Sidetrade, a responsible and engaged technology firm

 

“High-tech companies inventing the world of tomorrow have special responsibility.
We seek to develop a pleasant, stimulating workplace for our employees; we aim to be a good corporate citizen and we strive to promote this attitude in our economic environment.

Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade

Our contribution to sustainable development

Our responsibility starts with caring about our employees

Giving everyone an equal opportunity

Our workforce comprises 22 different nationalities. We are determined to bring on board people of every age and to develop gender balance, especially in our tech teams. We established the Sidetrade Code Academy, a tuition-free training program open to candidates without an IT background. Top graduates of the program are offered immediate AI jobs at Sidetrade.

Onboarding new talents under the best conditions

New Sidetraders are onboarded through Fast Track to success, a program that gives them basic information and makes them feel right at home with Sidetrade culture. Newcomers also attend bimonthly Bootcamps, where they mix with managers and different team members to get a comprehensive view of Sidetrade identity, products and challenges.

Enhancing skills and helping employees grow

Our Talent Builder program identifies skills to be enhanced, and provides corresponding elearning. The Sidetrade Management Academy offers regular opportunities to hone leadership skills.

Creating a work culture which fosters engagement, cooperation and innovation

Our corporate outlook is set out in a document called V-Side (Vision – Strategy, Implementation, Difficulties, Engagement). Informal exchanges, where everyone has a voice, take place through Fireside Chats and Live coffee events.

Reconciling well-being at work with performance

Workspaces at Sidetrade ensure safety, while optimizing collaboration and social bonds. A range of fun events for employees are provided through the Sidetrade Social Club.

Facilitating telework and flextime

Our employees are free to work from home twice a week. To facilitate this, we provide helpful guidelines and the required equipment. Flexible working hours are also encouraged when feasible.

Encouraging Sidetraders to stay fit

Sidetrade Sport Organization promotes team spirit and a taste for challenge. It sponsors events in various disciplines (e.g. running , soccer) for different levels (e.g. Elite, Challenge, Smile). An annual Well-being day is also held, with activities such as muscle building, yoga and stretching.

Being responsible also means protecting the environment

Limiting our digital technology footprint thanks to the cloud

By using our own cloud infrastructure, we are more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. Our infrastructure suppliers comply with ISO 14001.

Adopting responsible hardware and practices

From 70% desktops in 2018, we now have 100% mobile devices in 2020 and have nearly halved our PC energy consumption. With “green coding”, we optimize server energy consumption.

Going paperless

We have dematerialized contracts, pay slips, and travel management. We now have electronic signatures for all contract processes, and digital follow-up of accounts receivable.

Implementing selective sorting and intelligent lighting

With the help of specialized partners, we have enhanced selective waste collection. The lighting at our premises uses occupancy sensors, and we are switching over to LED or equivalent bulbs.

Supporting alternative mobility

We promote rail travel and carpooling, and we have Bike to Work schemes, where we help employees purchase bicycles.

Compensating for our CO2 emissions

By the end of 2021, between 5,000 and 10,000 trees will be planted in partnership with the NGO Tree Nation. This initiative will enable Sidetrade to offset its direct CO2 emissions for one year.

Our commitment to good practices, to go even further

Sidetrade is faithful to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the international Labor Organization (ILO).

Safeguarding confidential information: ISO 27001 certification

Sidetrade is certified ISO 27001, the international IT security standard, for all its information systems and processes.

Acting fairly, transparently and impartially

Sidetrade rejects all forms of corruption in commercial transactions. Our Code of Conduct establishes our policy in matters such as integrity, business ethics, loyalty and transparency.

Responsible procurement

Our suppliers are selected carefully and fairly, according to documented purchasing policy, in accordance with Sidetrade’s environmental and ethical values.

Our commitment is recognized

In 2020, Sidetrade was awarded a bronze medal sustainability rating by EcoVadis (EcoVadis Sustainability Rating 2020). We rank above average in our category (“Data processing, hosting and related activities, web portals”), especially for the sustainability themes “Environment, Labor & Human Rights, and Ethics”.