Modern slavery is a crime and violation of human rights. Askable is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings and relationships, and in accordance with relevant modern slavery legislation. Askable will implement and enforce this policy and related systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place in any aspect of our business.
Scope
Askable does not tolerate modern slavery practices within its business, operations and business relationships. Accordingly, the requirements set out in this policy apply to all Askable staff, contractors, and third party vendors. All stated parties are required to act ethically and with integrity, in accordance with this policy and relevant modern slavery legislation.
This policy sets out Askable’s requirements in regard to the rights of ‘workers’. Workers include any staff member, participant or other person that is employed by or that provides labour to Askable or third parties vendors. It is noted that Askable participants play an important role in the Askable business and services. Askable is committed to ensuring that its dealings with participants are conducted in an ethical and compliant manner and that participants are duly compensated for their time and opinions provided.
Modern Slavery
Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of human rights. Modern slavery comes in various forms; however, all types of slavery deprive a person’s rights by another person or organisation in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. Practices that can constitute modern slavery include human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced labour, and child labour.
Policy Statement
Askable is committed to acting in accordance with the following modern slavery position, including in all areas of business, operations and business relationships.
Employment shall be freely chosen. Askable staff and participants can freely choose whether to enter into a relationship with Askable.
Askable will not use any type of forced labour (i.e. any work or service extracted from any person under the menace of any penalty, which work has not been freely chosen by the person).
Askable will respect workers freedom of movement and not restrict movement of workers by controlling identity papers, holding money deposits or taking any other action to prevent workers from terminating their employment.
Askable will ensure that workers are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice. Askable participants are able to deactivate their account with Askable at any time.
Askable will comply with the minimum legal working age and be able to verify the age of all staff and participants to ensure compliance. We will prevent the use of child labour.
An Askable participant that is a minor cannot attend a research study without the permission and attendance of a guardian. Where a participant, that is a minor, attends a study session accompanied by an adult, both the adult and the child will be provided appropriate compensation.
Askable will comply at a minimum with all laws regulating local wages, overtime compensation and legally mandated benefits. Record keeping will be accurate and transparent. Workers must be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions before they enter employment and about their wages or incentives for each pay period. Deductions from wages for disciplinary measures or any deductions from wages not provided for by law shall not occur without the express permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
Working hours will comply with applicable local laws. Workers shall not be required to work more than the maximum hours per week as stipulated by local laws.
All conditions of employment must be based on an individual’s ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics, such as gender, ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, personal beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
Askable will ensure that they provide an environment where our staff and participants can work without distress or interference caused by harassment, discrimination or any other inappropriate workplace behaviour.
Workers shall be treated with dignity and respect. In particular, Askable will provide a workplace free from harassment, including physical, sexual, verbal or visual behaviour that creates an offensive, hostile or intimidating environment.
Workers must be able to approach management on issues of concern, on their own or through worker representatives, confidentially.
Askable will provide a safe and hygienic working environment that is without risk to health, taking into consideration knowledge of the relevant industry and any specific hazards. Workers shall receive adequate and regular training to perform their jobs in a safe manner.
Askable will ensure that adequate provisions are included in the Terms and Conditions to ensure that Researchers adhere to requirements regarding their interaction with participants, set out in this policy and relevant anti-modern slavery legislation.
Roles and responsibilities
Executive Team – The executive team are responsible for Askable’s compliance with this policy. Accordingly, the executive team will implement this policy and appropriate processes and controls, and provide adequate training to Askable staff in regards to the same.
All Staff – All Askable staff must ensure they read, understand and comply with this policy and associated processes or procedures. Staff are encouraged to identify and report any potential unethical practices.
A breach of this policy by Askable staff may result in disciplinary action, which could result in jail, penalties, fines, criminal convictions and dismissal. Askable reserves its right to terminate our contractual relationship with Askable staff or any third party that does not act in accordance with this policy.
Related documents
Fair Work Arrangement Policy
Terms and Conditions
Policy review and evaluation
The policy and process will be reviewed by the Director of Operations every 12 months to ensure the practices therein are current and comply with relevant legislation.
