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ESRS S2: Workers in the Value Chain · 2026-5010-final
Disclosure Requirement S2-2

Engagement & Grievance Mechanisms

Practical guidance for preparing this disclosure. Use this card to identify datapoints, verify claims and organise supporting evidence. For exact requirements, always refer to the official EFRAG source.

Dr Ross Kurinko, Sustainability Reporting Trainer
Reviewed by Dr Ross Kurinko · Sustainability Reporting Trainer LRA educational guidance · Not issued or endorsed by EFRAG
To prepare this disclosure
Disclosure focus

This disclosure asks an organisation to explain how it engages with workers in its value chain and how those workers can raise concerns or complaints. In practice, the report should show whether the organisation has arrangements that are available to the relevant workers, how those arrangements work, and whether they are used to identify and address issues affecting people in the value chain.

The practical focus is on coverage and accessibility, not just on describing a policy or a few flagship examples. An organisation should be clear about which parts of its operations and value chain are covered, whether the mechanisms are available in the places and contexts where workers are actually located, and how it knows the process is functioning in reality rather than only on paper.

This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official EFRAG source.

Before you start

A quick mental checklist before you prepare this disclosure — tick each as you settle it.

Preparation

Key datapoints to prepare

Datapoint What to capture Evidence hint Owner
Engagement routes List the ways people can raise views or concerns with the organisation, and note which groups each route is meant to reach. Stakeholder engagement plan, consultation logs, channel inventory, website or hotline records. Sustainability / stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder groups Identify the groups the organisation has chosen to engage with for this topic, using the organisation’s own grouping logic. Stakeholder map, materiality or engagement register, consultation plan, board or management papers. Sustainability / stakeholder engagement
Engagement approach Describe the methods used to engage those groups, such as meetings, surveys, forums or other direct contact methods. Engagement logs, meeting notes, survey records, consultation summaries, facilitator reports. Sustainability / stakeholder engagement
Agreed terms State whether there are agreed arrangements with the relevant groups for how engagement is carried out. Signed agreements, memoranda, community protocols, supplier codes, meeting minutes. Legal / sustainability / stakeholder engagement
Agreement coverage If such arrangements exist, describe which groups or relationships they cover and the practical scope of those arrangements. Agreement schedules, annexes, stakeholder lists, contract or protocol references. Legal / sustainability / stakeholder engagement
Grievance routes Set out the ways people can raise complaints or concerns, including the channels available to them. Grievance procedure, hotline details, web forms, posters, employee handbook, supplier portal. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Formal process Confirm whether there is a formal process for handling complaints or concerns. Policy approval, procedure document, case management workflow, governance sign-off. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Access conditions Explain how easy it is for people to use the complaint routes, including any language, location, cost, timing or other practical barriers. Accessibility review, hotline scripts, translation records, user testing, policy notes. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Complaint metrics Report the measures used to track how the complaint process is performing, such as volumes, ageing, outcomes or other chosen indicators. Case management reports, dashboard extracts, KPI definitions, management packs. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Resolved share Show the proportion of complaints or cases that were brought to a close through the process, using the organisation’s chosen calculation basis. Case closure report, KPI workbook, complaints register, dashboard calculation notes. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Reply timing Report how long it takes to respond to complaints or concerns, including the timing basis used for the measure. Case timestamps, service-level reports, workflow logs, KPI definitions. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Fix-up process Describe the process used to put things right after a complaint or concern is upheld or otherwise needs action. Remediation procedure, case workflow, corrective action tracker, policy documents. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
Closed remedies Report the cases that were actually put right during the period, using the organisation’s closure and remedy definitions. Case closure report, remediation tracker, complaints register, management dashboard. HR / legal / ethics / compliance
+ Show S2-2 sub-elements (LRA working checklist)

