ethics and sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT
NAME
TUTOR
COURSE
INSTITUTION
DATE
Introduction
Sustainability assessment focuses on the implications of some behaviors on an organization. It addresses the measures taken by the organization to ensure its future sustainability. This paper discusses sustainable assessment by GRI assessment standards. This is for easy reference by the stakeholders and the general public for organizations reference. The article will address the activities of Timberwell constructions to sustain itself in the market. Timberwell is a local development company that deals with putting up apartment complexes in the Stanwell Council District. The company employs 58 male employees in from the district of construction in different positions. However, the company is faced with labor challenges. Despite making changes to retain their employees, it has been with resignations and various allegations. Many of the employees have been joining competing companies while others start their businesses. Through these challenging moments, the company has been faced with various allegations of misconduct and governance challenges (Carrolland & Buchholtz, 2014, 45). At the same time, it has been questioned on its ethical standards as a construction company. However, the company has taken various measures to take control of its governance and ethical standards for continuous sustainability (Bennand & Dunphy,2007, 12). This paper addresses sustainable measures in by GRI principles concerning Timberwell case study.

The standard material principles include environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability standards (Dumay et al. 2010, 21).
Economic sustainability
Disclosure 201-2
Climate change has various effects on a company such as Timberwell which mostly depend on vegetation for its continuous activities. Any company in operation that ignores the environment it’s operating in is at very high risk of failing. There are various risks experienced due to climate change, and the most important thing is for the management to put in correct measures to help deal with any setbacks (Michelon, 2011, 82). These risks include regulatory risks, mandatory use of renewable energy and energy efficiency of the building. All these problems have big impacts on the financial operation of the company. Timberwell has set a cost of $4 million to use in bushfire prone areas. It has to implement the use of fire retard materials and build fences to separate buildings from bushfires. However, the intention is to contract external town planning firm services to minimize these costs. The firm is willing to offer its services for $50,000. At the same time, Timberwell is required to rehabilitate the coastal grasslands at the cost of $440,000.
Disclosure 205-3
Timberwell Constructions Company has been faced with allegations of corruption incidences involving five workers and two business stakeholders. It is alleged that the five employees gave bribes to promote development projects for the company. Being taken into consideration the company has suspended the five employees and terminated contracts with the implicated business companies as further investigations are conducted. These actions are taken to avoid organizational risks that face the company due to corruption acts. The company is working with the anti-corruption commission to uphold the integrity and transparency of the company. Openness is the key to the operation of the organization; therefore various measures need to be taken to avoid such corruptions which may affect the sustainability of the company (Zhao et al., 2009, 60). The countries anti-corruption commission has charged the workers and one of the business partners with graft cases. At no moment will the company tolerate any employee involved in corruption cases. Timberwell Company is also ready to invite the anti-corruption group to come and investigate if there are more cases of corruption involving the workers.
Disclosure 206-1
This disclosure involves practices of organizations to keep competitive firms out of the market. The market should be allowed to be competitive; therefore no organization should act as a monopoly by showing anti-competitive behaviors (Finch, 2005). The Australian competition and consumer commission received allegations against Timberwell Constructions Company on the possible anticompetitive practices. Through investigations, ACCC has prosecuted Timberwell on a federal court on accusations of anti-competitive practices. Timberwell management is accused of threatening its business partners and contractors against working with its competitors. The case is listed to be heard on a federal court within four months. The company wants to act as a monopoly in the district which is against the laws. The legal action taken against Timberwell constructions by ACCC is to regulate the anti-competitive behavior in Stanwell district.
Environmental sustainability
Disclosure 302-1
Energy consumption within Timberwell Construction Company is based on energy conservation programs. Timberwell Construction Company is an efficient energy consumption organization. It has focused on changing its fuel consumption to renewable fuel consumption which is at least half of its fuel consumption within three years (Gray, 2006, 79). It has also invested in a program to raise its fuel consumption. The company is also in the process of training its employees on the best ways to preserve energy. The organization’s energy consumption is in line with the regulations prescribed by Australian department of energy and science. Timberwell’s energy conservation plan is based on a three year period which will ensure that it remains an energy efficient consumption organization. This will lead to reduced expenses in energy consumption and ensure conservation of the general environment. Another most important thing is to make sure that the environment is safe from any pollution by fuel emission from the company.
