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Corporate Responsibility

 

We’re unlocking human potential.

Our mission starts at home—and it doesn’t end there. We uphold our mission and values in our relationships with colleagues, the community, and the planet.


Helping to solve social, economic, and environmental challenges is our responsibility—locally, and globally. How do we do it? Enabling discovery by supporting access to knowledge and fueling the engines of research. Powering education with practical and forward-thinking solutions for students, teachers, and professionals. And shaping workforces by bridging the gap between education and employment. Our commitment starts at home with our culture and programs and extends outward, globally, through alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are committed to the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative and it’s principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anticorruption. We are also a public supporter of the UN Standards of Conduct for business on tackling discrimination against LGBTQI+ people.

Our formal commitment to the SDG Publishers Compact is driving progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. We have committed to the SDG’s through the work we are doing and the investments we are making. We made a series of sustainability polices publicly available and published our ESG and Wiley Impact Update which details the actions we are taking to achieve many of the global goals. We are actively promoting content in the areas represented by the SDG’s through our RISE, Research in Support of Equity, site and are communicating our actions across the SDG’s to our colleagues on a regular basis. We will continue to accelerate our sustainability efforts throughout the Decade of Action to help deliver the SDGs by 2030.

The work we’ve done to date demonstrates our commitment, but we’re not stopping there. Find out what we've achieved so far, the ways we’re taking action now, and our plans for the future.

 


Our culture

  • Diversity equity and inclusion (DEI)
  • Actioning DEI
  • DEI Recognition
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • United Kingdom Gender Pay Gap (UK GPG)

Our products and services

  • Open research
  • Democratizing our work
  • Awards and scholarships
  • Recent recognition

Our communities

  • Philanthropy
  • Community projects

Our planet

  • Carbon neutrality
  • Sustainable offices
  • Paper selection and use
  • Grassroots initiatives
  • Our environmental policy

Our policies

  • Business conduct and ethics
  • Vendor code of conduct
  • CPSIA compliance
  • Publication ethics
  • Transfer code of practice

Our culture.
Responsibility starts here. We’re leading by example.

Our culture differentiates us as an organization. Our core values define our behaviors. We ask colleagues to embody our three values: learning champions, needle movers, and courageous teammates. We live by these values and they define who we are as a company and what we stand for. They enable us to build our culture internally, and to show our customers, partners, and investors that what we believe drives our business. Our values empower our colleagues to achieve our mission: unlocking human potential.

One thing that makes our culture so strong is our wealth of perspectives. Our offices span 22 countries. Our work reaches every part of the world. And it’s only by having a diverse and inclusive team that we can fully understand the world—and make our mark on it. We do that by granting everyone access to the opportunities, development, and environment to succeed. In a workplace where people feel valued, included, and respected. That’s shown through our global Diversity and Inclusion Policy,  commitment to reporting on the UK gender pay gap, the employee-led ERGs across the business, and the recognitions we’ve been awarded for our culture and our colleagues. And beyond our own business, we’re part of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion— delivering these values to every workplace.

Diversity equity and inclusion (DEI)
DEI is embedded in everything and throughout the entire employee experience. We stand for diversity in all forms, equity throughout our policies and processes, and an inclusive culture where people feel like they can be themselves. We established employee resource groups supporting our diverse culture, and we offer trainings and learning opportunities about DEI to our employees.

Actioning DEI
By listening, we learn. That’s how our colleagues steer our DEI strategy. We have two internal committees, combining colleagues from across the business. They’re a vital aspect of our approach—escalating priorities from colleagues at all levels and holding our leadership accountable to address inequalities. The committees are also responsible for championing our diversity and commitment to our community, and helping to align and embed the DEI strategies across the business.

DEI recognition
Everything we do is down to our remarkable people. We’ve created an open and inclusive workplace culture to attract—and keep—the best talent. And thanks to our culture and our colleagues, we’ve been recognized in both national and international lists of best companies to work for.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs)
We make space for all perspectives. Our ERGs are the voice of our global colleagues—reflecting our cultural communities and common interests. And every ERG contributes to our Enterprise Committee, continually helping to make our workplace more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

  • ¡Hola! - empowers employees of Hispanic/Latin American heritage, and colleagues interested in or connected with the culture.
  • Asian & Pacific Islander Resource Group – connects colleagues from diverse backgrounds within the Asian community.
  • BERG — Black Employee Resource Group – supports and promotes individual and collective growth within the Black communities.
  • Generation Wiley – encourages engagement between junior and senior colleagues.
  • Pride@Wiley – fosters a productive, inclusive work culture for all LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies
  • Wiley Global Green Group - promotes and encourages environmentally sustainable lifestyles for colleagues through education, outreach, and events.
  • WWIT (Wiley Women in Technology) – a forum for women in technology to advance their skills and leadership potential.
  • Women of Wiley – empowers the women of Wiley in their professional and personal lives.

