Report - COP Prototype

2022 Communication on Progress

SoftServe Inc.

Published date

July 6, 2022

No. of questions

Supplemental files

WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY.pdf Code of Conduct 2022.pdf Modern Slavery Policy 2022.pdf CSR Policy 2021.pdf SoftServe_Environmental_Sustainability_Policy.pdf Conflict of Interest Policy English.pdf SoftServe Supplier Code of Conduct.pdf SoftServe_Environmental_Sustainability_Policy.pdf Conflict of Interest Policy English.pdf

CEO Statement

Signed

Governance

Policies and Responsibilities

1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:

Issue an annual statement about the relevance of sustainable development to the company

Issue an annual statement that addresses impacts on both people and the environment

Issue an annual statement highlighting a zero tolerance for corruption

Sign off on organizational sustainability targets

Supervise Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting

Regularly review potential risks related to the business model

None of the above

Optional comment

Annual sustainability report or webpage highlighting the most relevant data in regards to sustainability

2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we plan to have a commitment within 2 years	Yes, and the commitment is focused on our own operations	Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain	Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain along with communities and society
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we plan to have a code of conduct within two years	Yes, focused on employee conduct	Yes, focused on employees and suppliers	Yes, focused on employees, suppliers, and other business relationships
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?

	No one is specifically responsible for this topic	Yes, with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information, limited decision-making authority)	Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)	Yes, with direct influence of some outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes one or more senior manager with decision making rights	Yes, with direct influence at the highest levels of the organization (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes most senior members of organization)
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?

	No formal structure	Yes, and with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information necessary to understand risks, poor representation from relevant departments or functions)	Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of some functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)	Yes, with direct influence on some outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, it involves one or more members of senior management)	Yes, and with direct influence at the highest level of the organization (e.g., full access to relevant information, it involves members at highest level of organization)
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Optional comment

We have one Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council that currently covers topics of Human Rights, Decent Work and Well-being. We plan to launch one more council to be dedicated to Well-being and Decent Work.

Prevention

6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years	Yes, related to our own operations	Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships
Human rights risks
Labour rights risks
Environmental risks
Corruption risks

7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years	Yes, related to our own operations	Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships
Human rights risks
Labour rights risks
Environmental risks
Corruption risks

Concerns and grievance mechanisms

8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?

No, this is not a current priority

No, but we plan to within two years

Yes, we have an informal process (e.g., through supervisors, others)

Yes, we have a formal process

8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.

	No	Yes
Is the process communicated to all employees/workers in local languages?
Is the process available to non-employees (e.g., contractors, vendors, suppliers)?
Is the process confidential (e.g., whistleblowing process)?
Are there processes in place to avoid retaliation?
Can concerns be raised about suppliers or other business relationships (e.g., clients, partners, etc.)
Other (Please provide additional information)

9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?

	No process to enable remedy to stakeholders	Remedy available to some stakeholders (i.e., some geographies, employees only)	Remedy is available to all affected stakeholders	Remedy is available to all stakeholders, and suppliers are expected to have similar policies
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Lessons

10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

	No lessons are regularly captured	Conducts root cause analyses/investigation of major incidents	Conducts root cause analyses/investigation and changes organizational policies, processes, and practices accordingly	Systematically conducts root cause analyses/investigation and leverages learnings to influence both internal and external affairs
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Executive Pay

11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?

Optional comment

Some of the sustainability topics have been made global company targets that effect senior management annual bonus

Board Composition

12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:

	Number/Percentage	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Total number of board members (#)	6
Male (%)	6
Female (%)	0
Non-binary (%)	0
Under 30 years old (%)	0
30-50 years old (%)	2
Above 50 years old (%)	4
From minority or vulnerable groups (%)	0
Executive (%)	4
Independent (%)	2

Data Assurance

14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?

No assurance for any metrics

Limited assurance for minority of metrics (e.g., GHG emissions only)

Limited assurance for majority of metrics

All the internal data is automatically stored in internal EMS and sourced to Power BI dashboards to build data analytical boards. Data can be assured by internal and external audit if necessary.

