GRI ref.

Indicator description

2020 data 
assured

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

401-1

Total number and rates of new employee hires and employee turnover1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total workforce by region (ABB employees)1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

49,200

 

68,400

 

68,300

 

63,000

 

61,400

 

61,600

 

63,000

 

65,000

 

 

The Americas

 

27,600

 

35,200

 

35,600

 

28,800

 

29,000

 

30,900

 

32,200

 

34,400

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

28,800

 

40,800

 

42,700

 

43,000

 

41,900

 

43,300

 

45,200

 

48,300

 

 

Total

 

105,600

 

144,400

 

146,600

 

134,800

 

132,300

 

135,800

 

140,400

 

147,700

 

 

Employee turnover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turnover of all employees19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

8,570

17%

9,732

14%

6,509

10%

7,105

11%

6,063

10%

5,891

9%

5,877

9%

5,387

9%

 

The Americas

 

3,849

14%

5,443

16%

3,986

11%

3,148

11%

5,338

17%

5,409

17%

5,379

17%

4,760

14%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

4,252

15%

6,860

17%

5,127

12%

3,749

9%

4,430

11%

4,946

12%

5,701

13%

5,534

13%

 

Total employee turnover: ABB Group

 

16,671

16%

22,035

15%

15,622

11%

14,002

10%

15,831

12%

16,246

12%

16,957

12%

15,681

11%

 

Turnover of all female employees19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

3,038

6%

2,871

4%

2,053

3%

2,097

3%

1,571

2%

1,498

2%

1,370

2%

1,217

2%

 

The Americas

 

1,162

4%

1,553

4%

1,154

3%

940

3%

1,265

4%

1,418

5%

1,307

4%

1,026

3%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

906

3%

1,399

3%

967

2%

855

2%

882

2%

1,093

3%

1,311

6%

1,358

3%

 

Total female employee turnover: ABB Group

 

5,106

5%

5,823

4%

4,174

3%

3,892

3%

3,718

3%

4,009

3%

3,882

3%

3,601

3%

 

Employee hires

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hires of all employees19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

7,649

15%

11,560

17%

7,848

11%

6,888

11%

5,656

9%

5,672

9%

6,195

10%

6,086

10%

 

The Americas

 

2,106

8%

4,221

12%

3,525

10%

3,905

13%

3,354

11%

3,573

11%

4,142

13%

4,246

12%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

4,209

14%

6,121

15%

5,281

12%

4,403

11%

2,920

7%

3,777

9%

5,493

13%

5,219

10%

 

Total employee hires: ABB Group

 

13,964

13%

21,902

15%

16,654

11%

15,196

11%

11,930

9%

13,022

10%

15,830

12%

15,551

11%

 

Hires of all female employees19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2,799

6%

3,898

6%

2,442

4%

2,161

3%

1,681

3%

1,520

2%

1,597

3%

1,453

2%

 

The Americas

 

742

3%

1,357

4%

950

3%

1,030

3%

937

3%

769

2%

1,010

3%

971

3%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

1,006

3%

1,275

3%

1,076

3%

900

2%

586

1%

761

2%

1,308

3%

1,467

3%

 

Total female employee hires: ABB Group

 

4,547

4%

6,530

4%

4,468

3%

4,091

3%

3,204

2%

3,050

2%

3,915

3%

3,891

3%

403-9

Occupational health and safety: Injuries, lost days, diseases and fatalities1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee work-related fatalities20,22

Data assured (icon)

1

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

 

Incident rate21

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0.01

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

 

Employee business travel fatalities20,23

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Incident rate21

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

 

Contractor work-related fatalities22

Data assured (icon)

1

 

1

 

3

 

2

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

7

 

 

Contractor business travel fatalities20,23

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Members of the public fatalities20

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

 

Employee total recordable incident number22,24

Data assured (icon)

410

 

744

 

830

 

1,049

 

1,140

 

1,310

 

1,500

 

1,664

 

 

Injury rate21

Data assured (icon)

0.31

 

0.47

 

0.58

 

0.73

 

0.79

 

0.87

 

0.99

 

10.94

 

 

Contractor total recordable incident number22,24

Data assured (icon)

100

 

149

 

203

 

205

 

277

 

343

 

333

 

310

 

 

Injury rate21

Data assured (icon)

0.46

 

0.46

 

0.58

 

0.52

 

0.70

 

0.80

 

0.78

 

7.52

 

 

Employee lost time incident number22

Data assured (icon)

197

 

