rights impacts as a part of our human rights due diligence process.

As a part of this process, we determined that the professional services industry has a lower risk of incidents of child, forced or compulsory labour in direct operations relative to many other industries, given the type of work performed and its delivery methods. Deloitte is not aware of any instances of child, forced or compulsory labour in our direct operations.

The Deloitte Supplier Code of Conduct includes prohibitions on forced or involuntary labour. It also requires that work be conducted based on freely agreed terms; that documents relating to workers’ identities or immigration status may not be withheld or destroyed, concealed, confiscated or otherwise made inaccessible by the supplier; and that there be no exploitation of child labour or employment of workers under the age of 15 (or the minimum legal working age, whichever is greater).

The Supplier Code of Conduct is provided to suppliers each time a new or renewed contract is established. In addition, in Deloitte Global requests for proposals (RFPs) we require that suppliers answer questions regarding compliance with the International Labour Organisation Principles in respect to human rights and conditions of employment, and public reporting on their efforts to eliminate slavery, forced labour and child labour in their operations and supply chain.

We recognise that risks are more likely to occur deeper in our supply chains, beyond those suppliers from which we procure directly. Accordingly, suppliers are expected to apply standards comparable to those set forth in Deloitte’s Supplier Code of Conduct throughout their own supply chains. Increased transparency from direct suppliers will be critical in continuing to understand and address human rights concerns.

Transparency and accountability

Deloitte includes our human rights practices and policies in our Global Impact Report to provide transparency to clients and other stakeholders. In addition, we encourage our people to raise any human rights or other ethical concerns. Our organisation provides multiple channels for consultation and reporting of concerns, with an emphasis on confidentiality and non-retaliation.

Deloitte continues to review our human rights efforts, as well as evolving industry leading practices, to understand how we can most fully act on our commitments.