GSP in Action - Hersheys

The Hershey Company

Principles #1: Express our support for universal human rights and, particularly, those of our employees, the communities within which we operate and parties with whom we do business.

The Hershey Company has a long history of community leadership and support for human rights. Hershey actively seeks to make a positive difference not only in the communities where its employees live and work, but across North America and around the world. The company supports hundreds of civic, educational, youth and cultural organizations, with a special emphasis on improving the lives of children. Hershey is an active supporter of the United Way, the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, and the International Foundation for Education & Self-Help, among many others. The Milton Hershey School, which provides housing and education for 1,400 disadvantaged children and boasts more than 8,000 graduates, is the company's largest shareholder through the Milton Hershey School Trust.

Principle #2: Promote equal opportunity for our employees at all levels of the company with respect to issues such as color, race, gender, age, ethnicity or religious beliefs, and operate without unacceptable worker treatment such as the exploitation of children, physical punishment, female abuse, involuntary servitude or other forms of abuse.

Diversity and inclusion have been important values of The Hershey Company for many years. The company is committed to creating and sustaining a work environment in which each employee has an opportunity to grow, develop and contribute fully to its success. Hershey's active Diversity and Women's councils promote diversity and inclusion through a variety of cultural, educational and community events and activities. The company does not tolerate discrimination against its employees on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation anywhere in the world, even if not prohibited by local law.

Hershey supports a variety of organizations that promote diversity, including the National Urban League, the Pennsylvania Association of Latino Organizations, CATALYST, and the Human Rights Campaign. In addition, Hershey actively works to build relationships with suppliers of diverse ownership. In areas where the diversity of suppliers is limited, The Hershey Company strives to develop promising minority and women-owned businesses

Principle #4: Compensate our employees to enable them to meet at least their basic needs and provide the opportunity to improve their skill and capability in order to raise their social and economic opportunities.

The Hershey Company is committed to investing in its employees through a Total Compensation program that ensures that employees at every level share in the company's financial success. Hershey's approach to compensation balances the long-term needs of the company to remain competitive with the needs of employees for attractive wages and benefits.

Principle #6: Promote fair competition including respect for intellectual and other property rights, and not offer, pay or accept bribes.

Hershey has a robust program to communicate, monitor and enforce its Code of Ethical Business Conduct. The Code sets out Hershey's high standards for corporate and director, officer and employee behavior. The Code covers a range of subjects, from the use of corporate funds, to conflict of interest and protection of company information, and includes a strict prohibition on bribery. The Code is available in eight languages so that employees around the world can read the Code and adhere to Hershey's standards for ethical behavior. Employees certify annually to their understanding and compliance with the Code, mechanisms to report concerns are available, reports are investigated thoroughly with appropriate follow-up action taken, and retaliation for making a report in good faith is not tolerated.

Principle #7: Work with governments and communities in which we do business to improve the quality of life in those communities -- their educational, cultural, economic and social well-being -- and seek to provide training and opportunities for workers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Hershey Company has made a long-term commitment to driving positive change in the world's cocoa-farming communities. This includes actively supporting World Cocoa Foundation programs designed to alleviate rural poverty, improve access to education and preserve the tropical forest ecosystem. The company also supports a range of public-private partnership efforts aimed at encouraging responsible labor practices in West African cocoa growing. In 2005, Hershey began funding an International Foundation for Education & Self-Help program to provide teacher training in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, an effort expected to benefit up to 40,000 primary and secondary school students.