In the Excel file, you will find three sheets: OVERVIEW, INSTRUCTIONS, and SLCP DATA COLLECTION TOOL.
The Overview Sheet
Under the Overview sheet, you can find information on how to enable Macros, tool links, and the SLCP helpdesk to access SLCP support and FAQs.
You will also see here what we want to achieve using the converged assessment framework, which consists of three elements: a data collection tool, a verification protocol, and guidance. You will also see here information on the three steps to complete the assessment process and the terms of use.
The Instructions Sheet
Under the Instructions sheet, you get instructions on how to open the tool, the structure of the tool, sections and subsections, information on the concepts of the tool steps, and information on how this tool is aligned with the International Labor Organization, National Labor Law, and other legal requirements.
You will also see here instructions on the scope and timeframe. The timeframe of the initial self or joint assessment is based on the previous 12 months' data from the date the self or joint assessment was completed by the facility. The tool completion date is entered by the facility and is found under the facility profile question with Ref ID: FP-BAS-26. The onsite verification must be initiated or started within 2 months of the completion of the self or joint assessment.
You will also see on the sheet the following instructions below:
- Instructions about the use of the term worker or workers
- Instructions on how to fill out this tool and save answers
- Instructions on how to upload it to the two accredited hosts for verification to proceed
SLCP Data Collection Tool
You will find on this sheet all the questions that you need to complete. The data collection tool consists of 10 sections in total. The first eight sections will cover social and labor topics. Selecting Step 1 will enable you to answer the basic social and labor topic questions from these 8 sections.
The 8 sections that cover social and labor topics are:
- General Facility Profile Questions Section (Section 9 on the core social and labor sections)
- Recruitment & Hiring
- Working Hours
- Wages & Benefits
- Worker Treatment
- Worker Involvement
- Health & Safety
- Termination
Selecting Step 2 will unlock questions from the 9th section, which is Management Systems.
Selecting Step 3 will unlock questions from the 10th section, which is Above & Beyond.
The navigation menu shows all 10 sections along with individual completion percentages. On the right part of the navigation menu, you will see the total completion percentage. You can click on the applicable section name you would like to complete in the Excel sheet.
At the bottom middle part of the navigation menu, you will see what section you are currently in.
Navigation Menu:
Clicking or answering any cell will also show in this part the section, subsection, and category of the tool you clicked on.
You can minimize the navigation menu when you are filling in answers to have more screen space for answering and you can maximize it again if you would like to check on your section completion percentage.
How to Navigate the Offline Data Collection Tool
After you register on the credited host of your choice and link with the Gateway ID, you can begin the self or joint assessment. You can either fill in the self or joint assessment online on the credited host’s platform or download the data collection tool from the credited host’s platform, fill in the Excel file offline, and upload or import it back on the credited host's platform. We recommend filling out the tool online to avoid issues related to downloading or uploading data.
When opening the data collection tool in Excel, make sure to enable “Macros”. This is a macro-enabled document. You must have macros enabled for the content or data to show up correctly.
Note: If you are completing facility responses and you do not see the individual completion percentage updating in the specific section you are completing, or you do not see the text on the “You are here” label indicating where you are currently, then something is not working in your Excel program. Example: Macros are not enabled. At this point, please restart your computer and try again.
Within each section on the Navigation Menu, the questions are further grouped into subsections and categories.
Example:
Recruitment & Hiring is the section. You will see here the section instructions and the list of the subsections.
Child Labor is a subsection. You can also see here the subsection instructions.
Before answering the questions, please read the instructions given under the section and subsections.
The question number or REF ID, shows which section or subsection you are in.
Example:
FP-PRO-1
FP is the section (Facility Profile)
PRO is the subsection (Production/Operation Information)
And the question number
The total number of questions you need to answer in the data collection tool depends on the tool step that you choose to select. You will see the option to select the tool step in the Facility Profile section with REF ID: FP-STE-1.
The data collection tool questions are broken down into steps. Step 1 is required for all facilities. Facilities can decide to complete Step 2 and Step 3 questions in addition, or as required by their clients.