How to prepare it

1Set the reporting boundary first. Decide which supplier-related groups, sites, contracts, and operating relationships sit inside the disclosure period, then keep that scope consistent across the whole response.
2List the people and organisations covered, and separate the different ways you engage with them. Capture which groups were identified, what contact methods were used, and whether any formal arrangements exist for that engagement, together with the reach of those arrangements.
3Map the channels that are actually available. Record whether there is a formal route for raising issues, how people can access it, and any practical limits or conditions that affect use.
4Gather the operating evidence for the channel. Pull together the measures you use to track performance, including how many matters are closed, how quickly responses are given, and any other figures or narrative needed to explain how the channel works in practice.
5Describe how follow-up and remedy are handled. Summarise the process used to address cases, then state how many matters were put right during the period, using a clear and internally consistent basis for any counts or descriptions.
6Check the final draft against the source material before sign-off. Confirm that every required item is covered, note any exclusions or changes in scope or method, and make sure the wording matches the official source in substance without copying it.
Request the data

Request supplier engagement and issue-handling evidence

Translate the disclosure into an internal business question — then adapt it to your organisation's own language.

How do we show which supplier groups we engage, what channels they can use to raise issues, and how those issues are tracked, resolved and remediated?

Use your team’s own terms first, then map them to the reporting fields. For example, if you talk about supplier forums, hotline cases, site visits, escalation logs or corrective actions, keep those labels in the request and only translate them afterwards for the disclosure pack. This is a training template; adapt it to your organisation and check the source material before sign-off.

Weak request

Please provide the ESRS S2-2 engagement and grievance mechanism data for the period, including stakeholder groups, channels, accessibility, KPIs, response times, resolution rates, remediation processes and remediated cases.

Why it fails: It uses framework language that many operational teams do not use day to day, so the owner may not know which records to pull. It also bundles several ideas together without pointing to the team’s actual trackers, logs or process names, which makes the request harder to action and harder to evidence.

Better request

Please send the supplier engagement and issue-handling records for [reporting period] covering [business boundary]. I need the groups you work with, the ways they can raise concerns, whether there is a formal route and what it covers, the channels available, how accessible they are, the KPIs you already track, how you calculate response time and closure rate, and any remediation notes for cases closed in the period. Please use your own tracker or case log names and attach the source file or link.

Formal email template
Subject: Request for supplier engagement and issue-handling evidence for [reporting period]

Hi [name/team],

I’m pulling together the disclosure pack for [reporting period] and need your help with the supplier engagement and issue-handling information for [business boundary].

Please send the following in your own team’s language, with any supporting files or links:
- the supplier groups you actively engage with;
- the ways you engage them;
- whether there is a formal route for raising concerns, and what it covers;
- the channels available for raising issues;
- how accessible those channels are;
- the measures you already track for this process;
- how you calculate response time and closure rate;
- the process used to fix issues and any examples of cases closed during the period.

If you have a dashboard, tracker, policy, procedure note, or case log, that would be ideal. Please include the period covered, the system or file name, and who owns the record.

This is a training template only; please adapt it to your organisation and check the source material before sign-off.

Thanks,
[preparer name]
Short Teams / Slack version
Hi [name] — I’m pulling the [reporting period] pack and need your supplier engagement / issue-log evidence for [business boundary]. Please share the groups you work with, the channels they can use, whether there’s a formal route, the KPIs you track, how you measure response/closure, and any remediation examples. A tracker, policy, dashboard or case log is fine. Please use your team’s own terms and include the source file/system. Training template only — adapt to your organisation and check the source material before sign-off.
Industry examples
Manufacturing

Context. A plant uses supplier audits, site meetings and a shared corrective-action tracker for logistics and component suppliers.

Adapted request. Please share the supplier forum notes, audit follow-up tracker and complaints log for [reporting period]. I need the supplier groups covered, the engagement routes used, the issue-reporting channels, whether the plant has a formal escalation route, the accessibility notes, the KPIs tracked, the response and closure measures, and the cases remediated during the period.

Example response. Attached: supplier engagement tracker, complaints register export, and corrective-action log. Supplier groups: tier 1 components, packaging, and transport providers. Channels: site visits, portal form, dedicated inbox. Formal route: yes, covers commercial and conduct issues. KPIs: average first response days, closure rate. Remediated cases: 12 closed, 9 with corrective actions completed.

