Company Responsibilities
National holds many responsibilities to its associates, and commits to providing safe and pleasant workplace conditions, competitive wages, promotion of qualified individuals, and sufficient liability insurance to cover accidental injury sustained by associates while on the job.
National believes that good morale is conducive to better productivity. National encourages professional relationships and welcomes communication between everyone at National.
Anti-Slavery Commitment
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the "Act") and constitutes National’s slavery and human trafficking statement adopted in 2020 and still in effect today. The following outlines measures and steps National has taken and is set to take in order to prohibit slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and in any part of our business.
National’s Ethical Commitment
National remains strongly opposed to slavery and human trafficking. National is dedicated to taking the necessary steps to provide sustainable business practices and workplace conditions. This includes the prevention and denunciation of forced or trafficked labor. National continuously evaluates and makes modifications to in-house operational processes and encourages suppliers to as well. We are dedicated to remaining an ethics leader in our industry, welcoming our peers to join us in global initiatives that foster sustainability, corporate responsibility, and accountability throughout our industry.
National’s Supply Chain and Due Diligence
National’s commitment to ensuring that forced labor or human trafficking has no place in our supply chain is without compromise. We remain committed to acting with high integrity and ethics in all business relationships. This commitment includes maintaining processes for certifying the absence of forced labor or trafficking at all levels of our supply chain. National’s supply chain includes other serviced apartment and temporary housing businesses, professional waste removal services, laundry service providers, maintenance services and furniture vendors.
National’s Policies and Risk Assessment
At National, we have numerous, intensive policies in place that ensure business is conducted in accordance with the highest ethical, moral, legal, and professional standards. A few examples of such policies include:
Anti-Harassment and Retaliation Policy: National’s mission is to be the most admired and respected global company to our coworkers, customers, and suppliers by maintaining an ethical and financially healthy organization. It is National’s policy that Associates have the opportunity to work in an atmosphere and environment where they are treated with respect and dignity. National is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, National expects that all relationships among persons in the office will be business-like and free of bias or prejudice.
National encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns by our employees so that rapid and constructive action can be taken. Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or wrongdoing will be investigated promptly. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the investigatory process to the extent consistent with adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action. Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a violation of our policy and subject to disciplinary action, including termination.
Anti- Bribery and Conflict of Interest Policy: Associates must avoid any relationship or activity that might impair their ability to make objective and fair decisions when performing their jobs. At times, an Associate may be faced with situations in which business actions are taken on behalf of National may conflict with the Associate’s own personal interests. National property, information, or business opportunities may not be used for personal gain.
National’s Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
National is committed to standing together, as a unified front, with other suppliers and competitors in our field. By working together, we are stronger and more impactful. We’ve participated in global initiatives that foster and drive corporate responsibility through our industry and within our business. This included a third-party assessment of National’s corporate responsibility, which was completed in 2020. We were awarded the honor of a silver sustainability award through EcoVadis.
We strive to partner with our suppliers long-term, working diligently with them to improve sustainability and thinking innovatively to find new, creative solutions and alternative practices.
National’s Future Commitment
National is considered a thought-leader in the industry. We have committees dedicated to corporate sustainability, corporate responsibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion – ensuring we are taking the necessary steps to Do The Right Thing, one of our Core Values. We have identified the importance of preventing modern slavery and human trafficking through outwardly denouncing these practices and enacting policies to ensure we are in compliance with the law.
- We aim to engage our suppliers, having them agree to our outlined service levels and practices, which prohibits modern slavery and human trafficking within their direct business and supply chain, and that they follow systems and processes to identify, evaluate, monitor, and mitigate risk areas within their business and supply chain to safeguard whistle-blowers.
- We aim to expand the reach and scope of our committees and policies to include specific language regarding the reporting of modern slavery and human trafficking
- We have begun developing a formal modern slavery policy which will be included in our associate handbook and reviewed upon hiring associates
- We have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist on staff who provides training on important matters, such as microaggressions and racism
- We have identified the need to incorporate into our pre-contract due diligence more stringent and clearly defined provisions that drive compliance with UK legislation and outline expedited termination and nullification of contracts upon violation of laws regarding forced labor, human trafficking, and slavery.
National remains committed to continuously updating and evaluating our policies and procedures to certify we are combatting the mistreatment of persons in our business and supply chain.