BCG Global Human Rights Statement

Own operations
BCG leads with integrity, and all BCG employees have a collective responsibility to demonstrate this every day. We acknowledge that policies, codes of conduct, and robust processes are important tools to communicate, enable, and embed a culture of responsible business practice. In all of our work, we uphold individual human rights without compromise.

We respect and value the diversity reflected in our various backgrounds, ideas, and experiences. We each contribute to and help sustain an inclusive work environment that fosters respect for one another and for our clients. Accordingly, we do not discriminate in any way against any employee or applicant for employment. This commitment extends to all aspects of the employment lifecycle, including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, promotion, compensation, training, development, and termination.

Our Code of Conduct sets expectations for the behavior of all BCG employees, complements the ethos underlying our UNGC commitment, and serves as a bridge connecting our firm’s values, policies, and norms to the actions of individuals. The Code is designed to foster ethical decision-making and promote behaviors that meet the highest standards of professional conduct. The Code of Conduct is distributed annually to all staff, who are required to confirm their understanding of and compliance with it.

Client work
BCG delivers client work professionally and lawfully, consistent with our values and human rights commitments. We are transparent with clients and safeguard confidentiality and personal data, including the rights and freedoms of individuals.

BCG assesses risks associated with potential and ongoing client engagements, including ethical and human rights considerations. As outlined in our Code of Conduct, we may decline or discontinue client work or other relationships that do not align with our values. These assessments help ensure we do not undertake work that could contribute to or enable human rights abuses.

In high risk or humanitarian contexts, our approach is guided by BCG’s Charter for Humanitarian Response Work. Where BCG undertakes humanitarian or crisis-response work, we follow the principles set out in the Charter to support affected communities and avoid causing or contributing to harm.

Supply chain
BCG is aware that human rights and labor risks can occur in complex supply chains and takes a proactive, risk-based approach to managing them. BCG expects suppliers to share our commitment to human rights and equal opportunity and will not knowingly do business with any partner or supplier that violates our policies or standards.

We expect all suppliers to meet the minimum standards defined in our Supplier Code of Conduct. In 2024, we strengthened our Supplier Code of Conduct to more explicitly address human rights and environmental responsibility and reflected these expectations in our standard contract templates.

To support this, we screen suppliers for sanctions, negative media, and financial stability, among other factors. Additional due diligence is conducted on suppliers requiring a deeper review. Where needed, we may request a more rigorous, independent assessment, which can include human rights topics. Where further actions are warranted with respect to unacceptable risk levels, we will engage with our suppliers to implement corrective measures.

If we become aware of actual or potential human rights issues within our supply chain, we act without undue delay to assess the situation and engage with suppliers to implement appropriate corrective measures, proportionate to the nature and severity of the risk.

BCG reserves the right to terminate a supplier relationship based on serious or unresolved violations, including those relating to human rights and the environment.

BCG understands that protecting the environment is essential to safeguarding human rights and wellbeing. Through our Environmental Responsibility Statement, we commit to reducing our emissions, improving resource efficiency, and embedding environmental considerations into our decision-making and operations. We incorporate environmental standards into our supplier requirements and due diligence processes, and support clients in accelerating their sustainability and climate transitions. In doing so, we help reduce environmental risks that can affect people’s rights and quality of life.

Further details on our environmental and human rights practices are available in BCG’s Annual Sustainability Report.

Any individual, either inside or outside of BCG, can quickly and easily report concerns about actual or suspected misconduct through our Speak Up Line. Reportable concerns could include breaches of Code of Conduct, violations of the law, or issues relating to human rights concerns. BCG also offers an Ombudsperson program for employees as an additional, confidential resource for individuals seeking guidance or support in raising concerns.

We routinely review, adapt, and improve our risk management practices across our operations and supply chain. As one example, BCG monitors the effectiveness of its grievance mechanisms using indicators such as volume, substantiation, repeat offences, remediation outcomes, and aggregates insights to identify systemic risks, strengthen preventive controls, and improve access to remedies.

This reflects our commitment to continuous improvement, responsible business conduct, and the protection of human rights.

BCG’s leadership is responsible for overseeing our human rights commitments. Oversight of material risks, including human rights risks, sits within BCG’s existing governance structures and committees, with day-to-day implementation supported by designated functions across the firm, including risk, compliance, legal, and procurement.

This statement is reviewed and updated annually to ensure it reflects our governance framework and evolving expectations.