Retail / Food Service

Context. A retailer manages supplier concerns through a vendor portal, buyer meetings and a central case-management inbox.

Adapted request. Please provide the vendor portal report and the supplier concern log for [reporting period]. Include the supplier groups you engage, the channels they can use, whether there is a formal concern route, how accessible it is, the measures you track, how you calculate response time and closure rate, and any remediation completed for closed cases.

Example response. Attached: portal report, concern log, and closure summary. Supplier groups: fresh produce, own-brand manufacturers, logistics partners. Channels: portal, email inbox, buyer meetings. Formal route: yes, covers payment, quality and conduct concerns. Accessibility: available in English and local-language support for key suppliers. Remediated cases: 7 closed, 5 with supplier action plans completed.

Draft your disclosure

Notes that turn data into a disclosure

LRA training templates — adapt them to your organisation, and check the official source before sign-off.

Method note

Explain how the organisation identified the affected groups, what it counts as an engagement route or complaint channel, and how it measured coverage, accessibility, performance and case handling.

Context note

Set out what the figures show about how people can raise issues, how the organisation responds, whether arrangements are formalised, and how many matters are resolved through remediation.

Fluctuation statement

If the figures moved materially, note whether the change came from adding or removing channels, changes in who was covered, shifts in accessibility, or differences in how many cases were received and resolved.

Content index entry
S2-2 Engagement & Grievance Mechanisms — [location / page] / [notes]
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Preparation tools & forms

Professional preparation tools for S2-2 — free with an LRA Community membership. Register once (it's free) and every download unlocks, together with the Disclosure Library, templates and the LRA AI-assistant.

Free · Community members
Go deeper · S2-2
Learn to prepare this disclosure end-to-end

This guide covers one Disclosure Requirement. The ESRS / CSRD Reporting course walks the full European workflow — double materiality, datapoints, evidence and assurance — with exercises on your own data.

Available as Guided Flex, Live Cohort, 1:1 Expert Mentorship or Corporate Programme.

Assurance readiness

For each claim, check the evidence

ClaimRiskEvidence to check
We used a documented method to decide which parts of the disclosed operations were included, and we can show why any exclusions were made.The coverage figure may be overstated, selectively framed, or based on an inconsistent boundary.['Boundary-setting memo or methodology note', 'List of included and excluded entities, sites, functions, or worker groups', 'Approval record for any exclusions or scope changes']
We based the disclosure on current-year information, with the underlying records traced back to named sources rather than unsupported estimates.The reported information may be incomplete, outdated, or not traceable to source records.['Source data extracts and system reports', 'Data lineage or traceability file', 'Version-controlled working papers showing the reporting period used']
Where we relied on judgement, we recorded the assumptions and applied them consistently across the figure and related narrative.Judgement may have been applied inconsistently or without a clear audit trail.['Assumption log', 'Calculation workbook with formula checks', 'Internal review notes showing consistent application']
Before publication, we carried out checks to spot missing items, duplicates, and obvious inconsistencies in the evidence pack.Basic data-quality issues may remain undetected, weakening the reliability of the disclosure.['Data validation checklist', 'Exception report and follow-up actions', 'Sign-off from the preparer and reviewer']
We kept supporting evidence for the channels, engagement activity, remedy arrangements, and any effectiveness review so an assurer can test what we said.The narrative may not be supportable because the underlying evidence is thin, fragmented, or not retained.['Meeting notes, logs, or correspondence', 'Copies of channel descriptions, process maps, or policy documents', 'Evidence retention index linking each statement to source material']

Evidence pack to prepare

Common reporting gaps

The information is presented without a date or as-at point.The scope or boundary of the statement is left undefined.Key terms are used inconsistently across the report.Material changes since the previous period are not disclosed.Assertions are made without supporting detail or a source record.Boilerplate is used that does not actually answer what is asked.
Common gaps

