Trust Team at Monterail: Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive Workplace

The Trust Team at Monterail was established in 2021 as a proactive step toward ensuring that if any undesirable workplace behaviors occur, they are promptly addressed and resolved. This cross-functional group, consisting of five individuals from different departments, including two members from the People Team, plays a critical role in upholding Monterail’s core values of trust, respect, and inclusivity. As Robert Szczęsny, a member and the foreman of the Trust Team, puts it:

The Trust Team was created as a safeguard, just in case employees ever encounter undesirable behaviors in the workplace. While Monterail strives to maintain an inclusive and respectful environment, the Trust Team stands ready to step in when needed, handling:

• Discrimination cases based on gender, race, religion, or other characteristics.

• Harassment, including sexual harassment and other unwanted behaviors.

• Mobbing or bullying, such as isolation, intimidation, or ridicule.

• Violations of personal dignity, ensuring everyone is treated with respect.

• False or malicious accusations, maintaining fairness and protecting individuals from wrongful blame.

The Trust Team is ready to provide guidance, emotional support, and practical solutions whenever required.

Having the Trust Team in place offers peace of mind. If an employee ever experiences unwanted actions from a colleague or supervisor, they can reach out to the Trust Team.

At Monterail, trust is paramount. When people approach the Trust team, they can expect a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space to express their concerns openly. The Trust Team is here to listen without bias or judgment and is equipped to take the necessary steps to address the problem if the employee wishes to proceed, as they maintain full control over how the situation is handled. Confidentiality is guaranteed, ensuring employees can share their experiences without fear of repercussions.

If an employee chooses to report an issue, the Trust Team is responsible for investigating the situation, providing recommendations, and taking appropriate action to resolve the problem.

The decision to create the Trust Team was based on a belief that creating a transparent and supportive mechanism to address undesirable behavior was important to ensure a safe work environment for all employees. Hence, in 2021, a Monterail Trust Team was brought to life to maintain an inclusive and safe workplace. The reason for creating this special team in 2021 was to be one step ahead. We wanted every Monterailian to know there is no place for undesirable behavior in the company and what to do if they experience something like this.

Fast forward to 2024, and Monterail’s foresight in establishing the Trust Team has proven invaluable. In September of this year, the Whistleblowers Act, passed by the Polish Parliament, came into force. This law mandates that companies create internal procedures for reporting misconduct and provide channels for employees to report violations confidentially.

Every employer is now obliged to develop an internal reporting procedure, including rules for receiving such reports, and create channels for obtaining them. From now on, the Trust Team will also ensure that Monterail employees have a safe and confidential way to report any business-related violations.

As the Trust Team was already in place, Monterail was well-prepared to comply with these new regulations. The team’s existing structure and processes were easily adapted to meet the requirements of the Whistleblowers Act, ensuring that employees have a safe, confidential way to report any business-related violations. Now, in addition to addressing issues of harassment and discrimination, the Trust Team also handles reports related to business violations, ensuring that Monterail remains compliant with both internal standards and external regulations.

Trust is not just a word at Monterail; it is the foundation of our company’s culture. Our Trust Team showcases the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive, safe, and supportive workplace. By offering a trusted resource for employees to report misconduct and ensuring that these issues are addressed promptly and confidentially, Monterail continues to foster an environment where every team member can thrive.