Global Reporting Initiative

Society Performance Indicators

Degree of compliance with GRI standard disclosures

entièrement couvert Standard disclosure fully covered partiellement couvert Standard disclosure partially covered non couvert Standard disclosure not covered
Labor practices and decent work
GRI No. Standard disclosures References and notes
Management approaches
fully coveredEmployment

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to employment is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
fully coveredLabor/Management relations

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to labor relations is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
fully coveredOccupational health and safety

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to occupational health and safety is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
fully coveredTraining and education

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to training and education is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.

Our Direction - Développement des compétences, which is part of the Direction principale - Ressources humaines, applies the 2010–2013 master plan to maintain and improve the company's performance in terms of skill development in key areas tied to the company's strategy.
fully coveredDiversity and equal opportunity

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to diversity and equal opportunity is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
Employment
fully covered LA1 Total workforce by employment type, employment contract, and region.
partially covered LA2 Total number and rate of employee turnover by age group, gender, and region.
partially covered LA3 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees, by major operations.

Employee benefits are described in the collective agreements
Labor/Management relations
fully covered LA4 Percentage of employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.
partially covered LA5 Minimum notice period(s) regarding significant operational changes, including whether it is specified in collective agreements. Minimum notice periods for layoffs are specified in collective agreements.
Occupational health and safety
fully covered LA6 Percentage of total workforce represented in formal joint management-worker health and safety committees that help monitor and advise on occupational health and safety programs. Hydro-Québec has 140 joint health and safety committees, in which union officers work with management to ensure a healthy, safe work environment for employees. Operating at local, regional and provincial levels, these committees represent the six main unions in the company.
partially covered LA7 Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and total number of work-related fatalities by region. Hydro-Québec records and reports occupational accidents and diseases in accordance with the standards in force in Québec.
partially covered LA8 Education, training, counseling, prevention, and risk-control programs in place to assist workforce members, their families, or community members regarding serious diseases. Hydro-Québec offers its employees an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help them resolve in a timely and effective manner a wide range of issues that may affect the quality of their personal and professional lives.
partially covered LA9 Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions.

Since 1983, Hydro-Québec has complied with ILO occupational health and safety recommendations and conventions.

Hydro-Québec also complies with the laws and regulations in force in Québec and applies the concept of due diligence to occupational health and safety.

Joint committees have been set up to deal with any health and safety issues that arise.
Training and education
partially covered LA10 Average hours of training per year per employee by employee category.
partially covered LA11 Programs for skills management and lifelong learning that support the continued employability of employees and assist them in managing career endings.
fully covered LA12 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews. Management and professional employees receive performance appraisals and enjoy career development programs. These two employment categories account for some 15% of company employees.
Diversity and equal opportunity
partially covered LA13 Composition of governance bodies and breakdown of employees per category according to gender, age group, minority group membership, and other indicators of diversity.
partially covered LA14 Ratio of basic salary of men to women by employee category. Hydro-Québec complies with the Pay Equity Act and aims for compensation equity for its employees
Human rights
GRI No. Standard disclosures References and notes
Management approach
fully coveredInvestment and procurement practices
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
fully coveredNon-discrimination

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to non-discrimination is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
fully coveredFreedom of association and collective bargaining