Mistakes to avoid when collecting the data

Wrong owner
The team asks the wrong business owner for the channel list or case data, so the figures come from someone who does not run the worker contact route or the case-handling process.
Framework language only
The request is sent in ESRS-style terms instead of the organisation’s own labels, and the recipient cannot map the ask to the hotline, case log, or local escalation route they actually manage.
Scope left vague
No one fixes which worker groups, sites, or operating units are in scope, so the data pull mixes covered and non-covered populations.
+ Show 5 more

Where judgement is often needed

Which worker groups sit inside the reporting boundary after a buy-in or sale
Use the reporting period boundary you have set for the rest of the report, explain any added or removed sites or workforces, and state whether the engagement and complaint data include the changed population for the full year or only from the date of transfer.
How to handle local labels that do not map neatly across countries
Group similar worker categories under one plain description where local job titles differ, but explain the mapping you used so readers can see which people were counted together and where local practice led to a different split.
Whether to include people just outside the formal workforce but still affected
Decide and disclose whether you have included contractors, agency staff, seasonal workers or other near-boundary groups in the channels and case counts, and make clear the rule used to include or exclude them.
+ Show 6 more
Examples

Illustrative examples

Synthetic, written by LRA — not from a company report, not text from any standard.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — Food processing

We used several routes to hear from workers in our own operations and from people in the supply chain who may be affected, and we set out which groups were reached and how each route worked. Where we had formal arrangements with worker representatives, we noted that they covered our direct workforce and key contractor sites; we also kept a separate complaints route open to all relevant people, with access through site noticeboards, a phone line, email, and a web form, plus language support and options for shift workers and people with limited digital access. - The complaints route was available across all sites, could be used without charge, and was designed to be reachable by workers, contractors, and other affected people; we tracked the number of matters raised, the share resolved, and the time taken to give an initial reply. - During the period, 48 matters were logged, 39 were closed through the process, and 44 received a first response within 10 working days; we also used a separate remedy process for confirmed cases, and 12 cases were fully put right.

Illustrative only: shows how to describe who was engaged, the methods used, whether formal arrangements existed and what they covered, the channels open for concerns, how accessible they were, the key measures tracked, the share resolved, the response timing, and how remedy was handled.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — Retail logistics

We maintained direct dialogue with warehouse teams, delivery drivers, and labour-hire staff, using different formats so people could speak up in ways that suited their work pattern. We also had written agreements with elected worker representatives for our distribution centres, covering the permanent warehouse workforce and agency staff on those sites; alongside that, we ran a grievance route that was open through kiosks, QR codes, a hotline, and in-person HR drop-ins, with translation support and an option to submit anonymously. - The route was available at every major site and was designed to be usable by night-shift staff and people without company devices; we monitored how many issues came in, how many were settled, and how quickly people heard back. - In the year, 27 issues were raised, 20 were resolved, and 24 got an initial reply within 7 working days; for matters needing correction, we used a formal remedy path and completed 9 cases.

Illustrative only: shows a second plausible reporter with different channels and workforce mix, while still covering engagement groups and methods, formal arrangements and scope, open channels, accessibility, tracked measures, resolution share, reply timing, and remediation outcomes.

Company reportsReal published reports
Compare side by side →Get it free

How companies report S2-2 in practice

Real reports where this topic is disclosed. These are report practice, not exact disclosure templates to copy.

