686 is committed to conducting its business with integrity, both legally and ethically. 686's guidelines on social responsibility are consistent with industry-specific requirements and practices, such as the Outdoor Industry Association Fair Labor Code of Conduct and the Fair Labor Association Workplace Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct is also based on International Labor Organization (ILO) standards, the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code and the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The following requirements are of particular importance:
1. Compliance with all workplace regulations and laws
All 686 vendors must comply with local, national and international laws and regulations in all locations where they conduct business. Our vendors must also compete for business fairly, ethically and legally and follow generally accepted international practices to prevent bribery and corruption.
2. Child labor prohibition
Hiring of any employee under the age of 16 is not allowed. If the legal age for employment is higher than 16, then the higher age shall apply. In the case of hazardous work, the minimum age is 18.
3. Forced labor prohibition
Forced labor is not allowed, including prison labor, bonded labor, indentured labor, involuntary labor, human trafficking, slavery or other forms of forced labor.
4. Harassment and abuse prohibition
Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, verbal or psychological harassment or abuse.
5. Discrimination prohibition
There shall be no discrimination on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs. No person shall be subject to discrimination in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, nationality, political opinion, caste, union membership, political affiliation social or ethnic origin.
6. Compensation and Benefits
686 vendors must recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees’ basic needs. Employees shall be paid, as a minimum, at least the minimum wage required by local laws or the prevailing wage in their industry, whichever is higher, and shall be provided with legally mandated benefits. In addition to compensation for regular hours of work, employees shall be compensated for overtime hours at a premium rate as is legally required in the country of employment or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate at least equal to their regular hourly compensation rate.
7. Hours of Work
Follow local and national regulations to schedule work commitments. Do not exceed the legal limitations on regular and overtime hours. Workers shall be allowed at least one day of rest in every seven-day period. All overtime work shall be consensual.
8. Freedom of association and collective bargaining
Suppliers must recognize the rights of employees to associate freely regarding collective bargaining. Suppliers may not discriminate, intimidate, retaliate against or harass any worker who is exercising their lawful right to associate freely or bargain collectively.
9. Health and safety
686 suppliers must provide a clean, safe and healthy work environment, written safety and health policies and procedures, training and adequate equipment to ensure workplace safety practices. Suppliers must operate facilities in accordance with all applicable, local, national and international laws. Where housing is provided for workers, suppliers will provide safe and healthy housing. Adequate fire safety conditions in the workplace must be maintained.
10. Environmental protection
Suppliers must comply with all applicable local, national and international environmental laws and regulations, including those pertaining to air and water emissions, must obtain required permits, and conduct operations in compliance with those permits. Suppliers must also manage waste streams and dispose of all waste in accordance with all applicable legal requirements including water, air, wastewater and solid waste.