The Work Environment

Nesma companies strive to maintain a safe, effective and pleasant work environment, characterized by respect for employees, effective communication, and a strict commitment to health and safety.

RESPECT FOR EMPLOYEES

Nesma respects and recognizes the dignity of each employee, irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, race, education, religion, gender, age, marital status, pregnancy, or disability. The company is guided by its belief that employees must be fully respected, and must fully respect one another. Therefore, the company does not tolerate behavior in the workplace that constitutes any of the following:

• • Unwanted verbal, visual or physical conduct, issued from one person to another, which is reasonably perceived to be in violation of their dignity

  • Conduct by one person to another person/group of persons that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment

  • Unfair treatment of one person by another person, based on the category or categories of persons to which they belong, as described above.

  • Offensive or degrading remarks, verbal abuse, or other hostile behavior such as insulting, teasing, mocking, degrading or ridiculing another person or group • Racial slurs, derogatory remarks about a person’s accent, or display of racially offensive symbols

  • Display or electronic transmission of derogatory, demeaning or hostile material

  • Denying an employee work opportunities for discriminatory reasons

  • Offensive flirtations, advances or propositions

  • Inappropriate physical contact, comments, questions, advances, jokes, or demands

  • Repeatedly standing too close to or brushing up against a person, in a way that is perceived by the recipient to be harassment

  • Repeatedly asking a person to socialize during off duty hours when the person has said no or has indicated that they are not interested

  • Physical assault or stalking

  • Bullying through unmerited criticism, isolation, gossip, withholding essential information, or behaving in a way that is intimidating or demeaning

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Effective communication is one of the most critical elements of a healthy and productive work environment. In most workplaces in the Nesma Group, the official business language is English, although this may vary in some companies. Be respectful of the languages used by your colleagues when communicating with them. When using email, all employees are expected to respond promptly, within a maximum accepted period of one to two business days. Nesma email addresses are to be used for official business matters only. They should not be used for personal communications. Sending or forwarding emails containing offensive, discriminatory or indecent content is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action. Importantly, when sending an email to many people, you must remember to put their email addresses in the “bcc” section.

DRESS CODE

The dress code at Nesma varies from one company to another and among worksites depending on the work environment. Some employees work in formal environments and wear professional business attire, some are in more casual environments and others are expected to wear company-provided uniforms.

For All Employees

In all cases and for all employees, garments should be of appropriate size and properly laundered to present a neat, clean appearance. Colors should conform to generally accepted norms for what constitutes work attire (classic colors).

All employees should maintain a clean and groomed appearance. Hairstyles, hair color, facial hair, and other appearance-related items should present a neat and professional style. Cologne, perfume and aftershave should be subtle. Employees should take into consideration that some of their colleagues might be sensitive to - or have allergic reactions to - certain fragrances.

For Female Employees in Saudi Arabia

Female employees are expected to wear a full-length cover (abaya) and hair cover (tarha) in workplaces also occupied by men.

When in female-only sections, female employees have the option to remain in their abaya or to wear neat and clean business attire, such as formal pants or professional skirts or dresses below the knee, and blouses, sweaters, and/or jackets/blazers. In all settings, footwear must consist of closed toe shoes. Makeup should be kept to a minimum.

DRUG FREE, ALCOHOL-FREE, SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE

In keeping with the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the company’s concern for the health and safety of its workforce, the company commits to maintaining a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace. Employees are prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities:

• • Use, possession, manufacture, distribution, dispensation or sale of illegal drugs/alcohol

  • Storing in a locker, desk, automobile or other repository on company premises any illegal or unauthorized drugs/alcohol

  • Being under the influence of illegal drugs/alcohol on company premises, during work hours, while on company business, and/or in company-supplied vehicles

  • Unauthorized use of prescribed medicine, meaning that an employee undergoing prescribed medical treatment with a drug that may alter their physical or mental ability must report this treatment to the company’s HR Division. The HR Department may determine that the employee should have a temporary change in job assignment or a sick leave during the period of treatment A violation of the company’s Drug- Free, Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy will result in termination of employment.

Employees must note that Nesma also provides its employees and visitors with a smoke-free environment. The company prohibits smoking and all forms of tobacco use inside its buildings.