A Left Foot Forward article published on 2025-05-23 names WH Smith among several companies accused of denying the minimum wage to over 3 million workers between 2016 and 2023, highlighting broader systemic failures in labor rights enforcement in the UK.

WHSmith published its ninth annual Modern Slavery Statement outlining comprehensive measures to prevent modern slavery across its operations and supply chain. The statement details enhanced due diligence processes, responsible sourcing practices, extensive supplier audits, worker training programs, and established corrective actions. It was approved by the Board on January 29, 2025.

WH Smith published its ninth annual modern slavery statement outlining comprehensive measures to prevent modern slavery across its operations and supply chain. Approved by the Board on January 29, 2025, the statement details enhanced due diligence processes, supplier audits, and improved worker representation initiatives.

WH Smith released its 2024 position statement outlining its commitment to ethical sourcing, rigorous supplier audits, improved worker rights, and comprehensive due diligence processes across its extensive supply chain. The document details measures to enhance labor standards, enforce responsible sourcing standards, and engage suppliers in continuous improvements, thereby advancing human rights protections and transparency.

WH Smith released its 2023 Modern Slavery Statement, detailing comprehensive measures including robust due diligence, supplier audits, ethical training, and worker representation initiatives aimed at preventing modern slavery in its operations and supply chain. The statement, approved by the Board on January 26, 2024, outlines policies for protecting human rights and ensuring fair labor practices across both direct operations and supplier engagements.

WH Smith has published a revised Responsible Sourcing Standards document as of January 2024. The document reinforces its commitments to ethical sourcing, ensuring labor rights, safe working conditions, non-discrimination, modern slavery compliance, and environmental sustainability across its supply chain. These measures aim to ensure that suppliers respect human rights and operate with integrity, aligning with progressive, anti-authoritarian principles.

At the WH Smith Annual General Meeting held on 26 January 2024 with notice dated 23 November 2023, shareholders approved Resolution 13, which authorizes the company and its subsidiaries to make political donations and incur political expenditure up to £50,000 each, in compliance with Section 366 of the Companies Act 2006. Although the resolution clarifies there is no current intention to donate politically, the establishment of this authority creates a framework that could potentially be used to influence political processes in the future.

WH Smith is seeking shareholder permission to modify its policy to allow political donations of up to £100,000. Despite this move, the company promises that no political donations will actually be made, a decision that has drawn criticism from corporate governance groups concerned about increasing corporate political influence.