GRI Standards Sustainability Report For Timber Well Constructions

Timberwell Constructions is a residential development company that builds apartment complexes in the Stanwell Council district. It employs 58 male staff from the area with different construction related trades and professions. The local market for these workers is highly competitive and Timberwell has had to employ 12 new apprentices in the reporting period because 17 employees have left,mostly to work for rival organisations or establish their own businesses. The company has increased worker pay rates and implemented a monthly rostered day off to try to retain its existing staff.

Fair Work Commission
One employee, Dennis McCabe, resigned from the organisation and filed a workplace harassment claim in the Fair Work Commission. His claim alleged he was discriminated against by his co-workers on the basis of his age. Dennis
further alleged that because he was the only worker older than 50 years of age (everybody else is aged between 30 and 50) he was the target of humiliating age related jokes from the others.

The Fair Work Commission upheld Dennis’s claim and ordered Timberwell Constructions to pay him $4,400 in compensation. The Commission also ordered Timberwell to update its anti-discrimination policy and provide anti-discrimination training to all employees. The company has complied with the Commission’s orders.

This report represents the values and governance model of the organization, and also shows the connection between the strategy of the organization and its commitment related to the sustainable global economy.

The GRI standards are deemed as the first global standards in terms of the sustainability reporting. These standards mainly feature the modular, un-related structure, and also represent the global best practice making the report in the range of economic, environmental, and social impacts (GRI, 2018).

This report mainly addresses the GRI standards in context of given case study of the Timber well Constructions. This is the organization which is engaged in the residential developments projects, as it builds the apartments complex in the Stanwell council districts. Structure of this report mainly includes the sections related to the economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability. All these sections mainly discuss the GRI disclosures, and at the end brief conclusion is stated to end this report.

Economic Sustainability

In terms of the GRI standards, the economic moddel of the sustainability as it involves the impact of the organization on the economic conditions of its stakeholders. These standards in the series of economy (200) further address the capital flow among different stakeholders of the organization, and also the main economic impacts of the organization throughout the society.

Disclosure 201-2 -Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to climate change

The risk and opportunities related to the climate change are stated in this, as it holds the capability to create the substantive changes in the operations revenue and expenditures (GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

• Climate changed impose the risk related to the increased bushfires and also the risk related to warming effects of the climate on the operations of the Timber well. This threat of the climate change is the physical threat which directly affects the construction operations of the Timber Well.
• These changes in the climate directly affect the construction project cycle, and these changes directly affect the construction sector. Some indirect impacts such as site programming delay, safety of workers, cost of material, and delivery (CDSB, 2012.
• New regulations are introduced in terms of managing these affect, and in terms of implementing these standards and for complying with the, estimated cost for the Timber Well is the $4 million.
• In terms of responding this climate risk, Stanwell council recommended to make changes in the LEP in terms of rezoning the specific areas in the Stanwell District as the bushfire prone (Enshassi and Rizq, 2014).
• Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken Economic sustainability

This disclosure mainly addresses the impacts of organization actions on the society, environment, and communities (GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

• There is one confirmed incident of the corruption, and this incident deals with the bribe giving by the employees and other two business partners to the project officers of the council in context of pushing the company’s development applications through the council approval process.
• Only corruption incident in which five employees of the organization were terminated is the similar incident described in above point, as in this bribe is given by the employees to the project officers and because of this all these employees are suspended without pay.
• In the similar incident, two business partners of the Timber Well construction are also involved in the bribing of the council project officers for getting fast approval for development applications of the company. In this context, Timber Well terminates its partnership contracts with both the external business partners of the organization.
• Complaint is made by the former employee of the organization to the state corruption commission in terms of bribing the project officers of the council, as this complaint is made in the similar corruption incident stated above. As the outcome of this case, state corruption commission charged all the five employees of the organization and also the one of those external consultants.
• Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust, and monopoly practices 

This disclosure results in the legal actions which are initiated under the national and international laws which are designed mainly for the purpose regulating the anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust, or monopoly practices (GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) initiate the proceedings against the Federal courts against the organization for alleged the anti-competitive conduct which also involves the misuse of market power and exclusive dealings. ACC further alleged that, group of the local builders were planning in terms of establishing the competitive development company, and in response to this competitive threat Timber Well executive told the suppliers that in case they involved in the new development company then Timber well withdraw or reduced business with them. In other words, ACCC alleged that conduct of the Tinder well prevent the new entrant in the market or less the competition in the market.
• This case is listed and heard by the Federal Court in next four months, which means, decision of the case is still pending.
• Environmental Sustainability

In terms of the GRI standards, environmental sustainability dimensions consider the effects of the organizations actions on the living and non-living natural systems of the country such as land, Air, Water, and ecosystems.