Hydro-Québec's management approach with respect to freedom of association and collective bargaining is described in the policy Our Human Resources and in the collective agreements.
fully coveredChild labor
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
fully coveredForced and compulsory labor
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
fully coveredSecurity practices
fully coveredIndigenous rights
Investment and procurement practices
partially covered HR1 Percentage and total number of significant investment agreements that include human rights clauses or that have undergone human rights screening. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
partially covered HR2 Percentage of significant suppliers and contractors that have undergone screening on human rights and actions taken. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
partially covered HR3 Total hours of employee training on policies and procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations, including the percentage of employees trained. Hydro-Québec asks its employees to abide by a code of conduct that emphasizes respect for people, and for social and religious convictions. The company also provides employee training on the policy against harassment in the workplace.
Non-discrimination
fully covered HR4 Total number of incidents of discrimination and actions taken.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining
fully covered HR5 Operations identified in which the right to exercise freedom of association or collective bargaining may be at significant risk, and actions taken to support these rights. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
Child labor
partially covered HR6 Operations identified as having significant risk for incidents of child labor, and measures taken to contribute to the elimination of child labor. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
Forced and compulsory labor
partially covered HR7 Operations identified as having significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labor, and measures taken to contribute to the elimination of forced or compulsory labor. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Our Policies (Our Acquisition of Goods and Services and Contract Conditions)
Security practices
partially covered HR8 Percentage of security personnel trained in the organization's policies or procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations. Security employees receive training on matters including the company's Code of Ethics.
Indigenous rights
partially covered HR9 Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous people and actions taken. Hydro-Québec has entered into a number of agreements with Aboriginal communities affected by its development projects in order to incorporate their needs as citizens, partners and customers.
Society
GRI No. Standard disclosures References and notes
Management approaches
fully coveredCommunity
fully coveredCorruption
fully coveredPublic policy
    Hydro-Québec is a government-owned corporation and the Québec government is the sole shareholder.
  • Hydro-Québec Act
fully coveredAnti-competitive behavior
    Hydro-Québec is a government-owned corporation, governed by a specific act and the Régie de l'énergie, an independent regulatory board.
  • Hydro-Québec Act
fully coveredCompliance
    Monitoring of all laws governing Hydro-Québec's operations (including judicial sanctions) is mainly the responsibility of the Groupe – Affaires corporatives et secrétariat général.
  • Our Policies (Our Management)
Community
fully covered SO1 Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any programs and practices that assess and manage the impacts of operations on communities, including entering, operating, and exiting.
Corruption
partially covered SO2 Percentage and total number of business units analyzed for risks related to corruption. Hydro-Québec applies the best governance practices, in particular by complying with the Hydro-Québec Act, a code of ethics for company directors, executives and controllers, and an employee code of conduct.
partially covered SO3 Percentage of employees trained in organization's anticorruption policies and procedures. Hydro-Québec applies the best governance practices, in particular by complying with the Hydro-Québec Act, a code of ethics for company directors, executives and controllers, and an employee code of conduct.
partially covered SO4 Actions taken in response to incidents of corruption. Hydro-Québec applies the best governance practices, in particular by complying with the Hydro-Québec Act, a code of ethics for company directors, executives and controllers, and an employee code of conduct.
Public policy
fully covered SO5 Public policy positions and participation in public policy development and lobbying. Hydro-Québec lobbies public authorities on major issues affecting the company. For instance, Hydro-Québec promotes recognition of hydroelectricity as a GHG-reducing energy source in a tradable emissions credit system as proposed in the Kyoto Protocol.
fully covered SO6 Total value of financial and in-kind contributions to political parties, politicians, and related institutions by country. Hydro-Québec is a government-owned corporation and the Québec government is the sole shareholder. As such, it does not contribute to political parties.
Anti-competitive behavior
fully covered SO7 Total number of legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, antitrust, and monopoly practices and their outcomes. Hydro-Québec is a government-owned corporation, governed by a specific act and the Régie de l'énergie, an independent regulatory board.
Compliance
fully covered SO8 Monetary value of significant fines and total number of nonmonetary sanctions for noncompliance with laws and regulations. In 2010, Hydro-Québec had no significant fines or nonmonetary sanctions imposed for noncompliance with laws or regulations.
Product responsibility
GRI No. Standard disclosures References and notes
Management approach
fully coveredCustomer health and safety
fully coveredProduct and service labeling As a company that provides services, Hydro-Québec uses means other than labeling, such as advertising campaigns and public reports, to inform consumers of the impacts of electric power generation and use.
fully coveredMarketing communications Hydro-Québec complies with the guidelines of Advertising Standards Canada (ASC). If ASC deems an advertisement unacceptable, the company follows its recommendations. Our Direction - Services de communication of the Groupe - Affaires corporatives et secrétariat général is responsible for ensuring the company's compliance with Canadian advertising standards.
fully coveredCustomer privacy Hydro-Québec complies with the requirements of the Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI), which administers the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information. The mission of the CAI is to ensure maximum protection of personal information held by public bodies. Our Direction principale - Environnement et affaires corporatives of the Groupe – Affaires corporatives et secrétariat général is responsible for ensuring the company's compliance with this Act.
fully coveredCompliance Monitoring of all laws governing Hydro-Québec's operations (including judicial sanctions) is mainly the responsibility of the Groupe – Affaires corporatives et secrétariat général.
Customer health and safety
partially covered PR1 Life cycle stages in which health and safety impacts of products and services are assessed for improvement, and percentage of significant products and services categories subject to such procedures.
partially covered PR2 Total number of incidents of noncompliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services during their life cycle, by type of outcomes. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
Product and service labeling
partially covered PR3 Type of product and service information required by procedures, and percentage of significant products and services subject to such information requirements. As a company that provides services, Hydro-Québec uses means other than labeling, such as advertising campaigns and public reports, to inform consumers of the impacts of electric power generation and use.
partially covered PR4 Total number of incidents of noncompliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning product and service information and labeling, by type of outcomes. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.
fully covered PR5 Practices related to customer satisfaction, including results of surveys measuring customer satisfaction. Since 1992, Hydro-Québec has performed an annual follow-up of customers' priorities and expectations (table of customer expectations).
Marketing communications
partially covered PR6 Programs for adherence to laws, standards, and voluntary codes related to marketing communications, including advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. Hydro-Québec complies with the guidelines of Advertising Standards Canada (ASC). If ASC deems an advertisement unacceptable, the company follows its recommendations.
fully covered PR7 Total number of incidents of noncompliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning marketing communications, including advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, by type of outcomes. ASC has received no complaints about Hydro-Québec in the past six years.
Customer privacy
partially covered PR8 Total number of substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data.

Hydro-Québec complies with the requirements of the Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI), which administers the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information. The mission of the CAI is to ensure maximum protection of personal information held by public bodies.

In 2010, there were no substantiated complaints against Hydro-Québec concerning breaches of employee or customer privacy or losses of personal data.
Compliance
partially covered PR9 Monetary value of significant fines for noncompliance with laws and regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services. Hydro-Québec complies with applicable laws and regulations.

Hydro-Québec's Home Page | Residential Customers | Business Customers | Energy Efficiency | Power Safety | Vegetation | Free Guided Tours | Learning | Corporate Profile and Publications | Press Releases | Sustainable Development | Construction Projects | Jobs [in French only] | Suppliers | Investors | Confidentiality and security

© Hydro-Québec, 1996-2012. All rights reserved.

Logo Hydro-Québec