372

 

386

 

472

 

441

 

531

 

652

 

686

 

 

Injury rate21

Data assured (icon)

0.15

 

0.23

 

0.27

 

0.33

 

0.30

 

0.36

 

0.43

 

4.70

 

 

Contractor lost time incident number22

Data assured (icon)

56

 

96

 

97

 

95

 

118

 

163

 

200

 

158

 

 

Injury rate21

Data assured (icon)

0.26

 

0.29

 

0.28

 

0.24

 

0.30

 

0.38

 

0.47

 

3.38

 

 

Employee lost days due to industrial incidents27

 

2,014

 

6,757

 

6,650

 

7,331

 

6,905

 

7,831

 

8,415

 

10,591

 

 

Days lost rate21

 

1.5

 

4.26

 

4.63

 

5.11

 

4.78

 

5.26

 

5.52

 

77.50

 

 

Employee occupational health illness22

Data assured (icon)

5

 

16

 

30

 

35

 

65

 

46

 

17

 

10

 

 

Employee occupational health illness rate21,22

Data assured (icon)

0

 

0.01

 

0.02

 

0.02

 

0.05

 

0.03

 

0.01

 

0.14

 

 

Sustainability Observation Tours (SOT) conducted26

Data assured (icon)

74,266

 

83,859

 

144,738

 

182,265

 

178,473

 

139,124

 

–

 

–

 

 

SOT rate26,28

Data assured (icon)

4.31

 

5.52

 

1.01

 

1.27

 

1.24

 

0.92

 

–

 

–

 

 

Hazards reported22

Data assured (icon)

270,985

 

336,747

 

389,733

 

585,627

 

621,849

 

520,942

 

–

 

–

 

 

Hazards reporting rate25

Data assured (icon)

2.06

 

2.12

 

2.72

 

4.08

 

4.31

 

3.51

 

–

 

–

 

 

Data by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee work-related fatalities: ABB Group20,22

 

–

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

–

 

 

Employee business travel fatalities: ABB Group

 

–

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Contractor work-related fatalities: ABB Group

 

–

 

1

 

3

 

2

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0

 

2

 

1

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

–

 

 

Contractor business travel fatalities: ABB Group

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

–

 

 

Employee total recordable injury rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

0.47

 

0.58

 

0.73

 

0.79

 

0.88

 

0.10

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0.53

 

0.66

 

0.86

 

0.96

 

1.02

 

1.16

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0.68

 

0.97

 

1.17

 

1.18

 

1.40

 

1.57

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0.16

 

0.19

 

0.24

 

0.27

 

0.31

 

0.39

 

–

 

 

Contractor total recordable injury rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

0.456

 

0.58

 

0.52

 

0.70

 

0.80

 

0.78

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

1.38

 

1.52

 

1.38

 

1.69

 

1.88

 

1.97

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0.42

 

0.74

 

0.96

 

1.47

 

1.54

 

1.40

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0.20

 

0.26

 

0.24

 

0.35

 

0.37

 

0.35

 

–

 

 

Employee lost time injury rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

0.23

 

0.27

 

0.33

 

0.30

 

0.36

 

0.43

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0.37

 

0.39

 

0.48

 

0.47

 

0.56

 

0.66

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0.20

 

0.30

 

0.34

 

0.29

 

0.33

 

0.40

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0.07

 

0.07

 

0.09

 

0.08

 

0.08

 

0.12

 

–

 

 

Contractor lost time injury rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

0.29

 

0.28

 

0.24

 

0.30

 

0.38

 

0.47

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

1.15

 

0.91

 

0.73

 

0.93

 

1.03

 

1.38

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0.19

 

0.29

 

0.35

 

0.81

 

0.84

 

0.86

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0.07

 

0.08

 

0.10

 

0.07

 

0.12

 

0.15

 

–

 

 

Employee days lost rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

4.26

 

4.63

 

5.11

 

4.78

 

5.26

 

5.52

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

5.95

 

6.19

 

6.95

 

5.98

 

7.32

 

8.25

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

4.20

 

6.46

 

6.43

 

7.81

 

6.02

 

8.28

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

1.71

 

1.05

 

1.49

 

0.99

 

1.74

 

1.72

 

–

 

 

Employee occupational health disease rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

0.01

 

0.02

 

0.02

 

0.05

 

0.03

 

0.01

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

0.02

 

0.04

 

0.05

 

0.09

 

0.06

 

0.02

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

0.01

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.02

 

0.02

 

