At eBay, we remain committed to living by our values, and fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered. This commitment drives us to regularly reflect on and assess our practices, policies and culture to ensure we’re staying true to our mission to connect people and build communities to create economic opportunity for all.
Several months ago, in response to feedback from some investors, we began an independent third-party assessment of our values, including how we live our Human Rights Policy Statement. That assessment has been completed, and we’d like to share an update.
Assessment Highlights
- Stakeholder Engagement: The assessor interviewed and solicited written feedback from more than 35 people, including employees, management, and an external expert, to gather a range of perspectives on our workplace culture and policies.
- Document Review: The assessor reviewed our workplace policies, practices, surveys, training processes and other materials to evaluate our alignment with human rights standards and collective bargaining practices.
- Data Collection: Through interviews with key stakeholders, and a thorough review of our policies and processes, the assessor collected feedback to identify our strengths and opportunities for improvement.
We are pleased to share that the assessor recognized our commitment to our Human Rights Policy Statement. Specifically, the assessment concluded that:
- eBay is committed to encouraging employees to express their opinions and concerns;
- eBay has not interfered with employees’ free choice in deciding whether to join a union; and
- When bargaining with the union, eBay has acted consistently with its commitment to bargain in good faith.
Recommendations and Next Steps
As requested, the assessor also identified areas where we had opportunity to better align our practices with our Human Rights Policy Statement and uphold our commitment to fair, inclusive processes.
We have taken those recommendations and have already begun to put the following enhancements in place:
- Supplementing the Human Rights Policy Statement with additional guidance on how it is implemented and enforced, formalizing the connection between our policies and existing practices;
- Identifying and implementing strategies to raise awareness around the Human Rights Policy Statement; and
- Establishing a cross-functional team with identified process owners to periodically review the Human Rights Policy Statement and monitor our adherence.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in this assessment. Your voices have been essential in helping us ensure that we are living by our values. By listening, learning and growing together, we are building a stronger and more inclusive eBay.
For any additional questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to ebayassessment@dwt.com.