# Stakeholder Engagement The **Stakeholder Engagement** aspect identifies how the entity engages with its stakeholders and the nature of those interactions. *** {% stepper %} {% step %} ## RSE6: Supply Chain Engagement Program


Max Score	1.5 Points
Validation	Other Answer is Manually Validated

**Does the entity include sustainability-specific requirements in its procurement processes?**

#### Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

This indicator evaluates the management practices and requirements the entity uses to address supply chain risks. Procurement is a key lever for embedding sustainability expectations into the supply chain, and this indicator considers how those requirements are applied across both existing and new contracts.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options. ### Terminology **Action Plan** > A detailed plan outlining actions needed to enhance stakeholder satisfaction. An action plan has four major elements: (1) Specific tasks: what will be done and by whom; (2) Time horizon: when will it be done; (3) Resource allocation: what specific funds are available for specific activities, and (4) Measurable outcomes. **Business Ethics** > Basic moral and legal principles used to address issues such as corporate governance, insider trading, bribery, discrimination, corporate social responsibility and fiduciary responsibilities. **Child Labor** > Work that children should not be doing because they are too young, or, if they have reached the minimum age, because it is dangerous or otherwise unsuitable for them. **Contractors** > Organizations or persons working on-site or off-site on behalf of an entity with a relationship determined by a contract, including property managers. A contractor may hire their own staff directly or hire subcontractors or independent contractors. **Environmental process standards** > Minimum standards required during the procurement process in relation to environmental processes, such as requirements for disposal of waste generated by contractors. **Environmental product standards** > Minimum standards required during the procurement process in relation to environmental products, such as requiring a certain percentage of products to be locally sourced or contain recycled content. **Sustainability-specific requirements** > Includes specification and use of sustainable and energy efficient materials, systems, equipment and onsite operating practices. Requirements can address site access, environmental impact, community impact, health and safety, etc. **Health and safety: employees** > The health and safety of employees responsible for the entity. **Health and well-being** > “Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO). Health & well-being is impacted by genetics and individual behavior as well as environmental conditions. Particularly relevant to GRESB stakeholders are the social determinants of health, which are the “conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” These are the conditions that enable or discourage healthy living. This could include issues such as physical activity, healthy eating, equitable workplaces, maternity and paternity leave, access to healthcare, reduction in toxic exposures, etc. **Human health-based product standards** > Minimum standards for the health-related attributes of products, such as lists of prohibited chemicals. **Human rights** > Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language or any other status. **Labor standards and working conditions** > Labor standards and working conditions are at the core of paid work and employment relationships. Working conditions cover a broad range of topics and issues, from working time (hours of work, rest periods, and work schedules) to remuneration, as well as the physical conditions and mental demands that exist in the workplace. **Suppliers** > Organization upstream from the reporting entity (i.e., in the entity’s supply chain), which provides a product or service that is used in the development of the entity’s own products or services. Note that for the purposes of this assessment, 'suppliers' only refers to tier 1 suppliers with whom the entity has a direct commercial relationship. **Supply chain** > Range of activities carried out by organizations upstream from the reporting entity (i.e., with whom the entity has an indirect commercial relationship), which provide products or services that are used in the development of the entity's own products or services.

Validation: What evidence is required?

No evidence required. Only the 'Other' answer is manually validated. #### **Other Answer** 1. Other: State the other element of the supply chain engagement program. 2. Other: State the other topic included in requirements, and/or; 3. Other: State the other party to whom the requirements apply. Tenants will not be considered a valid other answer. It is possible to report multiple other answers for the above sub-options. If multiple answers are acceptable, only one per sub-option will be counted towards scoring. Validation Basics

#### Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the sum of the fractions assigned to the selected options and respective sub-options, multiplied by the total score of the indicator. **Other:** The 'Other' answer is manually validated and assigned a score which is used as a multiplying factor, as per the table below: | Validation status | Score | | ----------------- | ----- | | Accepted | 1/1 | | Not Accepted | 0 | | Duplicate | 0 | Scoring Basics