If you chose Step 2, you will have access to the questions under the Management Systems section, while you'll get access to the questions in both the Management Systems and Above & Beyond sections if your facility selects Step 3.
Please check in with the end user before selecting the steps. You can also get the list of brands that accept SLCP-verified data on our website. The list includes which step selection is required for the brands to accept SLCP-verified data.
To better understand the questions in each section and how to answer them, you can click on the info links after each question.
When answering, the prompt before the facility response field shows the type of entry the tool is asking for.
Select entry is a drop-down. Click the drop-down icon to select an answer.
Response Here entry is free text. Provide your response using a maximum of 6,000 characters.
Number Here entry requires the facility to input a number and not a text.
“X” to select entry is a drop-down. Leaving it blank means the sub-question is not applicable to your facility.
Date Here entry requires the facility to enter the date in Year/Month/Date format.
Select entry sample:
Response entry sample:
Number Here entry sample:
“X” to select entry sample:
Date Here entry sample:
When answering, some conditional questions may appear at times. If a facility response opens a related question that was not there before.
Example:
REF ID: RH-CHI-4 (under the Recruitment & Hiring Section) is a conditional question. This means that depending on your answer, the question might open up follow-up or related questions.
Selecting NO will not trigger sub-questions or follow-up questions.
Selecting YES will trigger it and open up follow-up questions below the answered conditional question.
Please note that depending on your answer as well, the tool may also unhide multiple follow-up or related questions at once and they may not always show these follow-up questions below the answered conditional question. It may show as a different set of sub-questions further down in the tool.
The light and dark gray colors will let you know what questions have been filled in and what questions still need an answer. Filling out an answer to a question will change the color of the cell from dark to light gray.
At the end of each section, there will be an area to describe any concerns or difficulties you have with the questions listed in the section. Facilities can provide information about their concerns or difficulties in free text format with a maximum of 6,000 characters. These comments will not be verified.
Please note that the attachments need to be uploaded online. Attachments uploaded through the Excel file will not be transferred to your online assessment once the tool has been imported into the accredited host’s platform.
Every section is separated by a dark gray bar.
After answering all the tool questions, it is time to fill in the completion date. You can fill it out under the Facility Profile section with REF ID: FP-BAS-26. Please note that the onsite verification must be initiated or started within 2 months of the completion of the self or joint assessment.
After completing all the tool questions, you can submit/post your assessment online or upload the completed Excel file on the accredited host’s platform. An accredited host checks your data to make sure that the facility’s answers are given in the required language, to make sure that there are questions that are not allowed to be left unanswered, to make sure that the tool is 100% complete, to make sure that the maximum number of characters used in the free text answer fields is 6,000, and to make sure that specific questions are answered with numbers or dates.
Depending on your answers, you may need to correct some things before the data is accepted. Once the data has been accepted and you have submitted the assessment, the status of the assessment will change from Assessment Initiated (ASI) to Assessment Completed (ASC).
Please note that the offline Excel Tool cannot be downloaded and used for the following validation methods (question VD-VERI-1):
- SLCP Full Virtual Verification
- SLCP Virtual + Onsite Verification
Understanding the Difference in Completion Rates: FSLM Assessment Overview vs. Offline Excel File
When it comes to FSLM assessments, the completion rates in the Excel file and online assessment platform serve distinct purposes and provide valuable information. This article aims to shed light on the differences between completion rates as reflected in the Excel file and the online assessment platform.
- Excel File: The completion rate reflected in the Excel file and the SLCP gateway provides an overall assessment completion status that encompasses both the facility and verifier responses. This metric serves as an indication for the SLCP to gauge the number of questions answered within the assessment.
- Online Assessment: The completion status displayed during the online assessment indicates the progress remaining to submit the assessment. It specifically reflects the data required for the verifier to complete, such as verifier selection and providing comments if any questions are found to be inaccurate. This completion status helps track the remaining tasks needed for the verifier to finalize the assessment (e.g. the verifier selection, comments if the question is inaccurate, etc).