STANDING UP FOR OUR VALUES 2016 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT

Transcription

1 STANDING UP FOR OUR VALUES 2016 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT

2 2 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR 94 % HUMAN COMMITMENT 100 % SOCIAL COMMITMENT 2016 Sustainable Development and Societal Responsibility Report This report marks the culmination of the Sustainable Development and Societal Responsibility Report (SDSR) launched by SSQ in Since then, many significant and promising actions have been taken. By putting this plan into action, SSQ has achieved some noteworthy results. In total, 96% of the objectives identified for each of the commitments have been met. 94 % ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT In short: 15 actions implemented 43 gestures made to reach our objectives 52 indicators for the gestures made; 50 of which have been completed and 2 are in progress 100 % INDICATORS ECONOMIC COMMITMENT Indicators completed Indicators in progress This report presents the highlights of the SDSR plan, and although the plan is winding up, SSQ definitely wishes to continue its efforts in this area and continue building a better future.

3 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 1 INNOVATIVE AND EFFICIENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 100% of policyholders with 500 or more employees say it s easy to do business with SSQ 89% of our insured members are satisfied or totally satisfied with the overall claim process in general insurance 98% of group insurance plan administrators find that their plan implementation was straightforward The new Health InSight Indicators 80% of group insurance policyholders concerned say that this program helps improve their knowledge of their employees global health

4 2 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT 100% of worksheets in individual insurance converted into electronic format Launch of a brand new 100% digital individual insurance product for those nearing retirement 100% of home and auto insurance claims are paperless 56% of group insurance participants are registered for online services 140% increase in downloads of the SSQ Mobile Services app Use of online group insurance claims is continually growing: a 56% increase in the last year alone 97% of group insurance groups use online invoicing 100% of requests for donations and sponsorships are made online Nearly 44% of insureds use direct deposit for their claim reimbursements More than 50% of group insurance intermediaries have registered for direct deposit

5 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 3 A GROUP WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY $113,759 A major fundraising event in 2016, the SSQ Quebec City Marathon collected $113,759 for Accès-Loisirs Québec, an organization whose mission is to make sport, cultural and outdoor recreational activities accessible to low-income families Seinbiose Completion of the first year of the Seinbiose research project operated by the Quebec City CHU Foundation (FCHUQ): 17 women who underwent mastectomies received a customized external breast prosthesis thanks to SSQ s contribution Artists Garage Sale Participation in the 2016 Artists Garage Sale, a fundraising event organized for the benefit of the Véro & Louis Foundation whose objective is to build the first house adapted for autistic people age 21 and over Financial support to communities shaken by a tragedy: forest fires in Fort McMurray, explosion in downtown Lac-Mégantic and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines Participation of a team of employees in the Bay Street Hoops basketball tournament to raise funds to make the sport accessible to Toronto youth Volunteer half-days Nearly 40 SSQ employees participated in volunteer half-days in 2016 by taking part in activities held at organizations that rely on United Way Centraide

6 4 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR ADOPTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS: A PRIORITY Knitting workshops organized by SSQ employees provided comforting knitted items to sick children at CHU Sainte-Justine hospital Elite certification has been maintained Women of the Future Launch of SSQ Women of the Future initiative consisting of a committee that encourages professional development of women through mentoring and skill development By taking part in the Young Explorers for a Day activity, high school students can experience on-the-job training for a day $320,000 A record amount of $320,000 raised during the 2016 United Way Centraide campaign, a 12% increase over last year 20% A 20% increase in the capitalization of SSQ Foundation SSQ Marathons Massive employee turnout at the SSQ Marathon in Longueuil and the SSQ Quebec City Marathon 37,000 km A total of 412 employees divided into 3 teams traveled nearly 37,000 km, or the equivalent of 3 Halifax/Vancouver return trips as part of the HealthWise program

7 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 5 SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 12 beehives installed on the rooftops of our office buildings in Quebec City, Longueuil and Toronto produced over 120 kg of honey in the summer of 2016 Sustainable mobility Agreements signed with Covoiturage.ca, Communauto and TURO, companies specializing in sustainable mobility and car sharing Here we recycle! Level 2 certification of the HERE WE RECYCLE! program for the 2525 SSQ and 2505 SSQ office buildings Collection of used books by the SSQ youth service cooperative (CJSSQ) ÉlectroBAC Installation of ÉlectroBAC at the head office, for the recycling of old electronic devices and offering them a second lease on life Green cars Incentives for purchasing environmentally friendly vehicles for the SSQ fleet Prestigious LEED Gold certification for the SSQ Tower in Longueuil Charging stations Installation of electric car charging stations at the SSQ Tower in Longueuil

8 6 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS SSQ took part in a number of activities and meetings of the Quebec chapter of the PRI network Earth Hour Participation in the Earth Hour initiative, demonstrating SSQ s commitment to climate change issues Principles for Responsible investment (PRI) are now integrated in the investment analysis and decision-making processes, both for general and segregated fund investments Criteria for responsible investment are now integrated in the selection of external managers for SSQ Funds Transport for a Better Life SSQ takes part in the Monique-Fitz-Back Foundation s Transport for a Better Life contest to foster young people s commitment to transportation challenges Information related to our responsible investment practices was added to the report for the PRI Secretariat External audit of SSQ s investments in Canadian companies, with a focus on the responsible investing aspect

