Human Rights
Basic Approach and Policy
Olympus supports the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. To put international initiatives into practice in our business activities, we have also clearly spelled out respect for human rights in the Olympus Global Code of Conduct. In addition, we have formulated the Olympus Group Human Rights Policy that stipulates the implementation of human rights due diligence based on the UN Guiding Principles. We strive to respect human rights in the management of our businesses. We also urge our customers and third parties promoting business activities with Olympus to comply with the protection of human rights.
Initiatives
Initiatives with Suppliers
Olympus publishes "Global Standards: What Olympus Expects of Third Parties" to show its basic requirements to all the third-parties that support its business activities. Olympus has also adopted the "Request to Suppliers," a document defining its expectations toward suppliers in such areas as respect for human rights, compliance with laws, regulations and social norms, including the laws concerning the exclusion of antisocial elements, the prohibition of corruption, bribery and similar behavior, the promotion of fair and equitable trading, and consideration for the environment. Once each year, we use a Web- based system to conduct a corporate survey in this regard targeting major suppliers all over the world, and the survey results are utilized for work procedure improvement to avoid problematic incidents. There have been zero incidents so far. In cases where we find problems related not only to compliance with local regulations and social norms but also respect for human rights in our on-site audits and if the supplier does not comply with Olympus's request to make improvements, we may terminate our business with them.
Human Rights Due Diligence
In FY2021 Olympus became a member of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a global organization offering support to businesses in the field of human rights and sustainability, and we are reinforcing our global activities in the area of human rights due diligence in compliance with the principles set out by the United Nations. In January 2021, we started a human rights impact assessment with support from BSR for the entire Olympus Group, including our regional headquarters (for the Americas, EMEA, China and Asia-Pacific), in which senior management in each region, including the managers of business divisions and functions participated. This ended in the first quarter of FY2022. Through these activities, human rights issues related to the corporate activities of the Olympus Group were clarified, debriefing sessions were held for related parties including the managers of related divisions, and it has been possible to improve awareness in relation to business and human rights. Further, in FY2022, we implemented online education composed mainly of basic information on human rights and the UN Guiding Principles for members of the Olympus Group in Japan in order to encourage each and every employee to act with awareness of human rights to prevent infringements. This introduced the fact that interest in forced labor, foreign labor and child labor in supply chains has increased internationally as a trend in recent years. We are providing education with similar content in each region of the Olympus Group outside of Japan throughout FY2023. Also in FY2023, we have started on the construction of systems to establish human rights due diligence among employees of the Olympus Group.
Preventing Harassing Behavior and Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
The Olympus Global Code of Conduct states that "Our Behaviors" are the expression of "Our Core Values" through our day-to-day activities. The Code of Conduct places the highest value on "Respectful Behavior." Olympus Group does not tolerate harassment or discrimination based on personal characteristics such as gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, political views, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, social background, or disability.
Olympus makes every effort to prevent workplace harassment by itemizing concrete prohibitions on sexual and other types of harassment in the employment regulations.
The Olympus Group has created an organization structure that includes its worksites outside Japan to prevent harassment of any kind and to resolve any incidents that may occur swiftly and completely. Olympus and its Japan subsidiaries have also established a Harassment Hotline in each business site and subsidiary as a preventive means and to provide a prompt and pertinent solution if a problem arises. Our Hotline officers are trained with the skills and knowledge to handle complaints appropriately, which include the protection of the privacy of the consulter or harassment victim, ensuring consultation confidentiality, and preventing any adverse consequences from the consultation. Since FY2019, we have delivered the Harassment Prevention Guidebook to all employees of the Japan subsidiaries. In this guidebook, a description of gender minorities, such as LGBTQ, was also included. We keep up-to-date with the expanding scope of harassment, which covers power harassment and gender harassment, including maternity, paternity, and LGBTQissues. Accordingly, the coverage of our internal consultation manual has been revised and enhanced. In June 2020, the so called "Power Harassment Prevention Act," which stipulates that companies must take preventative measures regarding harassment, was enforced. In preparation for this and to avoid potential incidents we provide an e-learning course to help employees to understand the key points of the law and what could be seen as power harassment.
We also hold regular harassment prevention training programs for managers (with 730 participants in FY2020—a 79% participation rate), who are responsible for creating a culture of respect in the workplace, to widen their understanding and to ensure harassment-free offices.
To promote diversity and inclusion (D&I), we organize activities centered on supporting the empowerment of women, and promoting understanding and support for sexual minorities.
Diversity and equal opportunity: Society: Sustainability: Olympus (olympus.co.jp)
In particular, w to widen understanding and support for sexual minorities, we established a dedicated consultation office in Japan, held seminars to promote awareness (about 90 participants last fiscal year), hosted an LGBTQ Week (e-learning) and promoted voluntary ALLY activities. As a result of our efforts, we received the Silver rating on the PRIDE Index 2021, a Japanese index of corporate performance in LGBTQ inclusion.
Response to the UK Modern Slavery Act
Olympus KeyMed, the Olympus Group company in the UK, has issued a statement in accordance with the provisions of Article 54, Clause 1, of the 2015 Modern Slavery Act in the UK.
Olympus UK and Ireland: Modern Slavery Statement (In English only) 