*** {% endstep %} {% step %} ## RSE8: Stakeholder Grievance Process


Max Score	0.5 Points
Validation	Other Answer is Manually Validated

**Is there a formal process for stakeholders to communicate grievances?**

#### Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

This indicator evaluates whether the entity provides a grievance mechanism for its stakeholders. Even when procurement practices are well managed, supply chain activities can create sustainability risks or contribute to human rights violations. A formal grievance mechanism enables stakeholders within the supply chain to raise concerns and seek remedies, and reinforces the entity’s commitment to responsible and transparent supply chain management.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options. ### Terminology **Accessible and easy to understand** > Known to all stakeholder groups and providing adequate assistance for those who may face particular barriers to access (e.g. 24/7 availability, simple language). **Anonymous** > Made or done by someone whose name is not known or not made public. **Clients/customers** > A customer is understood to include end-customers (consumer) as well as business-to-business customers. **Contractors** > Organizations or persons working on-site or off-site on behalf of an entity with a relationship determined by a contract, including property managers. A contractor may hire their own staff directly or hire subcontractors or independent contractors. **Dialogue based** > Looks for mutually agreed solutions through engagement between parties. **Equitable & rights compatible** > Ensure that parties have reasonable access to sources of information, advice and expertise necessary to engage in a grievance process on fair, informed and respectful terms (e.g. independent review). In addition, ensure that outcomes accord with international norms of behavior. **Grievance mechanism** > Formal, legal or non-legal (or ‘judicial/non-judicial’) complaint process that can be used by individuals, communities and/or civil society entities that are being negatively affected by certain business activities and operations. The process enables the complaining party to flag an issue, seek redress and remedy. **Improvement based** > Drawing on relevant measures to identify lessons for improving the mechanism and preventing future harms. **Legitimate & safe** > Enable trust from stakeholder groups and protect stakeholders from potential threats and retaliations through a secure, anonymous, independent and two-way communication system. **Predictable** > Provide a clear procedure with an indicative time frame for each stage, and clarity on the types of process and outcome available. **Special interest groups** > Organization with a shared interest or characteristic (e.g. trade unions, non-governmental organizations). **Stakeholder group(s) involved** > State all the stakeholder group(s) addressed by this action. Examples of applicable stakeholder groups include: Employees, Contractors, Clients/Customers, Community/Public, Suppliers, Investors, Regulators/Government, Representative and Special Interest groups (e.g. NGOs, Trade Unions, etc), Industry and professional associations, etc. **Suppliers** > Organization upstream from the reporting entity (i.e., in the entity’s supply chain), which provides a product or service that is used in the development of the entity’s own products or services. Note that for the purposes of this assessment, 'suppliers' only refers to tier 1 suppliers with whom the entity has a direct commercial relationship. **Supply chain** > Range of activities carried out by organizations upstream from the reporting entity (i.e., with whom the entity has an indirect commercial relationship), which provide products or services that are used in the development of the entity's own products or services. **Transparent** > Keep parties informed about the progress.

Validation: What evidence is required?

No evidence required. Only the 'Other' answer is manually validated. #### **Other Answer** 1. **Other:** State the other method used for the grievance process. It is possible to report multiple other answers. If multiple other answers are acceptable, only one will be counted towards scoring. 2. **Other:** State the other stakeholder group that the grievance process applies to. It is possible to report multiple other answers. If multiple other answers are acceptable, only one will be counted towards scoring. Validation Basics

#### Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

*** {% endstep %} {% step %} ## RTC1: Tenant Engagement Program


Max Score	1 Point
Validation	Other Answer is Manually Validated

**Does the entity have a tenant engagement program in place that includes sustainability-specific issues?**

#### Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

This indicator assesses the entity’s approach to engaging tenants on sustainability topics, including whether the entity has a formal tenant engagement program and the issues it covers. Effective engagement supports communication between landlords and tenants and helps integrate tenant needs, concerns, and feedback into operational and sustainability-related decision-making.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options. ### Terminology **Building/asset communication** > Publications, dashboards, elevator messages, and newsletters addressing sustainability-related issues. **Engagement meetings** > Individual meetings with specific tenants/occupiers to discuss sustainability-related issues. **Sustainability guide** > A document written for tenants/customers providing practical guidance on sustainability-related issues, including opportunities for action. **Sustainability-specific issues** > Topics related to the management of environmental, social, or governance issues. **Events focused on increasing sustainability awareness** > Events addressing the above sustainability-specific issues. They can be either private or open to the public, but they cannot be individual meetings with specific tenants/ occupiers. **Feedback sessions with individual tenants** > Meetings with individual tenants to gather feedback about sustainability-specific issues. **Provide tenants with feedback on energy/water consumption and waste** > Feedback to tenants regarding the energy/water consumption and waste including areas for improvement and reduction measures. **Tenant sustainability training** > A formal and structured training program addressing sustainability-related issues and opportunities for action. **Social media/online communications** > Online or social-media communications providing tenants/customers with information on sustainability-related issues and opportunities for action.

