We see human rights as fundamental principles for protecting people’s dignity and ensuring freedom and respect both in our own operations, in the companies with whom we work, and in the communities where we operate. Our commitment to upholding human rights is outlined in our 'Sustainability commitment', 'Global human rights policy', 'Global labour and employment rights policy', 'Stakeholder engagement policy', and 'Just transition policy'. Our 'Global human rights policy' aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the International Bill of Human Rights, and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles & Rights at Work. The policy explicitly highlights our dedication to ensuring freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced, trafficked, or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation, among other critical issues.

The number of employees was 7% lower at the end of 2024 compared to 2023. Ørsted's voluntary turnover increased by 1.5 percentage points in 2024, whereas the total turnover increased by 4.7 percentage points. The reduction in the total number of employees and increased total turnover for 2024 are related to organizational adjustments, including redundancies, that have been undertaken to maintain competitive edge.