There has never been a more important time for business to think deeply about the role it plays in society. While technological innovation and digital disruption have opened up new opportunities for staying connected as the pandemic has kept us apart, they have also highlighted our need to engage with ethical concerns and our responsibility to support, educate and protect the people who use and supply our products and services.
As the world has faced into the reality of adjusting to life with COVID-19, we have been reminded daily that our obligations as a large, iconic Australian business are not defined only by the small print of our contracts but by our purpose and values. Responsible business has again been front and centre in our organisational priorities for FY21.
For Telstra, doing business responsibly means understanding our customers’ needs and meeting them fairly. It also means speaking out on issues that do not align with our values and creating a culture where people feel safe in calling out things that don’t feel right. It means investing in our people, treating them fairly and keeping them safe. And above all else, it means being accountable for our own actions, including when we don’t get things right.
We recognise that the long-term success of our company depends on gaining and maintaining the trust of our customers and our people, not just within our own operations but in our supply chain and relationships with our business partners. The Trusted operations pillar of our Responsible Business Strategy brings to life our commitment to engage responsibly with our customers, our suppliers and our people.
For a detailed overview of our approach and performance in relation to this pillar of our strategy and related material topics, please see the Trusted operations chapter of our Bigger Picture 2021 Sustainability Report.