Reasonable assurance for minority of metrics

Reasonable assurance for majority of metrics

Other (Please provide additional information)

Human Rights
Materiality / Saliency
1. Which of the following has the company identified as material human rights issues connected with its operations and/or value chain, whether based on their salience (i.e., the most severe potential negative impacts on people) or another basis?
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Child labour
Forced labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)
Freedom of expression
Access to culture
Access to water and sanitation
Digital security / privacy
Rights of women and/or girls
Rights of indigenous peoples
Free, prior and informed consent
Rights of refugees and migrants
Other
Optional comment
We try to support all above mentioned.
Response
8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.
At SoftServe, we put people at the center of our organization. Every decision we make is based on an understanding that if our people can’t succeed, we can’t either. That is why we’re building a company where everyone is equal and empowered. 2021 was a year of investigation in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion for SoftServe. We created the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team, and, together with external consultancy, conducted profound internal research to identify possible gaps and build a 3-year strategy with a detailed yearly action plan. To ensure that we live our values, SoftServe created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council – a cross-functional team of diverse employees to drive operational and other changes in the company. In 2022 we plan to: - launch training on corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion policy - launch educational training for all associates, as well as an additional one for managers - incorporate analytical tools to existing internal operational dashboards to track the dynamics and support data-driven decision-making processes - ensure inclusive recruitment and retention - raise the understanding of the importance of being an inclusive employer in our communities

Labour

Commitment

1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?

	No, and we have no plans to develop a policy	No, but we plan to in the next two years	Yes, included within a broader policy	Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
2021
Forced labour
2021
Child labour
2022
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
2022
Occupational safety and health
2021
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:

	Aligned with international labour standards?	Publicly available?	Approved at most senior level of the company?	Applied to the company’s own operations?	Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?	Developed involving labour rights expertise from inside and outside the company?	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

Prevention

2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?

	No engagement on this topic	To better understand the risks/ impacts in question	To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks /impacts in question	To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?

	Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce	Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)	Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan	Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders, in particular workers' organizations, to address the issue	Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies	Other (Please provide additional information)	No action within reporting period
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?

	No training provided	Select employees	All employees	Contractors	Direct suppliers of the organization	Indirect suppliers of the organization	Other – such as partners, clients, etc.
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?

	No monitoring of progress	Review issues on ad-hoc basis	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

Performance

6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?

	Percent of employees (%)	Unknown
Employees covered under collective bargaining (%)	0

7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?

	Percent of employees (%)	Unknown	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Employees in a trade union or on a worker committee (%)	0

8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:

	Percent of women (%)	Unknown
Senior leadership level position	29
Non-executive board	0

9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?

	Salary ratio (%)	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Women / Men (%)	64

Optional comment

Most of the Senior Leadership Team and Leadership are male. Which does not contribute to the average base pay

10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?

	Frequency of injury	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Frequency of injury	0

11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?

	Incident rate	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Incident rate	0

Response and Reporting

12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?

	Yes	No	Choose to not disclose	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

2021 was a year of investigation in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion for SoftServe. We created the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team, and, together with external consultancy, conducted profound internal research to identify possible gaps and build a 3-year strategy with a detailed yearly action plan. To ensure that we live our values, SoftServe created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council – a cross-functional team of diverse employees to drive operational and other changes in the company. In 2021, SoftServe and Lviv Polytechnic National University opened “Veteran service”. It is the first inclusive space for veterans in Ukraine based in the university. Here veterans and retired military personnel can socialize, reintegrate into the educational process and get psychological assistance. The center offers many free services for veterans. During several months in late 2021, a series of live events for young females and elderly schoolchildren were held throughout Ukraine. SoftServe and partnering organization Inscience organized three live meetings with scientists and representatives of technology companies that inspired more than 150 girls to build a career in STEM specialties. New internal accessibility audit showed 18% increase in the number of totally accessible office premises over two years period. In mid 2021 we announced the launch of Space IQ project, our new hoteling workplace tool that allows you to book various types of spaces in SoftServe offices, starting with the Flexible Desk tool for booking specific desks. It is a significant first step towards exploring working and collaborating in our hybrid reality that helps to control office occupancy according to measures against COVID-19. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a lot of associates have voiced the need for more specific medical insurance plans or benefits substitutes. In this regard, the company prolonged the number of days for sick leaves covered due to Covid-19, extended the range of offered services covered by corporate insurance package, provided options for sports cards reimbursement, as well as extended the use of leave benefits. In 2021, we organized knowledge-sharing sessions and consultations with different specialists and opinion leaders to address the most common and pressing issues that impact our mental well-being.

Environment

Commitment

1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?

	No, and we have no plans to develop a policy	No, but we plan to in the next two years	Yes, included within a broader policy	Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
2022
Water
2022
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
2022
Air Pollution
2022
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
2022
Energy & Resource Use
2022

1.1. For each environmental policy, is it:

	Aligned with international environmental standards?	Publicly available?	Approved at most senior level of the company?	Applied to the company’s own operations?	Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?	Developed involving environmental expertise from inside and outside the company?	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Prevention

2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?

	No engagement on this topic	To better understand the risks/ impacts in question	To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks/ impacts in question	To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Collaborated with local authorities and state agencies to extend forest planting in locations of the company's operation.
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?

	Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce	Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)	Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan	Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue	Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies	Other (Please provide additional information)	No action within reporting period
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Collaborated with local authorities and state agencies to extend forest planting in locations of the company's operation.
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?

	No monitoring of progress	Review issues on ad-hoc basis	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?

	Yes	No	Choose to not disclose	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
We do not directly/indirectly impact oceans with our operations
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
We are not manufacturers and are a low-carbon business
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Climate Action

6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?

Scope 1 Emissions

Full

None

Emissions (tCO2e)

1235

Scope 2 Emissions

Full

None

Emissions (tCO2e)

3415

Scope 3 Emissions

Full

Partial

None

Emissions (tCO2e)

4256

Optional comment

Scope 3 emissions are assessed partially

7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?

Percent of revenue (%)

Unknown

Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?

We have taken action to increase organization-wide resilience to climate change

We have taken action to increase resilience in our supply chains

We have taken action to increase resilience in the communities in which we operate

We have provided funding for climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives and projects

We have not taken actions to build climate change resilience in the reporting period

Other (Please provide additional information)

Unknown

Energy / Resource Use

9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.

% of total energy consumption

Unknown

Technology

10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?

Percent of total revenue (%)

Unknown

Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

Overall Environment

21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

In early 2021, SoftServe established a separate environmental sustainability function and worked closely with the Environmental Sustainability Council and the Ecological Advisory Committee. The cooperation between these institutes within SoftServe guarantees rapid and effective environmental goal-setting and achievement. We have cared about the environment since SoftServe's beginning. However, our concern has reached a new level. In 2021, SoftServe: Calculated, evaluated, and reported carbon emissions through a CDP website Enlarged carbon-reduction strategies Offset our 2020 carbon footprint by planting 6,000 trees in the Carpathian Mountains In addition, we continued to advance our waste management policies to ensure a "Rethink, Reuse, and Recycle" culture. We continue to replace windows, electric appliances, heating, ventilation systems, and light bulbs to increase energy efficiency. The Environment Management System, based on the ISO 14001:2015 standard, was implemented in 2021. Meanwhile, we set four ambitious environmental goals that we strive to achieve by 2031. Goals: Growing a carbon-neutral business Reducing SoftServe's energy consumption Usage of renewable energy whenever possible Updating our biotechnology (BT) policy to reduce our carbon footprint Promoting remote work and online meetings Net-zero waste Reducing consumption Promoting a "Rethink, Reuse, and Recycle" approach Eliminating the use of non-recyclable materials Designing sustainable offices Using low-carbon technologies Choosing office spaces with environmental performance certifications Following sustainability principles in purchasing Educating associates regarding environmental issues Providing sustainable IT solutions Addressing carbon footprint while designing new technologies Pursuing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with our products and services Direct and indirect CO₂ emissions SoftServe has reduced aggregate scope 1 and 2 emissions by 18,3% in 2021 compared to 2020. It was achieved through significant decrease in direct emissions: scope 1 emissions decrease has hit the 50% benchmark. However, scope 2 emissions increased by 16.7% in 2021. SoftServe's scope 3 emissions in 2021 are 14,6 times more than in 2020. The reason lies within severe procurement disruptions as a result of COVID-19 in 2020. The majority of the shipments expected in 2020 arrived in 2021. Besides, the Company has procured additional supplies in 2021 in order to eliminate future disruptions. Highlights 6,000 trees were planted in the Carpathian Mountains Four ambitious environmental goals to be achieved by 2031 Direct CO2 emissions (Scope 1) decreased by 55.4% (Year-over-Year)

Anti-corruption

Commitment

1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?

No, it is not an immediate business priority

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes

2021

2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?

No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes, included within a broader policy

Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

Prevention

3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?

3.1. How often is such training provided?

	One time only	Every year	Every two or more years	We do not collect this data
All employees
Select employees
Contractors
Direct suppliers of the organization
Other – such as partners, clients, etc.
Indirect suppliers of the organization

4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?

No, we do not monitor the anti-corruption compliance programme

Review issues on ad-hoc basis

Yes, through internal employee self-evaluations

Yes, through automated controls monitoring

Yes, through external independent monitoring

Yes, through other mechanisms

Response and Reporting

5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.

	Number of incident(s)	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Confirmed during the current year, but related to previous years	0
None were reported over last 5 years
Confirmed during the current year, and related to this year	0
None were reported

6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?

Initial case assessment

Internal investigation

Review by risk / ethics committee

Review by board of directors

External audit / review

Other (please provide additional information)

Not applicable/no incidents in the reporting period

7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?

No, it is not an immediate business priority

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes (please explain)

8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

During the reporting period and in prior years, no incidents were detected. But we plan to launch Ethical Commette later this year and update all the regarding corporate policies and procedures to make sure we are covering all the possibilities and