Validation: What evidence is required?

No evidence required. Only the 'Other' answer is manually validated. **Other:** State the issue included in the tenant engagement program. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of a selected option above (e.g., Online message board when 'Social media/online platform' is selected). It is possible to report multiple other answers. If multiple answers are acceptable, only one will be counted towards scoring. Validation Basics

#### Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the fraction assigned to the selected option, multiplied by the total score of the indicator. **Other:** The 'Other' answer is manually validated and assigned a score which is used as a multiplying factor, as per the table below: | Validation status | Score | | ----------------- | ----- | | Accepted | 1/1 | | Not Accepted | 0 | | Duplicate | 0 | **Open text box:** The open text box is not scored and is for reporting purposes only. Scoring Basics

#### Frequently Asked Questions

Who should a hotel owner consider 'tenants'?

For hotel assets, the definition of “tenant” depends on how the organization is structured: * If the reporting entity both owns and operates the hotel, the hotel guests are considered the tenants. * If the reporting entity owns the hotel but a third-party operator runs it, the operator is considered the tenant. This definition applies across all relevant aspects, including indicators under Tenant and Community.

I'm an owner and occupier. How should I approach tenant-related questions in the Stakeholder Engagement aspect?

If you own and occupy your building, you should **not** consider your employees to be the tenants. The tenant engagement section of the assessment is likely not applicable, and you should select "No."

*** {% endstep %} {% step %} ## RTC6.1: Community Engagement Program


Max Score	2 Points
Validation	Other Answer is Manually Validated

**Does the entity have a community engagement program in place that includes sustainability-specific issues?**

#### Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

This indicator examines the strategies used by the entity to support communities associated with its operations. A structured and comprehensive approach to community engagement demonstrates the extent of integration of community engagement issues into the entity’s overall strategy.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options. **Open text box:** The open text box will not be used for scoring. Describe the community engagement program and the monitoring process. The description should refer to the applicable topics included in the community engagement program and elements below: 1. Program objectives 2. Examples of specific activities/projects 3. Scope of the activities/projects ### Terminology **Assistance or support in case of disaster** > Financial, social or other assistance required to respond to disaster situations, such as the formation of a disaster response team and training. **Community/public** > Persons or groups of people living and/or working in any areas that are economically, socially or environmentally impacted (positively or negatively) by the entity’s operations. **Community concerns** > Issues of importance raised by the community, that are causing social, mental or other distress. **Community engagement** > Community engagement refers to the communication, interaction, and formation of relationships between the entity and those groups. **Enhancement programs** > Programs designed to improve public spaces to increase accessibility and livability, and encourage greater community interaction and well-being. **Sustainability education program** > A program designed to increase awareness and knowledge of sustainability issues within the community. **Health and well-being program** > Program designed to address and increase the health and wellbeing of the local community. **Public spaces** > Refers to spaces that are open and accessible to the public for social and recreational use. **Research and network activities** > Activities and events organized for/with groups and members of the local community for the purpose of research and networking. **Resilience** > Preparedness of the built environment towards existing and future climate changes (i.e., the ability to absorb disturbances such as increased precipitation or flooding while maintaining its structure). This can be achieved by management policies, informational technologies, educating tenant, community, suppliers and physical measures at the asset level. **Supporting charities and community groups** > Providing financial, social or other support to local community groups and charities.

Validation: What evidence is required?

No evidence required. Only the 'Other' answer is manually validated. #### **Other Answer** State the alternative topic included in community engagement. It is possible to report multiple other answers. If multiple other answers are acceptable, only one will be counted towards scoring. Validation Basics

#### Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

{% endstep %} {% endstepper %} ## Get Support: GRESB Solution Providers **GRESB Solution Providers** are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process. Currently, there are no GRESB Solution Providers associated with this indicator. GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://guides.gresb.com/fundamentals/completing-the-assessment/fundamentals-guidance/stakeholder-engagement.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.