9 7 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 ANNUAL REPORT SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 7 HUMAN COMMITMENT ACTION 1 Offer an accessible and high-quality customer experience GESTURES Conduct the necessary surveys to measure member and client satisfaction rates with our products and services Develop and maintain specific training programs for employees who work for the Group s various customer service departments Expand our mobile and online services Promote the use of our online services among our insured members Promote the efficiency and speed of SSQ Mobile Services for submitting claims INDICATORS Surveys measuring the satisfaction of our insured members, customers and partners Goals of excellence by business sector Training new employees within six months Feasibility study detailing the online needs to add to the overall offering Surveys to determine additional needs for online services Services with low environmental impact New mobile and online services offered Use of online services Identification of the objectives of online services by business sector Increased use of SSQ Mobile Services Status: Completed In progress

10 8 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR ACTION 2 Encourage employees to become agents of change in sustainable development ACTION 3 Maintain a high level of employee expertise ACTION 4 Take sustainable development principles into account when managing human capital and offer an engaging work environment GESTURES Make employees aware of sustainable development principles Build a shared company vision through a communications platform dedicated to attracting and retaining employees Encourage employees to develop skills that help them reach their potential and meet the needs of our customers Set up a leadership training and professional development program for managers Develop an internal communications policy that encourages dialogue between management and employees Coach employees in change management Examine the results of the different organizational surveys and sustainable development principles in programs related to human resources to offer an engaging work environment and become an employer of choice that consistently promotes equality and employee diversity Promote health and support employees INDICATORS Activities to make employees aware of the SDSR principles Internal SDSR communications plan and employee mobilization activities Budget percentage allocated to employee training Training and professional development programs Internal communications policy Change management support Integration of SDSR principles with company business practises Health promotion and employee support activities

11 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 9 SOCIAL COMMITMENT ACTION 5 Offer products and services that promote responsible behaviours ACTION 6 Integrate environmentally responsible criteria into policies for donations and institutional sponsorships GESTURES Promote online claims to insureds Incite and encourage consumers to adopt environmentally friendly behaviours Increase the quantity of responsible products we offer Build on policies for donations and institutional sponsorships that take the sustainable development efforts of applicants into account Encourage employees to volunteer in order to help communities flourish Invest a portion of our net income in donations INDICATORS User rates of online services Adherence to environmentally responsible products Development of new environmentally responsible products Integration of SDSR in the policies for donations and sponsorships Promotion of our commitments in the community Measures to encourage employee volunteer work Promotion of the Corporate Donations Policy and the directive on supporting the volunteer work done by employees Percentage of net gains is invested in donations

12 1 0 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR ACTION 7 Give back to the community through the SSQ Foundation ACTION 8 Invest in the next generation GESTURES Maintain support for the SSQ Foundation Support the establishment of a youth services co-op with the children of employees Consolidate succession planning to ensure the longlasting success of operations Promote the SSQ employer brand as employer of choice INDICATORS Percentage of the capitalization of the SSQ Foundation Establishment of a youth co-op every year Succession planning Promotion of the SSQ employer brand

13 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 1 1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT ACTION 9 Apply social and environmental considerations when acquiring goods and services ACTION 10 Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions GESTURES Apply a policy on responsible goods and services acquisition and a directive on calls for tenders and responsible contracting Efficiently dispose of residual materials according to the 3R-D that make up the first principle of the Quebec Residual Materials Management Policy: Reduction at the source, Reuse, Recycling and Disposal Create an inventory of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced every year Promote alternative means of transportation to driving alone among employees Include a wider selection of environmentally friendly vehicles in SSQ s automobile fleet Hold carbon-neutral annual meetings (AM) INDICATORS Policy for responsible acquisition of goods and services The 3R-D internal management plan for residual materials Promotion of public transportation and carpooling Promotion of public transport and carpooling Environmental performance of the automobile fleet Neutral carbon footprint of the annual meeting

14 1 2 Ω SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR ACTION 11 Reduce our paper consumption ACTION 12 Reduce our water and energy consumption GESTURES Encourage group insurance intermediaries to register for online services Implement a new employee awareness program to reduce the use of photocopiers and printers Replace the My insurance at a glance brochure distributed to group insurance members with an abridged version and an online version Promote printing on both sides as a standard for all documents Ensure our Copy Centre maintains its FSC certification Obtain BOMA BESt certification for all SSQ-owned buildings to improve their performance and their environmental management LEED certification for all construction projects built by SSQ The Cité Verte project is raising awareness about the prescribed building methods and leading-edge products used in energy and environmental management: sustainable architecture, waste materials management and storm water and wastewater management INDICATORS Intermediary registration rates for direct deposit Usage rate of e-billing Measuring reduction in the use of photocopiers and printers Production and distribution of an abridged version and an online version Percentage of printers capable of printing on both sides FSC certification of the Copy Centre and a policy on paper supply BOMA BESt certification Objective to reduce water and energy LEED certification Promotion of Cité Verte s environmental friendliness

15 SSQ Ω 2016 SDSRR Ω 1 3 ECONOMIC COMMITMENT ACTION 13 Integrate our sustainable development policy into our business practises ACTION 14 Build on the sustainable and responsible profile of our investments ACTION 15 Ensure the Company s sustainability through steady growth and reasonable returns GESTURES Integrate sustainable development indicators into the policy s progress report Present an annual report that integrates the SDSR report Promote the policy governing socially responsible investments adopted in 2006 and improved in 2008, by endorsing the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) initiative Establish targets for change in response to the six PRI principles Continue with external audits of the Canadian company investment portfolio, with a focus on the responsible aspect of these investments. Determine reasonable and responsible targets for overall company performance INDICATORS Progress report SDSR section integrated in the annual report Distribution of the policy on socially responsible investments and training of employees involved Target the change in response to the six PRI principles External audits and communications to the investment committee Financial indicators

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