Last Review: February 2021        Next Review: February 2022

Mission Statement

KPE Group Ltd recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods, with regular review points. We will encourage customers, suppliers & other stakeholders to do the same.

Policy Aims

We endeavour to:

• Comply with and exceed all relevant regularity requirements.
• Continually improve and monitor environmental performance.
• Continually improve and reduce impacts on the environment.
• Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
• Promote environmental awareness among our employees and encourage them to work in a environmentally responsible manner.
• Avoid unnecessary use of hazardous materials and products, seek substitutions when feasible, and take all reasonable steps to protect human health and the environment when such materials must be used, stored and disposed of.
• Update this policy at least annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
• Involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.
• Use local labour & materials where available to reduce CO2 and help our community.

Paper

• We will minimise the use of paper and paper products in the office by promoting telephone calls & emails.
• We will reduce packaging as much as possible.
• We will seek to only use FSC or PEFC certified material from certified suppliers.
• We will actively recycle and re-use all paper products & packaging where possible.

Energy & Water

• We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.
• Lights & electrical equipment will be switched off when not in use.
• Heating will be adjusted with energy consumption in mind.
• The energy consumption and efficiency of new products will be taken into account when purchasing.

Office Supplies

• We will evaluate office supplies and where possible use different methods to meet requirements.
• We will evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.
• We will evaluate the impact on the environment of any new product we intend to purchase.
• We will continue to look for and buy the most environmentally friendly and efficient products and machines.
• We will reuse and recycle where possible our office supplies.

Transportation

• We will reduce where possible any travel that is not necessary.
• We will promote the use of travel alternatives such as email, telephone & Skype/video conferencing.
• We will make additional efforts to accommodate the needs of those using public transport or bicycles.

Maintenance & Cleaning

• Cleaning materials will be as environmentally friendly as possible.
• Materials used in any office refurbishment will be as environmentally friendly as possible.
• We will continue to only use licensed and appropriate organisations to dispose of waste.

Monitoring & Improvement

• We will comply with an exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
• We will continually improve & monitor environmental performance.
• We will continue to look for improvements as to reducing our environmental impact.
• We will incorporate environmental factors in to our business decisions.
• We will increase employee, supplier & stakeholder environmental awareness where possible at all times.

Last Review: February 2019         Next Review: February 2020

KPE Group Ltd recognises that everyone has a contribution to make to our society and a right to equal opportunities.
No job applicant or employee, member, volunteer, organisation or individual to which we provide a service will be discriminated against by us on the grounds of:

Gender (including sex, marriage and gender re-assignment);
Race (including ethnic origin, colour, nationality and national origin);
Disability;
Sexual orientation;
Religion or belief;
Age; 
We aim to promote equal opportunities, eliminate discrimination and harassment through the following:

• Opposing all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
• All employees (weather part-time, full-time or temporary) will be treated fairly and with respect.
• All vacancies will be advertised internally and externally simultaneously and will include a statement on equal opportunities.
• Selection for employment, promotion, training or any other benefit will be on the basis of aptitude and ability.
• All selection/rejection decisions will be on record.
• All employees will be helped and encouraged to develop their full potential and the talents and resources of individuals will be fully utilised to maximise the efficiency of the company.
• All employees have a legal and moral obligation not to discriminate and to report incidents of discrimination against any individual or group of individuals.

Our commitment:

• To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our staff are recognised and valued.
• Every employee is entitled to be part of an environment that promotes dignity and respect to all.
• No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated.
• Training, development and progression opportunities are available to all staff.

Breaches of our equality policy will be regard as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary action.

• This policy is fully supported by the company’s management and has been agreed with all employees & stakeholders.
• The policy will be monitored and reviewed annually.

All new staff or members of management will be made aware of this policy upon joining the company and are reminded the must conform with it at all times.
A copy of this policy will be available for anyone to view at any time.

Introduction

This social media policy presents and explains the rules governing social media use at KPE Group Ltd, including those applying to the marketing department and employees in general.

It follows that this policy describes how staff members must use the company’s social media accounts. It also explains the rules surrounding personal social media use during work hours and what employees may say about KPE Group Ltd and company-related issues on their personal accounts.

Why This Policy Exists

This social media policy exists to ensure employees, regardless of their positions within the company, use their social accounts in safe and effective fashions.

Although social media can benefit the company — especially in terms of marketing, relationship building and prospect communication — poorly-judged or -timed activity can hurt the company’s reputation.

Policy Scope

KPE Group Ltd social media policy pertains to all staff members, as well as contractors and volunteers, who log onto social media platforms during work hours or to complete work-related activities outside of standard times.

Therefore, it applies to social media activity that relies on company Internet, occurs on company premises, happens while travelling and happens while working from home.