Disclosure 304-2
Most organizations impose various environmental impacts on air, water, and land through their activities and service delivery. It is their responsibility to rehabilitate and initiate stewardship towards conservation and protection of the environment (Epstein & Buhovac, 2014). Timberwell through their activities they have tampered with the coastal grasslands which require rehabilitation at a cost of $440,000. Through environmental impact assessment, Timberwell came to understand that the planned residential project in Hartford Park would not support the survival of the rare species of wallum sedge frogs. Timberwell is working with Stanwell environment council to devise a plan for environmental support of wallum sedge frogs in the area. The construction company through its activities has come to understand that it has major impacts on the biodiversity of Stanwell district environment.
Disclosure 307-1
Timberwell cleared 0.45 acres of endangered species of coastal grassland. Any company seeking an operation license must be ready to abide by the environmental rules. This is against the environmental laws and regulations. The construction company was fined a $200,000 for non-compliance with the environmental law. At the same time, it was tasked to rehabilitate the coastal grassland at the cost of not less than $ 440,000. This disclosure emphasizes the organization’s compliance laws towards environmental sustainability (Manzini, 2006, 11). This ensures the conservation of the environment through respecting and adhering to the set environmental laws. According to the case study, Timberwell Constructions Company cleared an area recognized under the state planning scheme as to contain important living organisms. Timberwell Company is very much committed and ready to follow all the environmental rules and regulations.
Social sustainability
Disclosure 401-1
Timberwell employs 58 male staff with different professional skills and trades. However, during the reporting period, it had to hire seven employees since the market is labor competitive. Timberwell constructions have also increased the wages and the day off roistering in order to keep employees from at their place of work. According to the above workforce, it runs low of employees with four people. The employees are resigning to join competitors or even starting their own rival businesses. An organization requires high employee turnover to run smoothly on its activities. Despite the challenges, Timberwell Constructions Company is very competitive on employment incentives. Employee relationship is a key social sustainability tool for the organization, therefore to increase employee turnover, good governance and good treatment of employees is required (Choudhury 2016, 183). Mostly the employee age group is between 30 to 50 years in Timberwell Constructions Company. This is a more productive labor age limit as seen.
Disclosure 406-1
These are incidences which are reported within the reporting period in Timberwell Construction Company. Employee discrimination based on age has been reported in the fair work commission by a former employee. According to labor laws, no individual is supposed to be discriminated at the place of work due to age, physical disability or color. All employees should be treated the same and work should be given on merit basis. The employee was over 50 years of age; he was discriminated against his age by the organization. At the same time, he felt that age jokes by his colleagues targeted him. The fair work commission found the allegations and ordered a compensation of $44,400 to the former employee. At the same time, the organization has updated its working policies and trained all its employees on anti-discrimination policies. This is to ensure such incidences don’t occur again (Guthrie & Farneti, 2008, 36).
Disclosure 413-1
Organizations have a great impact on the society operations through their activities. The local people are required to interact with the Company at various levels (Junior et al. 2014, 5). The local community plays a very paramount role in the success of a Company. Timberwell is involved in the day to day activities since it is a constructions company. They consult with the local community and formulate development programs in the community. At the same time, they are involved in assessment programs including environmental conservation programs. This creates powerful social sustainability of Timberwell constructions in Stanwell district community. Timberwell should also engage in community development programs as a way of giving back to the society. Timberwell Company involves the local people when it comes to making vital decisions that might affect the environment.
Conclusion
The assessment report has addressed all the major sustainable structures of Timberwell constructions within the reporting period. This report is aimed at enlightening all stakeholders on the progress of Timberwell Constructions Company. Although Timberwell Company has experienced a lot of challenges before, the management is doing everything possible to restore its lost glory. The company is also ready for any scrutiny and assessment from the government.
References
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Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014. Business and Society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education.
Choudhury, B., 2016. Social Disclosure. Berkeley Bus. LJ, 13, p.183.
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Gray, R., 2006. Social, environmental and sustainability reporting and organizational value creation? Whose value? Whose creation?. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 19(6), pp.793-819.
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