COUCHBASE MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT
Purpose of this Statement
This statement is made by Couchbase, Inc. and its subsidiary Couchbase Limited (collectively, “Couchbase” or “we”) pursuant to section 54(1) of the United Kingdom Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Introduction
Couchbase is committed to the protection of human rights globally and to providing a fair and ethical workplace. We respect the standards embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization conventions.
Specifically, Couchbase is strongly opposed to slavery and human trafficking and will not knowingly support or conduct business with any organization involved in such activities. Couchbase strives to ensure that its employees and suppliers across the globe follow applicable laws and regulations, including the UK Modern Slavery Act.
Business Activities and Organization
Couchbase is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. We are a global organization with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Israel, Australia, Singapore, India and Japan. More information about us can be found at www.couchbase.com.
Couchbase provides a leading cloud database platform for modern applications. Our mission is to simplify how developers and architects develop, deploy and consume modern applications that span from the cloud to the edge and everything in between. We have reimagined the database with its fast, flexible and affordable cloud database platform Capella, allowing organizations to quickly build applications that deliver premium experiences to their customers. Customers ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to Fortune 100 businesses trust Couchbase to power their modern applications.
Values and Employees
Couchbase fosters the highest level of integrity throughout all areas of its business by promoting Our Values:
- Be a Good Human, Always.
- Act with Uncompromising Integrity, Period.
- Serve Your Family, As Defined By You.
- Attack Hard Problems, Driven By Customer Outcomes.
- Play to Win, Together.
- Make Tomorrow Better Than Today, Start Now.
Couchbase is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees. We offer a broad range of benefits to its employees and supports global wellness initiatives. To keep employees apprised of their benefits, Couchbase provides employees access to information regarding employee policies, as well as Human Resources specialists who are available to address employee concerns and issues.
Relevant Policies
Couchbase operates a number of internal policies and processes to ensure that it is conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. At least annually, Couchbase’s internal compliance team reports to the Board of Directors and/or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors on various compliance policies and processes, including:
- Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. All Couchbase officers, directors, employees and contractors/consultants are required to comply with Couchbase’s code of conduct, which requires compliance with applicable laws, including those prohibiting forced labour, slavery, human trafficking and other human rights violations.
- Whistleblowing Policy. Couchbase’s whistleblowing policy encourages all employees, officers, directors, and contractors/consultants to raise good faith concerns about how colleagues are being treated, practices within our business or supply chain, or violation of any law or Couchbase policies, without fear of reprisals. Couchbase does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who make good faith reports of misconduct, unethical business practices or the violation of any law or Couchbase policies.
Recruitment Process
We have a robust and transparent recruitment process to effectively attract, train, and integrate new employees, and continuously look to improve such processes. Couchbase conducts background checks and checks for eligibility to work in the country of employment for all employees to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.
Suppliers and Partners
Couchbase conducts business worldwide, and manages its supplier relationships, including those involving technology hardware, software applications, technology services, travel-related services, consultancy and other services.
Our suppliers and partners are predominantly based in the United States and Europe. We expect that our suppliers and partners will not tolerate any form of exploitation in their business or any part of their supply chain.
Couchbase is committed to acting in accordance with applicable law and requests its suppliers and partners to maintain at least the same standards by complying with Couchbase’s Code of Conduct for Partners and Suppliers (“Supplier Code”). The Supplier Code requires our suppliers and partners to comply with all applicable laws, which includes the UK Modern Slavery Act. Couchbase also may request certain suppliers and partners to certify that they have implemented a code of conduct with the same effect. Couchbase’s suppliers and partners are required to report any violation of the Supplier Code or issues related to slavery or human trafficking to the Couchbase Legal Department to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.
Effective Action To Address Modern Slavery
Couchbase has taken the following actions to address Modern Slavery:
- Ethics and Compliance Policies: Couchbase continues to review its code of conduct, whistleblowing policy and procedures, and other legal compliance programs on an annual basis with the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors.
- Employee Training Program: Couchbase continues to provide an annual employee training program on its code of conduct, and periodically reviews such training program to include updated content. Couchbase employees must annually acknowledge the code of conduct.
- Employee Recruitment: Couchbase regularly reviews changes to law and has developed procedures to comply with applicable pay transparency laws that have recently come into effect in certain jurisdictions.
- Supplier and Partner Relationships:
(i) all suppliers and partners continue to be subject to legal terms and conditions with Couchbase and are required to comply with the Supplier Code;
(ii) Couchbase continues to improve its supplier onboarding processes, including encouraging suppliers to disclose and certify (if applicable) on their business diversity status; and
(iii) Couchbase conducts risk-based due diligence on suppliers and partners through a procured database tool that assesses heightened risks in individuals and organizations around the world.
Couchbase can continue to improve operational and management systems and controls by, among other things:
(i) continually assessing the effectiveness of annual compliance training program for employees;
(ii) continually assessing and improving the effectiveness of ethics and compliance programs; and
(iii) continually assessing supplier relationships.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Couchbase’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending January 31, 2024. This statement was approved by the Board of Directors of Couchbase Limited on March 28, 2023 and Couchbase, Inc. on April 9, 2023 and was signed by:
Matt Cain
Chief Executive Officer
Couchbase, Inc.
Date: 12th April 2023