2008 Registration Document - Rexel

5. Social responsibilityNumber of requests madeto the ethics correspondentsType of request Information 8Complaint 4Litigation –Others 3Author of the request Customers 1Rexel employees 13Suppliers –Local authorities –Employee representatives, unions –Anonymous 1Others –Subject matter of the request Relationships with customers –Relationships with suppliers 2Relationships between employees 7Working conditions 2Fight against corruption 2Fight against fraud and theft 2Environmental protection –Actions taken Preventative 6Corrective 8Geographic area Western Europe 5Northern and Eastern Europe 7North America 3South America –Asia-Pacific –Others –Fifteen ethics cases were thus brought to the attention ofa Rexel Group ethics correspondent in 2008: the majoritywere identified in Europe and North America, and almost halfconcerned relationships between Rexel Group employees.All cases were processed, verified (by audits or investigationsundertaken by Management in the country in question)and treated with preventative actions (6) or correctiveactions (8) depending on the situation (1 case is still beingprocessed).Finally, about 20% of the cases (3) resulted in disciplinarypenalties for Rexel Group employees.In 2009, the General Managers concerned will name ethicscorrespondents in each of the countries new to the RexelGroup and all employees having joined the Rexel Group in2008 will receive the Ethics Guide.5.2 REXEL’S RELATIONS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY5.2.1 The Rexel Group’s socialchallenges as a distributor of electricalequipment and solutionsThrough its activity of distributor, the Rexel Group promotesthe sale of (i) products that contribute to the control and/orreduction of energy consumption (relating in particular tolighting and the automation of buildings) and (ii) solutionsthat use renewable energy sources (solar, wind and heatpumps). The Rexel Group is a player in the reductionof energy consumption and therefore, in so doing, ofenvironmental impacts related to energy challenges.This voluntary approach is based on a number of actionsimplemented in the various subsidiaries of the Group, suchas:− training of sales forces in respect of technical specificationsand environmental impact of products;PAGE 58 | REXEL 2008