For the purposes of this policy, social media may refer to:

• Popular social networks such as Twitter and Facebook
• Photo-sharing websites such as Pinterest and Instagram
• Professional social networks such as LinkedIn
• Discussion forums such as the ones found on 4chan and Reddit
• Question and answer-based networks such as Quora and Yahoo Answers
• Review systems such as Yelp and Google Reviews

Basic Advice and General Guidelines

Whether KPE Group Ltd employees are posting from company or personal accounts, we encourage them to follow basic best practice rules.

Adhere to these standards to avoid common social media mistakes:

• Understand the social network. Different social media platforms have different purposes. For example, it’s common to see more personal status updates on Facebook than LinkedIn. Before posting, become familiar with the network by reading FAQs and quickly researching what is and is not acceptable.
• Correct your own mistakes. When you make a factual error in a post, create an update to correct it. Deleting or editing the original post should come at your own discretion, depending on the situation.
• Beware potential security threats. Hackers can use social networks to distribute spam and malware. They can also launch phishing attempts. You should report suspicious activity, including questionable comments and friend requests.
• Be careful when sharing information about yourself or others. Hackers can also use personal information to their advantage.
• Don’t escalate issues. Responding to other social media users, especially concerning a contentious subject, can result in a heated argument. To avoid such arguments, it may be best to avoid commenting if you feel you may spark conflict.
• Think before posting. This is the golden social media rule. Not only should you check grammar and spelling, but ensure there won’t be any negative effects of posting a status update. These include creating arguments and divulging sensitive information.

Use of Company Social Accounts

KPE Group Ltd social media accounts must only be used and created by authorized individuals for the purpose of meeting defined company goals.

Goals and Purposes of Company Social Media Accounts

As the social media landscape quickly changes and evolves, we encourage employees to think about new ways to use company accounts.

However, account activity should not stray from the company’s goals of engaging consumers and promoting products. Doing so builds stronger relationships with customers and prospects while driving traffic to other digital properties.

Employees can typically meet these goals by:

• Distributing original content pieces such as blog posts, infographics and product photos
• Sharing third-party content pieces relevant to company target audiences
• Promoting special offers, including contests and discount events
• Announcing and previewing new products and initiatives
• Interacting with consumers, including responding to customer and prospect questions
• Monitoring the social web for brand mentions and responding accordingly

Approved Users

Only approved users may access KPE Group Ltd social media accounts to perform the aforementioned tasks.

The Sales director will grant authorization. He or she will do so when an employee’s role involves creating and executing social media strategies, or researching new and existing target audiences.

The company only approves certain employees to ensure its social media voice and approach stay consistent, aligning with marketing and customer service objectives.

Creating Social Media Accounts Under the Company’s Name

As KPE Group Ltd must explore the advantages and disadvantages of expanding its social media presence into new networks, the sales director must approve the creation of company social media accounts.

If employees see the opportunity to create a social media account that supports company goals, they should pitch their ideas to the company directors.

Use of Personal Social Media Accounts at Work

As personal social media use can yield clear professional benefits, such as expanding industry knowledge and connections, KPE Group Ltd understands it is advantageous for employees to use personal accounts.

Below are acceptable uses for accessing personal social media accounts during work hours:

• Competitor research
• Monitoring company accounts
• Connecting and interacting with users who may benefit professional development
• Emergency purposes, such as contacting friends and family members who cannot be reached otherwise

Below are unacceptable uses for accessing personal social media accounts during work hours:

• Browsing friend photos and accounts
• Adding contacts to your networks for non-professional reasons
• Participating in conversations not pertaining to work-related topics

Note that during breaks and lunches, employees may use their personal social media accounts freely.

However, activity should not conflict with the following section.

Inappropriate Uses

Regardless of whether the social media account is personal or under company name, employees should not:

• Conduct illegal or criminal activities
• Distribute material that could be interpreted as libelous or defamatory
• Share updates, images and messages that may tarnish the company’s public image
• Discuss colleagues, customers and suppliers without their expressed consent
• Publishing any confidential or business-sensitive information about the company
• Harass others by sending them offensive content and messages
• Communicate with company competitors in disrespectful fashions
• Distribute spam and chain messages

Policy Enforcement

Employees who violate this social media policy could face disciplinary action. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, this could include termination of employment.

KPE Group Ltd reserves the right to monitor how social networks are used and accessed through company Internet resources. These include, but are not limited to, computers and mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones that are provided for business use.

Moreover, the company maintains official records that contain certain data related to social media activity. These include, but are not limited to, messages sent and received through the company’s computer systems.

When appropriate, KPE Group Ltd may involve law enforcement officials and agencies. In doing so, the company may be compelled to share stored data.