0.03

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

0.00

 

0.01

 

0.00

 

0.05

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

–

 

 

SOT rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

5.52

 

1.01

 

1.27

 

1.24

 

0.92

 

–

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

5.34

 

0.92

 

0.84

 

0.76

 

0.51

 

–

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

6.14

 

1.09

 

1.71

 

1.87

 

1.41

 

–

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

5.40

 

1.10

 

1.61

 

1.53

 

1.17

 

–

 

–

 

 

Hazard rate: ABB Group

 

–

 

2.12

 

2.72

 

4.08

 

4.31

 

3.51

 

–

 

–

 

 

Europe

 

–

 

2.04

 

2.38

 

3.37

 

3.65

 

2.67

 

–

 

–

 

 

The Americas

 

–

 

1.61

 

2.66

 

4.81

 

4.78

 

4.25

 

–

 

–

 

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

 

–

 

2.82

 

3.28

 

4.64

 

5.03

 

4.19

 

–

 

–

 

406-1

Non-discrimination1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of incidents of discrimination

 

0

 

8

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

 

Total number of incidents of harassment

 

36

 

19

 

25

 

9

 

5

 

8

 

10

 

10

 

415-1

Public policy1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial and in-kind political contributions

 

$14,908

 

$1,260

 

$11,500

 

$300

 

$10,400

 

$12,600

 

$13,000

 

0

 

404-1

Training and education1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Training per year per employee (average hours)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China

 

14

 

17

 

16

 

17

 

25

 

22

 

26

 

27

 

 

Finland

 

10

 

12

 

13

 

13

 

15

 

17

 

19

 

18

 

 

Germany

 

10

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

16

 

 

India

 

23

 

10

 

12

 

5

 

3

 

2

 

12

 

12

 

 

Italy

 

10

 

16

 

16

 

12

 

10

 

12

 

12

 

19

 

 

Mexico

 

347

 

7

 

134

 

98

 

15

 

16

 

23

 

-

 

 

Poland

 

4

 

10

 

35

 

20

 

12

 

10

 

11

 

12

 

 

Sweden

 

12

 

12

 

12

 

12

 

10

 

10

 

12

 

12

 

 

Switzerland

 

13

 

12

 

14

 

14

 

15

 

14

 

16

 

20

 

 

USA

 

16

 

16

 

16

 

24

 

24

 

27

 

32

 

28

 

404-3

Employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews1,29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top and senior managers

 

94%

 

73%

 

89%

 

94%

 

92%

 

85%

 

87%

 

-

 

 

Middle and lower managers

 

92%

 

89%

 

93%

 

96%

 

94%

 

90%

 

91%

 

-

 

 

Other employees

 

90%

 

89%

 

91%

 

91%

 

91%

 

87%

 

88%

 

-

 

 

Total workforce

 

92%

 

89%

 

91%

 

91%

 

92%

 

87%

 

88%

 

-

 

405-1

Diversity and equal opportunity1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composition of governance bodies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women in Board (percentage)

 

18%

 

18%

 

18%

 

10%

 

18%

 

13%

 

13%

 

13%

 

 

Age group diversity (percentage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<30 years old

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

 

30–50 years old

 

9%

 

9%

 

18%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

 

>50 years old

 

91%

 

91%

 

91%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

 

Number of nationalities

 

9

 

7

 

7

 

8

 

10

 

8

 

7

 

7

 

 

Executive Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women in Executive Committee (percentage)

 

22%

 

16%

 

9%

 

9%

 

9%

 

9%

 

9%

 

8%

 

 

Age group diversity total (percentage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<30 years old

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

 

30–50 years old

 

33%

 

8%

 

0%

 

27%

 

18%

 

27%

 

36%

 

25%

 

 

>50 years old

 

67%

 

92%

 

100%

 

73%

 

82%

 

73%

 

64%

 

75%

 

 

Number of nationalities

 

6

 

8

 

8

 

8

 

7

 

8

 

8

 

8

 

 

Employees in senior and middle management30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women in senior and middle management

 

20%

 

18%

 

17%

 

16%

 

18%

 

17%

 

15%

 

15%

 

 

Men in senior and middle management

 

80%

 

82%

 

83%

 

84%

 

82%

 

83%

 

85%

 

85%

 

 

Total workforce (ABB employees)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women in total workforce

 

26%

 

24%

 

23%

 

23%

 

23%

 

23%

 

22%

 

22%

 

 

Men in total workforce

 

74%

 

76%

 

77%

 

77%

 

77%

 

77%

 

78%

 

78%

 

1

PG is included in 2013-2019 data but excluded from 2020 data.