Bakkafrost P/F
Food Production — Animal Source · Faroe Islands · 2025
Open report →
Bakkafrost P/F’s Integrated Annual Report 2025 includes a reference to processes for engaging with value chain workers about impacts and for remediating negative impacts, as noted on page 74. However, the report lacks clear, quotable evidence detailing how these engagement processes are implemented or how remedies for human rights impacts are provided or enabled. Additionally, no further narrative or methodological explanation on this disclosure is found elsewhere in the report.
Moncler S.p.A.
Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and Luxury Goods · Italy · 2024
Open report →
Moncler S.p.A.'s 2024 Annual Report includes a description of processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for value chain workers to raise concerns, specifically referenced on page 137 (p.137). The report also mentions processes for engaging with own workers and their representatives about impacts on page 233 (p.233), and processes to remediate negative impacts for own workers on page 105 (p.105). However, no additional detailed narrative or methodology related to these processes was found elsewhere in the report, indicating limited coverage beyond these references.
Fluidra, S.A.
Electrical Equipment and Machinery · Spain · 2025
Open report →
Fluidra’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report provides some coverage of processes for engaging with value chain workers about impacts, notably on page 300, where such processes are described. There is partial information on remediation processes, with page 205 mentioning reviews of compliance with corrective actions but without providing headline values. However, the report lacks clear or quotable evidence on several narrative items related to this disclosure, with many datapoints not found or unclear in the document.
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Check your understanding

Scenarios to work through

A manufacturer has mapped two worker groups for direct dialogue this year: site employees and agency workers at its main plant. It uses toolbox talks for one group and a worker committee for the other, but the committee only covers the day shift.

QHow should the preparer decide whether the description of dialogue routes is complete, and what else needs to be checked before sign-off?
Reveal model answer →

A food processor has a hotline for complaints from workers and contractors, but it is only available in the local language and can be used only during office hours. The team is unsure whether that is enough to describe the route as accessible.

QWhat judgement should the preparer make about the complaint route, and what detail should be included in the disclosure?
Reveal model answer →

A retailer tracks the number of issues raised, the share closed within target, and the average days to first reply. One business unit also reports a separate measure for repeat complaints, and the reporting team wonders whether that extra metric should replace the others.

QHow should the preparer handle the performance measures for the grievance route?
Reveal model answer →

A logistics company says it has a process to fix worker complaints, but in practice supervisors handle issues informally and there is no written path for cases that need escalation. The team has also closed 18 of 30 logged cases this year, but it is unclear whether those 18 were actually put right.

QWhat should the preparer conclude about the remediation description and the case count?
Reveal model answer →
Framework references

Related framework references

How this disclosure maps across the major reporting frameworks.

ESRS
S2-2
within ESRS S2: Workers in the Value Chain
Open official source →
Primary
Related & explore
Go deeper · S2-2
Learn to prepare this disclosure end-to-end

This guide covers one Disclosure Requirement. The ESRS / CSRD Reporting course walks the full European workflow — double materiality, datapoints, evidence and assurance — with exercises on your own data.

Available as Guided Flex, Live Cohort, 1:1 Expert Mentorship or Corporate Programme.

FAQ

Questions this page answers

How do I use the S2-2 page to prepare a first draft disclosure on workers in the value chain engagement and grievance routes?+
What data do I need to collect for S2-2 before I can draft the disclosure?+
How should I decide the scope and methodology for an S2-2 disclosure using this page?+
Who should own the S2-2 data and evidence pack in practice?+
What should go into the S2-2 evidence pack to make the disclosure assurance-ready?+
What are the common mistakes to avoid when drafting S2-2?+
How do I use the synthetic example disclosure on the S2-2 page without copying it blindly?+
Can I use the S2-2 workbook and printable Library Card to build my disclosure?+
What does the draft-output section help me produce for S2-2?+
Where can I find real company examples for S2-2 on the page?+
More questions this page can help with
S2-2 workers in the value chain disclosure checklist for engagement routes and grievance routesHow to prepare S2-2 stakeholder groups and engagement approach data for reportingS2-2 agreed terms and agreement coverage: what evidence should I collect?S2-2 complaint metrics, resolved share and reply timing: how do I draft the numbers?How do I document access conditions, formal process and fix-up process for S2-2?S2-2 assurance claims and evidence pack: what should be in the file?Common mistakes in S2-2 workers in the value chain disclosureHow to use the S2-2 Prep & Assurance workbook and Library CardS2-2 example disclosure table: how to adapt a synthetic example to my dataS2-2 draft narrative starters and content-index line examplesWhere to find company report examples for S2-2 workers in the value chainS2-2 disclosure preparation steps for ESG managers and HR data owners
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