Working Environment at GAIN

GAIN seeks to attract highly qualified staff through competitive salary and benefits packages and a framework of policies that create a positive and supportive work environment throughout its network of offices.


Terms and Conditions of Employment

All GAIN employees receive a local contract which includes a job description and outlines specific terms and conditions of employment that are governed in part by the requirements of legislation in the country where they will be working. The Human Resource Policy Handbook (link) sets out additional terms which apply to all GAIN staff, wherever they are located.

International staff receive additional benefits to compensate them for working away from home.

All GAIN jobs fit within a global job classification scheme which applies to all GAIN staff. Similarly, a continuous performance management system is implemented throughout the organization.


Benefits

GAIN’s comprehensive package of benefits begins on the first day of employment. Details may differ from country to country because of the need to comply with local legislation.

Pension schemes are being established for each location; GAIN and the employee will each contribute a percentage of salary.

  • Health insurance for all staff is provided locally to be in compliance with local legislation.
     
  • All staff are covered by global accident insurance, death and disability policies.
     
  • All staff are entitled to sick pay with specific entitlements determined by local legislation.
     
  • All GAIN staff are entitled to 25 days of annual leave
     
  • GAIN seeks to ensure that rights relating to maternity and paternity leave and breastfeeding are in accordance with its mission and objectives to improve the nutrition of mothers and babies. While national laws and customs will be respected, GAIN offers a total of 6 months maternity leave which will be paid in accordance with the local legislation as a minimum. GAIN offers a global standard of 10 working days of paternity leave at full pay.


GAIN’s Support of Exclusive Breastfeeding

In accordance with our mission and objectives, GAIN follows the guidance and standards contained within UNICEF/WHO’s Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, including the promotion of mothers initiating and sustaining exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and then as part of their infant's diet for as long as they both wish.


Policies

The policies summarized below help to build a positive work environment and to ensure that staff concerns will be met in a consistent manner throughout the organization. Grievance procedures have been implemented to ensure speedy and fair response to concerns raised by staff in relation to these policies.

  • HR Policy Handbook:  the 'Human Resources Policy Handbook' has been prepared as a reference manual and provides an overview of the global terms and conditions and HR policies for all GAIN employees based in all locations. Each GAIN office location is planned to have specific Terms and Conditions that are tailored to local conditions, based on local law requirements. The HR Policy Handbook outlines policies and benefits that apply to all GAIN staff globally.
     
  • Code of Conduct: This Code of Conduct has been developed in order to provide guidance towards compliance with such standards, and to demonstrate best practice in action, consistent with GAIN’s core values, Mission and Statutes. The Code is organized around the following principles, each of which contains a set of basic standards of conduct:

              Integrity, trustworthiness and accountability

              Reliability and responsiveness

              Transparency

              Equality, inclusiveness and respect for the diversity of people

              Dignity

  • Equality and Diversity: GAIN aims to be an employer of choice, for people from different backgrounds and to promote respect for the individual and equality of opportunity. GAIN’s Policy on Equality and Diversity sets out the organizational position on discrimination, harassment and bullying.
     
  • Harassment and Bullying: GAIN is committed to providing a work environment which respects the personal goals, dignity and self-esteem of every employee and is free from bullying, mobbing, discrimination, sexual harassment and harassment.
     
  • Policies on Flexible Work and Working from Home on a Permanent Basis: GAIN offers its employees a number of options for flexible working time including the opportunity to work from home on a permanent basis.
     
  • Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy and Whistleblowing Process: GAIN takes a zero-tolerance position with respect to all forms of fraud and corruption. It will take all possible actions to protect from reprisals individuals who help reveal corrupt or fraudulent practices in GAIN projects or grants.
     
  • Safeguarding of Vulnerable Persons: GAIN believes that children and vulnerable adults should be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence and that they have rights as individuals to be treated with dignity and respect.
     
  • Gender Policy: this policy is aimed at GAIN programs and not GAIN staff to whom the Equality and Diversity Policy applies. The Gender Policy sets out what GAIN aims to achieve through its programs across the globe in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
     
  • Environment and Climate Change Policy: this policy calls for screening of all GAIN projects and programs to identify environmental risks and mitigation strategies. It also commits GAIN to monitoring its own corporate activities and limiting related carbon emissions.