United Kingdom Gender Pay Gap (UK GPG)
The UK GPG is the difference in average earnings between men and women across an organization, irrespective of the job they do, level, or seniority. While the gender pay gap is an important metric and a contributing factor to our global DEI initiatives and actions, we want to emphasize that the gender pay gap is not the same as gender pay equity. We are committed to paying equitably in each country across our organization.

The following are our annual UK GPG reports:


Our products and services
Targeting inequality. Breaking down barriers.

Knowledge is for everyone. That’s why we’re leveling the playing field—creating equity through access to information and insights, and empowering communities through open research. We’re addressing education equity in multiple ways: through our products and initiatives, scholarships, and awards. All together, we’re clearing the path from education to employment, and closing the gaps for high-demand skills. Pursuing the goal of a more fair and diverse society.

Open research
Expanding access to scientific and scholarly content is one of our most vital commitments. By opening research findings to the whole world, we’re supporting the aspirations of communities far beyond our own. Bringing discoveries to people who can use the insight for good—sharing knowledge to unlock human potential.

We partner with organizations around the world to improve lives—sharing critical information with researchers, medical professionals, emergency workers, government officials, and academic communities. And we’re a founding member of Research4Life, expanding the reach of all publications to lower income countries.

Open research is built on openness, accessibility and transparency of research and data—which we’ve organized into five key areas.

  • Open access - enabling researchers to share their work with the world.
  • Open data - maximizing the impact of research data.
  • Open practices - focusing on transparency in research communications and peer reviews.
  • Open collaboration - encouraging development through collaborative approaches.
  • Open recognition & reward - making sure researchers get credit for all their work.

Democratizing our work
Everyone deserves to learn. That’s why we’re committed to making affordable education accessible to anyone with a passion for knowledge. Giving students the tools they need to succeed is the only way to make change a reality. 
In math and statistics, there are more roadblocks than most. So we’re removing them. We offer affordable access to Knewton Alta courseware that helps students thrive in critical math courses, regardless of their starting point. Supporting and enhancing educational equity and building foundations of knowledge for the future.

Awards and scholarships
We support knowledge seekers at every stage of their learning. We’ve created grants and scholarships to increase diversity in our industry and create career opportunities to target inequality. 
That goes for talent, too: Our awards reward excellence in research and education. New or experienced, it’s about making an impact. Whether that’s established professionals and scholars pushing new boundaries, or early career researchers and educators paving the way in their fields.

  • #TechITLikeHer: Our scholarship in India, increasing female talent in engineering and technology. We offer free training, costs toward living, and placement in WileyNXT's Accelerator Program—with guaranteed employment after graduation.
  • Wiley Stay the Course Grants: Supporting students experiencing economic hardship so they continue their college careers. We contribute $100,000 in grants, which is shared across 200 students, randomly selected from those nominated.
  • Wiley Accounting and Finance Student Scholarship: Awards $1,000 every month to a new student pursuing a degree in accounting or finance. Each time, the scholarship supports a student from a different community.
  • PeduL Partnership: Opens equity and opportunity for middle and low-income students. We fund scholarships to help kickstart their careers.
  • Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences: Awarded by The Wiley Foundation, for breakthrough research in pure or applied life sciences. It’s judged on excellence, originality, and its impact on our understanding of biological systems and processes.
  • APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE Prize): Sponsored jointly by Wiley and Elsevier, this prize is for young scientists with a commitment to excellence in research. The award is based on scholarly publication and cooperation with scientists from other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies.

Recent recognition
In our products, our workplace and our programs we’ve been recognized for unlocking human potential.


Our communities
Local action, global impact. Driving benefits for all our communities.

Local, global, and professional—communities matter. As a business, we give our time, expertise, and donations generously. And we encourage and enable our colleagues to do the same. We fund causes with links to our values as detailed in our Wiley Giving Policy. From educational to environmental causes, culture to publishing. What do they all have in common? Real impact on people's lives.

That goes for our work, too. Our approach to open research makes information accessible to the communities that need it. RISE: Research in Support of Equity is our fully open access site for research on inequity and how it affects our social structures. And on the Wiley Online Library we moved COVID material out from behind the paywall. Now we have continually updated COVID Resource areas, making research available to anyone who wants to access it.

Philanthropy
Through our Colleague Matching Gift program, we support causes our colleagues are passionate about by matching eligible colleague donations dollar-for-dollar to organizations that meet program criteria. We also have a Service Grant program for eligible colleagues who volunteer with qualifying organizations outside of business hours. In times of humanitarian disasters or crises, Wiley provides a dollar-for-dollar match for all global colleague contributions to selected organizations.

