Background

Wagestream was founded in 2018 with the desire to be a strong force for social good, providing a complete financial wellbeing programme for frontline workers. This is embedded in the ethos of our company - a  social charter designed in conjunction with our charity investors. As a result, our Articles of Association is pretty unique, it states that:

• Our primary objective: is to advance for public benefit with solutions to help workers, including those that are on low income, escape the debt cycle by being able to access flexible pay at any time (our Social Purpose). 
• Our secondary objective: is to secure a reasonable return to its Shareholders while having regard for the need to promote the Social Purpose.

Wagestream are strongly committed to ensuring that our organisation is free from slavery and human trafficking, and that all Wagestream staff, and affiliates, are protected. We envision a world where all people and communities thrive due to economic stability and social equality -  this is the core principle behind our business and purpose.

As a financial wellbeing company, our business model does not carry with it a high level of slavery risk. This statement therefore covers those areas within our business supply chains which we have identified as presenting a potential slavery risk. We will continue to focus on these areas until we are satisfied that we have mitigated all associated risks.

Our Employees

Our relationship with our staff starts at the hiring stage, we aim to ensure that everyone is treated fairly throughout their time at Wagestream. Wagestream operates a rigorous recruitment selection process for all staff, including obtaining proof of Right to Work documents in the country in which they will be employed. 

Wagestream will always pay staff at least the minimum wage rate applicable in the geography in which they operate (and are committed to paying the London Living Wage for employees based in London). Wagestream staff are entitled to rights and benefits that are enhanced by our additional wellbeing offerings. 

We employ people from a diverse range of backgrounds who all understand, and subscribe to the ambitions and values of our business. All of our employees undertake a learning and development programme, this includes training in relation to: 

• The regulatory requirement in which we conduct our business; and
• The policies, practices and professional standards we adopt. 

Our Company Values and Policies provide a clear set of rules for all staff and the standards expected across all areas of our business including in relation to modern slavery concerns.

Our Policies, Processes and Procedures

Wagestream are committed to act with integrity in all of our business activities and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations we are subject to. Our policies include those relating to:

• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism-Funding;
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption and Fraud;
• Conflict of Interest; 
• Data Protection and Data Retention; and
• Whistleblowing.

We have developed standards, processes and procedures including: 

• Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of our internal policies and their implementation; 
• Supporting an inclusive, open and tolerant workplace environment; and
• Raising concerns or whistleblowing poor practice by our staff and affiliates. 

Our Supply Chain 

Our supply chain partners primarily involve suppliers of technology, data, office and facilities supplies, and professional advisory firms (amongst others). We undertake due diligence on proposed suppliers to ensure that they are a suitable organisation aligning with Wagestream’s values and policies. We do not tolerate slavery or human trafficking within our supply chains, and we would terminate our relationship with a supplier where evidence of this has occurred. 

Through our due diligence and assurance frameworks, we will continue to monitor our outsourcing policies and procedures. This will ensure that our supply chain partners comply with (and are aligned to) our values and policies. Wagestream are committed to ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking arising in any part of our business, and this requirement is extended to our supply chains. 

We ask all our suppliers to adhere to our supplier code of conduct which sets out clearly our expectations and the standards of behaviour we expect from all our suppliers across a range of issues, and specifically fair treatment of their employees, and slavery and human trafficking in their own supply chains.

WAGESTREAM LTD, 2023