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organisation

This disclosure of the report considers the consumption of the energy within the organization by assessing number of factors (GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

• Total fuel consumption within the Timber Well from the sources of non-renewable energy is the 1.0 Gigajoule, and one Gigajoule is equals to 10⁹
• Total fuel consumption within the Timber Well from the sources of non-renewable energy is the 0.5 Gigajoule, and one Gigajoule is equals to 10⁹
• This section further states the Electricity consumption that is almost 2.0 Gigajoules.
• All these calculations related to the energy consumption are based on the calculation tools which are defined by the Australian Department of Industry and Science.
• Timber well further implemented the program in terms of raising the fuel consumption in terms of the renewable resources to at least 50% of its fuel consumption within the next three years
• Disclosure 304-2 significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

This section of the report defines the impact of the organizations functions on the biodiversity (GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

1. Direct and indirect impacts on the biodiversity in context of the following actions-

• Department of the Environment and Energy received the complaint from the former employee, that organization clear almost 0.45 hectares of critically endangered ecological community coastal grasslands.
• There are number of direct and indirect impacts on the biodiversity of this action of the Timber Well. As report published by the State planning scheme, this area contains the Flora and Fauna attributes.
• Department further performed the environmental impact assessment, and this assessment is performed on the Otford Park development site of the Timber Well. On this site, department discovered that almost 60% of the site was populated by the rare wallum sedge frog. This assessment estimated the medium density in terms of the proposal of the residential development of the site, as it is proposed that this site must be converted into the habitat and rendered it inconsistent with the frog survival on the site.
• Disclosure 307-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations

This section of the report defines the penalties faced by the Timber Well in terms of the breach of the laws and regulations related to the environment (Tam, Tam, Zeng and Chan, 2006/ GRI, 2016). Following are the reporting outlines for the Timber well Constructions in context of this GRI disclosure-

• In terms of the critically endangered ecological community coastal grasslands, Timber Well was ordered to undertake the external review of its vegetation management plan. Timber well extends its audit programs in terms of its contractors. However, implementation of the plan which ensures rehabilitation of not less than $440000.
• Timber well further worked with the Stanwell council and the Stanwell groups in terms of devising the strategy for managing the proposed development of the site and conservation of the Wallum Sedge frog.
• Social sustainability

This part of the report defines the impact of the organization actions on the society and local community in which business operates. In other words, whether business actions of the organization cause any harm to the society or local community of the nation.

Disclosure 401-1 new employee hires and employee turnover 

50. Timber well hires almost 58 male staff members from the different areas related to the construction trade and profession, Organization further employs the 12 new apprentices in the reporting period because of the increased competition in the local market. All these employees aged between the 30-50, but only one employee is above the age of 50.
51. As stated Timber Well hire almost 58 new male employees and 12 apprentices, because almost 17 workers of the organization left. Some of these employees left for working on their own business and some left for working in the rival organizations. Later, one more employee Dennis McCabe resigned because of the workplace harassment (GRI, 2016).
52. Disclosure 406-1 Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken

• During the reporting period, there is only one incident of the discrimination, which is filed by the Dennis McCabe in the Fair Work Commission (GRI, 2016). Dennis McCabe stated that he resigned because of the Workplace harassment.
• Following are the status and incidents taken by the Timber Well in terms of the above stated claim-
• In this Dennis McCabe filed the claim against the organization in context of the Workplace harassment. He further stated that he is the only employee who is aged above 50, and because of this he becomes the target of the age related jokes and also discriminated by his co-workers. This incident was reviewed by the organization, and in this context organization takes required actions.
• In this context, Fair Work Commission ordered the organization to pay $4400 as the compensation and organization is also ordered make updating in their anti-discrimination policy and also gives the anti-discrimination training to all the employees of the organization. Timber Well complied with these orders and also incorporate these orders in their remediation plan.
• All the remediation plans such as anti-discrimination training and updating of the policy is properly implemented in the organization, and these plans are implemented after evaluating the results internal management process so that necessary changes are made in the internal management process.
• Disclosure 413-1 Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments, and development programs

• There are number of actions which are taken by the Timber Well in terms of engaging with the local communities and also for performing assessments related to their impacts (GRI, 2016).
• Timber well considered the expense in terms of engaging with the local community and also performs the impact assessments. They further formulate the social development programs in context of all the proposed developments of residential areas.
• These initiatives include the Environmental Impact Assessments, meetings of the local residents, and also the programs related to the development of the local community and this mainly needs for the affordable social housing (Tam, Vivian and Tsui, 2004).

Conclusion

After considering the facts of this paper, it is clear that Timber well represents all the economic, environmental, and social impacts caused by the organization through its activities. This report further represents the values and governance model of the organization, and also demonstrates the link between the strategy of the organization and its commitment to the sustainable global economy.

References

CDSB, (2012). Climate Change Reporting Framework. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 201: Economic Performance. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 202: Energy. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 205: Anti-Corruption. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 206: Anti-Competitive Behavior. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 304: Biodiversity. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 307: Environmental Compliance. 

GRI, (2016), GRI 401: Employment.

GRI, (2016), GRI 413: Local Communities. 

GRI, (2018), GRI Standards.

Tam C. M., Vivian W. Y. and Tsui W. S. (2004), Green construction assessment for environmental management in the construction industry of Hong Kong. International Journal of Project Management, 22(7):563-71.

Tam V. W. Y., Tam C. M., Zeng S. X. and Chan K. K. (2006), Environmental performance measurement indicators in construction. Building and environment, 41(2): 164-173.

Enshassi, A. and Rizq, E. (2014), An evaluation of environmental impacts of construction projects, International Journal of Construction, 29(3).