Community projects
We empower all of our colleagues to engage with their local community. It all adds up—whether it’s something big or small, giving money or time, an individual act or rallying others. And with teams across the world, our combined activity makes a far-reaching and wide-ranging impact.

We’ve partnered with the Mitrataa Foundation in Nepal for the last 11 years. Through the foundation we support dozens of children, providing them access to education, extra-curricular activities, and community programs. Working together with Mitrataa, we share the same values, drive, and a mutual, creative approach—enhancing the experience for everyone.

Our teams in India contribute to two local projects, too. Project Swayam, in collaboration with Jagriti NGO, has developed a learning space for children from low-income families. And in Madhya Pradesh, we’ve built a vocational training center for Little Star Home, to create new skills and opportunities for orphaned girls.


Our planet
Informed by evidence. Reducing our climate impact.

We’re serious about our impact on the world and our position and values are detailed in our Environmental Policy. As a research and education institution, we’re dedicated to interrogating insight and elevating evidence. When it comes to climate change, those facts are indisputable. So we’re acting now to limit our impact on the environment—for today, and the long term. That’s why we have committed to set near and long-term company-wide emissions targets in line with science-based net-zero with the SBTi. We are responding to the SBTi’s urgent call for corporate climate action by committing to align with 1.5°C and net-zero through the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign.

Logo design for SBT (science based targets).
SBTi (Science Based Targets)
Logo design for business ambition for 1.5°C campaign.
Business ambition for 1.5°C

 

Carbon neutrality
In each of our fiscal years beginning in FY20, we have conducted a comprehensive independent third-party GHG assessment for our Global Operations. For FY22, we are a CarbonNeutral® certified company across our Global Operations, in accordance with the CarbonNeutral Protocol. Our locations use 100% renewable energy through green tariffs and energy attribute certificates (EACs). Most of our global office real estate is leased and, whenever possible, we work with property owners to optimize sustainability. More details can be found in our FY21 Carbon Emissions Report.

Logo design for Carbon Neutral protocol.
Carbon Neutral Protocol

 

Sustainable offices
Wherever possible, our offices are powered by renewable energy. At each of our sites we’re reducing our use of resources—across energy, carbon emissions, paper, plastic, and other supplies. As well as recycling and reducing our waste.

Paper selection and use
As a print publisher, we’re constantly evaluating our paper processes. We review and improve our impact internally, with our mills, and through new and innovative partners. Many of our publishing programs use lightweight papers, delivering our work using fewer trees. We’ve also reduced trim size and our paper grade options to provide flexibility while reducing paper waste.

We only use environmentally and business-friendly papers, set out in our company-wide Paper Selection and Use Policy. Through our printers, we partner with forest product companies that uphold the highest environmental standards as set out by the Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Programme For the Endorsement of Forest Certification. This includes demonstrating and documenting efficient use and conservation of raw materials, minimization of waste, conservation of natural systems, clean production, community and human well-being, and credible reporting and verification.

Grassroots initiatives
We’re environmentally conscious at every level of the business. Across our local sites, colleagues run local “Green Room” community groups—a forum for discussion, idea-sharing, events and initiatives promoting sustainability and the environment, both at work and in our personal lives.

Our environmental policy
Read our Environmental Policy document.


Our policies
Raising the bar. Setting world-class standards.

We apply the highest ethical standards to everything we do. We pride ourselves on it. It sets the bar for the business, our global supply chain, and the communities we serve.

We manage and operate our business worldwide, always in line with our values, high ethical standards, and the laws for the region. That means we always comply fully with the law, maintaining our reputation for integrity and fairness. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for colleagues, contractors, and visitors. We are committed to compliance with regional safety and health regulations and laws, and the recognition of health and safety as a core value.

We regularly update, distribute and enforce our policies to ensure compliance.

Business conduct & ethics
Our Business Conduct & Ethics policy sets the standards that everyone in the business is responsible for upholding.

Vendor code of conduct
Our Vendor Code of Conduct governs our relationship with all our suppliers, contingent workers, independent contractors, consultants, and other business partners.

CPSIA Compliance
We work closely with the Association of American Publishers, and our vendors, to make sure our publications comply with government regulations on children's safety.

Publication ethics
We’re committed to promoting and practicing the highest standards of ethical publishing. Our Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics sets out the gold-standard for editorial processes—encouraging integrity in research, writing, and peer review.

Transfer code of practice
We’re an endorsing publisher for the NISO Transfer Code of Practice. For changes in publisher, publishing platform or owner, the code sets out best practice for transferring digital content files, subscription lists, and other journal assets. We meet the code’s standards in all our journal transfers.


Corporate governance

Unlocking human potential is more than our business — it’s a commitment that runs through every part of the organization. Visit our corporate governance page to learn more about the principles and policies that guide our business.
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