QR Planet's Human Resources Policy

This policy establishes protocols to ensure ethical, responsible and legally compliant conduct of QR Planet as an owner-managed entitiy and of all other Constituents.

Our Human Resource Policy has been developed by appropriate consultants, was approved by management and communicated to all employees and relevant third parties. It is maintained by management and reviewed regularly, keeping it up to current standards and reflecting common best practices.

Our Human Resourses Policy applies to

• management,
• lower level employees,
• supervisors,
• and to contractors, if applicable.

As a small LLC, QR Planet has not developed a formalized Code of Conduct, but we are dedicated to ethical principles. Desired/expected behaviors are communicated to all relevant Constituents during onboarding and are regularly reiterated in team meetings and dedicated training sessions.

Feedback channels have been implemented to ensure compliance with all applicable rules and laws.

QR Planet's management is directly responsible for the oversight of environmental, social and governance initiatives within our company. A confidential reporting mechanism has been developed, ensuring our Constituents ability to report any concerns of an ethical nature in regard to the company's or another Constituent's conduct (or potential security violations), that was made in good faith, without fear of retaliatory measures and in full accordance with the European Whistleblowing Directive (EU 2019/1937) and the Austrian Whistleblower Protection Act (2023/6).

In full accordance with Austrian and European Law, QR Planet takes all necessary steps to respect and value its employees, to encourage an open dialogue and to promote empathy. We strive to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion amongst our workforce and encourage our suppliers to do the same.

In order to prevent and reduce any cases of discrimination or harassment within our environment, regular training sessions are held to educate employees,

• on maintaining respectful conduct towards colleagues and contractors,
• on how to report cases of discrimination or harassment,
• and especially preventing such cases beforehand.

Everyone at QR Planet is held to the highest standards about maintaining a discrimination-free employment process and workplace ethics. This is monitored and regularly reviewed by management and, if necessary, by third-party consultants.

Of course, as a small and owner-managed LLC, QR Planet neither has a Board nor can we take efforts to enhance diversity within leadership. Still, all measures described apply to management as well.

QR Planet fully adhears to any European or Austrian Regulation concerning employee health and safety, e.g. the Austrian Occupational Health and Safety Act, mandating among other things:

• either 10-minute breaks or a change of activity after 50 minutes of screen work;
• offering an examination by an ophthalmologist at the start of any employment contract and at least every third year of employment, or when a lessening of eyesight might be contributed to screen work;
• screen glasses if necessary;
• 30-minute breaks after six consecutive hours of work;
• appropriate options to apply first aid at the workplace;
• maintaining the function of a fire protection warden;
• an ergonomic workplace with minimized health risks,
  
• and much more.
  

As a small LLC, management is directly responsible for any employment and subcontracting process, applying all above-mentioned steps and regulations to ensure ethical and non-discriminatory behaviour.

All prospects as future employees or consultants for QR Planet must undergo appropriate background screenings consistent with common best practices, applicable compliance requirements and relevant security and skill criteria.

This includes - but is not limited to - criminal background screening.

All of QR Planet's employees and consultants are trained in questions of security and ethics awareness during their onboarding process and are sensitized to their respective roles and responsibilities within our company. This training is repeated at least annually.

Additional training may be applied, if necessary, and if demanded by an employee themselves or suggested by a supervisor.

In case a Constituent's status changes (e.g. by taking over new responsibilities), access to systems, data or facilities no longer required to execute their new role are to be removed as soon as possible.

If an employee refuses legal instructions by their supervisor or violates any of QR Planet's policies or compliance rules, he or she will be admonished by their supervisor or management.
In the event of a repeat offense or in serious cases, the employee may face more severe action, up to and including dismissal in accordance with Austrian labor legislation.

Contracts with subcontractors not complying with contractually agreed tasks or in violation of compliance rules may be be terminated.

In the case of terminated employment or subcontraction, regardless of who ended the contract, any electronic or physical access to QR Planet's systems and facilities, especially those containing Scoped Data or Systems, are to be rescinded as soon as possible. This may never take more than 24 hours.