Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

The firm has always tried to engage in CSR through charitable donations and sponsorships but has recognised that to maximise its impact and benefit to those charities and the environment, a policy was required to focus the firm's efforts. The firm's involvement in CSR activities will help:

• Cementing relationships with the local community
• Contributing to the local economic development
• Improving the quality of life of the firm's employees

The policy is separated into three categories:

• External (responsibility with the Head of Marketing)
• Internal (responsibility with Head of HR)
• Environmental (responsibility with the Facilities Manager)

A summary of the firm's policy is as follows:

1. External - strategic and comparative advantages.

Examples of External - strategic and comparative advantages include:

• Donations to charity
• Sponsorship
• Pro bono work
• Involvement in community projects i.e. local school's library project

Donations to Charity & Sponsorship

The firm will support a main charity over a long-term (2-3 years) and will contribute a sum of money that will have a significant impact on that charity. The firm's main charity is chosen by asking staff to nominate a charity/worthwhile cause and asked to provide justification for their nomination. Once the main charity has been agreed, three or four other charities are chosen from those submitted and one fundraising day for each charity is held at the firm. The firm's current main charity is The Rainbow Centre and further information can be found from their web site at http://www.rainbowcentresrilanka.com/

2. Internal - Employee retention and recruitment.

Our Principles:

As a firm we strive to incorporate our ethics and values to match those of our clients, our employees, the community at large and other relevant stakeholders.

We do this in various ways:

• Our approach to the people with whom we do business - our clients and suppliers
• Through our recruitment processes, including job advertisements, appointments and induction into the Firm.
• We offer our employees fair and concise terms of employment and provide them with the appropriate resources to support their continued development.
• Our Equal Opportunities policies demonstrate our understanding that individuals' needs at work are different and that some may have special requirements, for example those of a particular religion may need somewhere quiet to pray, others might need a holiday on a particular day for a religious event or need to have somewhere to store specially prepared food.  Additionally, some employees may have a disability that requires us to make adjustments to their working environment.
• We offer a comprehensive range of Family Friendly policies that provide our people with the opportunity to have a good work life-balance, achieve personal goals and make a contribution to society.
• We endeavour to provide a range of benefits that are not only competitive but are also meaningful to individuals' respective lifestyle and which directly or indirectly have a positive impact on our social responsibility.  This includes a confidential Advisory service through PEC which provides support to employees and family members coping with life issues; Income Protection to assist during period of incapacity; quick and easy access to medical care.
• Our policies, procedures and benefits are above government and statutory regulations, for example: maternity, paternity and annual leave entitlements.
• We aim to encourage CSR by its inclusion in our strategic planning.  We ensure that our business objectives are guided by sound commercial judgment and
• The Firm has made a significant investment in a Competency and Development framework to enhance the skills of its people to develop business, personal and career opportunities.
• We aim to identify activities that are appropriate for the firm to be involved with and to give our employees support to actively participate in projects to the betterment altruistic participation in activities which e.g. pro bono work
• Economic growth and as far as possible, security of employment
• Policies and procedures that encourage our staff to consider our impact on the wider environment, for example saving resource through such things as turning off lights, heating and computers outside business hours.
• Cyclists are provided with parking facility and shower room
• A large number of our fee earners are members of various law committees who through their participation and contribution are able to, amongst other things, influence changes in the profession.
• Our obligations extend to the future development of the legal profession and the provision of career opportunities through the recent introduction of a trainee scheme.
• We expect our employees to contribute a high level of business performance but at the same time minimising and effectively managing risks.
• We recognise the need to bridge any gaps between our fee earning and non fee earning staff by ensuring that our policies and procedures continue to be inclusive.
• The firm endeavour to provide a framework within which employees can make a contribution in whatever way they wish to, be it charitable, in partnership with the community, within the legal profession, within education, supporting free access to legal services and gain personal fulfilment.  Any pro bono work done by our people will be recognised in their chargeable hours and financial performance.
• We constantly review how we can provide a fulfilling working environment and promoting a culture where people are encouraged to put forward creative ideas and challenge the status quo in an appropriate manner.
• As a Firm we should guard against being complacent but rather that we constantly seek ways to engage with the principles of the protection of the environment and strive to improve our environmental performance through the implementation of pragmatic environmental policies.
• We propose to encourage a dialogue with the local community with a view to making tangible contributions.
• The firm promotes good health and well-being, as demonstrated in the provision of  interest free gym loans, cycling, private medical insurance, return to work interviews following sickness absences, the use of an Occupational Health Adviser and  dse assessments.  Our health and safety policies and procedures also provide a safe working environment.

3. Environmental

This section of the policy covers the firm's physical environmental impact and addresses areas such as recycling and energy consumption.

The firm currently takes the following steps:

3.1  Recycling

Paper, ring binders, toners, used light bulbs (including light strips), furniture and mobile phones are all recycled.

3.2  Other

Bottled water

A bottling system at KN has been implemented which has eliminated purchase of bottled water.

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