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Human Rights Policy

POOLCORP is committed to the protection and advancement of human rights wherever we operate. At POOLCORP, we are led and sustained by our Core Values, a set of core standards that lead our moral compass for how we conduct business around the world. These principles summarize our responsibilities to our employees, our customers, our communities, and our shareholders; they also bond our more than 6,000 employees with a shared principle that the fundamental rights and dignity of all people must be respected and ensured. In order to implement our Core Values, POOLCORP has created the following guiding philosophies to which we will comply in the conduct of our business:

  1. Have respect for the individual regardless of nationality, race, sex, or anything that makes each human being unique.
  2. Comply with all laws, including all employment laws and regulations, in every country and jurisdiction in which we operate and expect our suppliers to do the same.
  3. Respect the environment and, again, comply with all laws in the jurisdictions in which we or our suppliers operate.
  4. Remain socially conscious and fully aware that the countries in which people are born and/or the parents to whom they are born sometimes may not provide individuals the opportunities that others are fortunate to have. To that end, we support efforts on the part of our employees to provide assistance so that others may be able to help themselves.
  5. Accept that our employees are our most important asset, and endeavor to provide a safe workplace together with the ongoing training and awareness to ensure that every employee goes home every night in the same condition in which they came to work.

We commit to conduct our business in an ethical and responsible manner that supports and respects the protection of human rights. We work to identify and do business with partners who aspire to conduct their business in a similar manner. Compliance with this policy and applicable laws is the responsibility of every employee and contractor acting on our behalf and is a condition of their employment or contract.

While it is the duty of governments to protect the rights of their citizens, we recognize that businesses also have a critical role to play. As a global distributor of pool and outdoor living products, POOLCORP is committed to respecting human rights in our own operations and complying with the laws of the countries in which we do business. Moreover, we believe we have an opportunity to positively impact the protection of human rights within our sphere of influence. To this end, we encourage and support our suppliers and other business partners in their efforts to act in accordance with internationally recognized human rights standards.

At POOLCORP, we ensure that our manufacturers produce our products under conditions that demonstrate respect for the people who make them while respecting the rights of people living in the communities around their facilities. This policy operates in conjunction with our Safety, Health and Environmental Commitment, our regulatory compliance program, our product stewardship programs, our Supplier Code of Conduct, and our endorsement of and commitment to the documents above.

Diversity and Inclusion

We value and foster the diversity and inclusion of the people with whom we work. We base employment decisions on merit, considering qualifications, skills, and achievements. We are committed to equal opportunity and are intolerant to discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any status protected by applicable law.

Child, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking

POOLCORP will not tolerate the use of child or forced labor, slavery, or human trafficking in any of its global operations and facilities. We will not tolerate the exploitation of children or the trafficking, physical punishment, abuse, or involuntary servitude of any worker. We prohibit the hiring of individuals that are under 18 years of age for positions in which hazardous work is required. We expect our suppliers and contractors with whom we do business to uphold the same standards.

Compensation

We compensate our employees in accordance with market practice in a manner that supports their ability to meet their basic needs. POOLCORP will pay wages that meet or exceed the legally required wages or, where no wage law exists, the local industry standard. We also offer our employees the opportunity to improve their skill and capabilities.

Working Hours

POOLCORP will comply with applicable industry practices, local, state, and national laws on working hours.

Health & Safety

POOL CORP understands that in addition to minimizing the incidence of work-related injury and illness, a safe and healthy work environment enhances the quality of products and services, consistency of production and worker retention and morale. POOLCORP also recognizes that ongoing worker input and education is essential to identifying and solving health and safety issues in the workplace. We believe that all injuries and occupational illnesses, as well as safety and environmental incidents, are preventable. We promote and advocate for on- and off-the-job safety for our employees around the world.

Suppliers and Contractors

We have established and will maintain appropriate procedures to evaluate and select suppliers and contractors based on our core values, human rights policy, supplier qualification process, and supplier code of conduct.