Always put people first and respect employees is the key to success.

Case 6-1

SA8000 and 20 years of worker optimization

Social Accountability 8000 International Standard (SA8000) is a management standard system based on the Charter of the International Labor Organization, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with the protection of labor environment and conditions, labor rights, etc. as the main content. The SA8000 standard includes child labor, forced labor, knighthood, freedom, working hours and wages, health and safety, and management systems. After the promulgation of SA8000, it has won wide support in the international community. Many large buyers and sellers have tried their best to promote the implementation of this standard. At the same time, many internationally renowned certification bodies, such as BVQi, SGS, DNV, UL, and ITS have applied to CEPAA to officially carry out SA8000 certification business.

Guardini SPA is an Italian manufacturer of baking and household products. Founded in 1947, the company has about 90 employees and is a third-generation family business. In 2000, Guardini obtained SA8000 certification, becoming the fourth company to obtain this certification in Italy. Through SA8000, the company has made breakthrough progress in worker social performance and worker retention. The following are the changes that SA8000 has brought to the company.

1. Market value and management value

Guardini initially introduced SA8000 certification because it saw the value of the certification. It is an opportunity to convey the company’s high level of social performance to stakeholders. This information can help the company enter the northern market where social performance is highly valued.

2. Exceed expectations and meet workers’ needs

As the Guardini system matures, SA8000 has become an indispensable way of doing business for Guardini. This has brought a positive atmosphere and working environment to the company, continuously improving relationships with stakeholders and significant positive feedback on the operating system. In 2019, Guardini’s annual employee turnover rate was less than 0.5%, because most employees who join the company will work until retirement. At the same time, Guardini has a very low sick leave rate. The SA8000 management system approach has improved Guardini’s productivity in all aspects.

SA8000 helps Guardini stay one step ahead in the changing global market. Over the past 10 years, its external stakeholders have shown an increasing interest in social performance. For Guardini, workers are their most important stakeholders, and SA8000 enables them to meet the needs of these stakeholders.

3. Focus on communication

At Guardini, the Social Performance Team (SPT) (which is a certification for all organizations under SA8000) has become part of basic daily activities. The formation of the SPT has opened up formal and informal communication channels between workers and managers, greatly increasing the frequency and value of communication. The team manages the company’s social performance by meeting regularly (once or twice a month). Strong formal communication channels help educate and empower workers, thereby continuously providing beneficial feedback to the system! Now, team members have informal conversations every day over coffee in the break room to discuss what is working and what is not.

Because they consider workers to be the most important stakeholders of the company, Guardini is proud of the company’s efforts to inform and include workers. Guardini’s worker disclosure obligations are achieved through monthly news reports in the newspaper to inform the company of changes and updates to the system. This newspaper allows every worker who is not involved in the decision-making process to participate and know the direction of the company.