2

From 2018 we report all cadmium in batteries in one category. Data from 2013–2017 on cadmium in industrial and rechargeable batteries, respectively, have been summed up and are included here.

3

Emissions of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOC-Cl) are included in the volatile organic compounds (VOC) reported in the line above.

4

Data on inflow and outflow of SF6 insulation gas have been restated for 2017, due to an error in the reporting from one site.

5

Biofuels have been reported as a separate category since 2017. Biofuel consumption, total energy used, and energy intensity have been restated for 2014–2016, since the use of biofuels was previously not reported at one of our large facilities.

6

Results for these indicators are based on reported data covering 95% of employees in 2020, 93% in 2019, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2017, 97% in 2016, 95% in 2015, 93% in 2014 and 88% in 2013, plus energy use per employee for the remaining employees pro rata. See the “Approach to reporting” section for more details.

7

Gas and electricity consumption and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been restated for 2013–2017, due to the correction of earlier conversion factor errors at one of our large facilities.

8

Water withdrawal from areas of water stress have been restated for 2013-2017, due to earlier errors in reporting of water for remediation projects at two sites.

9

See “Approach to reporting” chapter for more details on GHG emission calculation.

10

In 2019, we updated the factor used to convert SF6 emissions to CO2 equivalents to 23,500 kg CO2e/kg SF6, as recommended by the IPCC 2013 (Fifth Assessment Report), and have applied that factor to SF6 data reported for all years. SF6 emissions for 2018 were restated from 155 kilotons to 164 kilotons due to a reporting error at a large manufacturing site.

11

Reported fleet emissions for 2020 and 2019 lag one year behind. For 2018 we used the same data as for 2017. For 2017 data see “Approach to reporting”; 2013–2016 data was estimated.

12

The air travel indicator included data from ABB Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kazakhstan and Romania for the first time in 2016 and from ABB China and Thomas & Betts for the first time in 2014.

13

Data for air travel is calculated using the emission factors published by the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy in its “2019 Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting – Methodology Paper for Emission Factors – Final Report.”

14

Calculated for the first time for 2019.

15

VOC emissions for 2018 were restated from 882 tons to 936 tons due to a reporting error at a large manufacturing site.

16

Cooling water quality remains unchanged by its use at ABB and is discharged without treatment. Data for 2016 exceptionally included discharge of cooling water to recipient.

17

Hazardous waste as classified in the country where it is generated.

18

An environmental incident is regarded as significant if at least one of the following criteria applies to the incident: obligation to inform local authorities or a governmental agency about the incident and/ or regulatory violation; inspection by an environmental agency results in a formal complaint; environmental Notice of Violation, a Consent Order or a Potential Responsible Party (PRP) notification; imposition of a penalty or fine; significant impact on an ecosystem; costs related to the incident exceed, or may exceed, $10,000.

19

2020 data excludes PG. Includes part-time employees. Turnover rate calculated as number of ABB employees (full- and part-time) leaving during the year/total number of ABB employees (full- and part-time) as at 31 December. For the purpose of this calculation, employees and external workforce who leave the organization voluntarily or involuntarily whether due to dismissal, retirement, end of fixed-term contract or death in service or any other reason, are included. However, involuntary turnover arising out of divestments is excluded from the definition.

20

Fatalities include deaths occurring within one year as a result of injuries sustained and commuting is excluded.

21

Incident rates are according to the rate per 100 employees or per 200,000 contractor hours worked. For 2013, incident rates are per 1,000 employees / contractors.

22

Data covers incidents that happened at workplace (ABB facility, customer site, project site) and excludes incidents that occurred during business travel.

23

Includes incidents during business travel by road. Air and rail travels are excluded.

24

Recordable incidents include fatal, lost time incidents, serious injury incidents, medical treatment injuries, occupational diseases and restricted workday cases.

25

Rate is calculated per employee.

26

SOT conducted by manager starting 2019, in previous years by employees. Sustainability Observation Tour starting 2019 and Safety Observation Tour previously.

27

Days lost are calendar days and are counted from the day after the incident.

28

Rate per manager starting in 2019 and per employee previously.

29

Eligible employees included in ABB HR system. Data covers previous year’s cycle with completion by Q1 of the reporting year.

30

This indicator focuses on senior and middle management and includes employees in hay grades 1 to 10. 2020 data excludes PG.