Human Rights Due Diligence On Site: Worker Voice to Inspection Ready HRDD
As supply chains stretch across borders and operating models become more distributed, human rights due diligence (HRDD) becomes more complex precisely when it matters most. Regulation is tightening, stakeholder scrutiny is rising, and “we have a policy” is no longer a defensible answer. What matters now is whether your approach can identify real risks early, prevent harm, and stand up to compliance expectations, investor questions, and operational reality.
At Futureproof Solutions, our team is actively involved in HRDD work across Europe, supporting programmes on strategic, high-impact sites and complex multi-tier supply chains. Across sectors, one lesson repeats: the biggest human rights risks show up in how work is actually done.
Why on-site assessment changes everything
Desk-based reviews are necessary, but they are not sufficient. Fieldwork brings the evidence that makes a due diligence programme decision-useful:
Direct worker and contractor engagement that reveals lived experience behind KPIs
Management interviews that show how policies translate into practice
Process and documentation testing that identifies control gaps and weak evidence trails
Observation of day-to-day operations where risks often concentrate
This is where HRDD shifts from a compliance exercise to a risk and resilience capability.
Three takeaways we see again and again
1) Worker voice is essential
Speaking with workers surfaces the reality of working conditions, supervision practices, and access to remedy. It often reveals both strengths (clear safety routines, respectful treatment, predictable scheduling) and blind spots (excessive overtime, informal subcontracting, weak grievance channels, poor communication in a worker’s language). Participatory approaches in Human Rights Risk and Impact Assessments (HRRIAs) can ensure worker perspectives actively shape prioritisation and corrective actions.
2) Management buy-in is the bridge between policy and practice
Human rights do not embed through documentation alone. Managers are the operating system. When they understand the “why” and the “how,” they become early detectors of risk and enablers of practical fixes. Without buy-in, HRDD stays siloed in sustainability teams. With buy-in, it becomes part of how the business allocates resources, selects suppliers, plans projects, and manages performance.
3) Everyday practices are where risks manifest
Human rights risks often sit in routine moments:
How shifts are assigned and changed
How productivity pressure is managed
How PPE is distributed and enforced
How supervisors handle complaints and conflicts
How recruitment and onboarding are managed in contractor chains
These micro-practices determine whether dignity and safety are protected, or whether harm becomes systemic. On-the-ground assessment goes beyond checklists to identify what is really driving outcomes.
The business case: HRDD is risk management with real-world consequences
Respecting human rights is a moral obligation, and it is also a business imperative. When risks go unmanaged, the costs are predictable:
Operational disruption (work stoppages, supplier failure, project delays)
Regulatory and legal exposure as mandatory due diligence expands
Reputational damage and loss of customer or community trust
Commercial friction with investors, lenders, and clients who expect evidence, not statements
Done well, HRDD strengthens resilience, improves supplier reliability, and builds credibility with stakeholders who increasingly expect companies to “know and show” how impacts are identified and addressed.
A practical HRDD uplift
A strong programme is built from internationally aligned foundations, tested on the ground, and managed with the same discipline as any other enterprise risk topic.
1) Embed policy and governance that actually works
Develop and embed human rights policies aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs), ILO Conventions, and OECD Guidelines, then hardwire accountability across procurement, operations, HR, legal, and risk.
2) Run HRRIAs that prioritise severity
Conduct Human Rights Risk & Impact Assessments (HRRIAs) to identify, prioritise, and mitigate risks across operations and supply chains. The point is not to create a long list, but to pinpoint the severe impacts that require immediate control strengthening and remedy planning.
3) Engage stakeholders meaningfully to access reality
Engage stakeholders, including workers, communities, and suppliers, to understand lived experiences and build trust. This is where hidden issues surface early and where remediation becomes credible.
4) Build capability where it matters
Train leadership and teams to recognise and respond to human rights issues. Focus on the people who make decisions daily: site leaders, procurement teams, contract managers, and supervisors.
5) Monitor, report, and be inspection-ready
Monitor and report progress transparently, using reporting frameworks such as GRI and, where relevant, IFC Performance Standards to structure expectations, evidence, and disclosure.
6) Add social impact measurement, not just compliance metrics
Integrate social impact measurement to assess and improve performance across products, services, and programmes. This helps leadership see whether interventions reduce harm and improve outcomes over time.
7) Extend due diligence beyond tier-1
Implement responsible sourcing and supply chain due diligence, especially beyond first-tier suppliers where risks often sit. Tier-2 and tier-3 labour practices, recruitment, and informal subcontracting frequently drive the highest-severity exposure.
How Futureproof Solutions helps
At Futureproof Solutions, we offer a comprehensive suite of Human Rights & Social Impact services to help organisations navigate a fast-changing landscape. From HRDD strategy and governance, stakeholder engagement, and field research to training, reporting, and social impact measurement, our team brings deep expertise and practical tools to support businesses at every stage.
Whether you are conducting a human rights assessment, designing a social impact programme, or preparing for regulatory compliance, we help you embed responsible practice into operations and supply chains, strengthen resilience, and deliver outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.