Aviva France, a major player in the areas of life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, announces the signature of the diversity charter. This charter was created at the initiative of IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité, an association bringing together almost 200 businesses already committed to a policy of social responsibility and partnership with social stakeholders.
Aviva France, a major player in the areas of life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, announces the signature of the diversity charter. This charter was created at the initiative of IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité, an association bringing together almost 200 businesses already committed to a policy of social responsibility and partnership with social stakeholders.
Thus, alongside the companies which have signed the charter, Aviva France is committed to combating discrimination and promoting diversity within the company.
Bernard Durand, human resources director for Aviva France, declares that: "Relying on teams combining staff from different backgrounds, with diverse experiences and perspectives, represents a real competitive advantage".
"In order to be more competitive and better established in our markets, we have to reflect our present and future customer base as closely as possible", explains Claude Huyghues-Beaufond, in charge of diversity at Aviva France.
Aviva France's philosophy regarding diversity is intentionally demanding. Aviva France does not believe in positive discrimination as this contradicts the rewarding of merit. Aviva France believes that major work is needed on the barriers to recruitment by identifying potentially discriminatory practices internally. Targeted actions have been instigated for managers, particularly an on-line awareness game. A recruitment charter will be formalised for the appointment of regional sales staff.
Aviva France's diversity policy explores three main areas: disability, ethnic origin and gender.
Aviva has adopted a sustainable development approach to the construction of its new head office based in Bois-Colombes, which allows for accessibility for the disabled. In order to encourage the recruitment of disabled staff, the company has begun to form links with the Association Française des Paralysés de France (French Association for the Paralysed), the site Hanploi.fr, the Association pour la Développement de l'Emploi des Handicapés (Association for the Development of Employment of the Disabled) and the Employment section of the Association Nationale pour la Gestion du Fonds d'Insertion Professionnelle des Personnes Handicapées (National Association for the Management of the Professional Integration Fund for the Disabled). Aviva France will continue to develop partnerships with local associations in order to recruit disabled people living near its offices.
In order to develop the employment of people of different origins, Aviva is multiplying its sources of recruitment through the ANPE 92 (National Employment Agency) and websites. The flexible organisation (hours, etc) meets the multiple needs of various employees. As mentioned above, Aviva is carrying out an awareness-raising programme on these themes with its managers to identify potentially discriminatory practices in the areas of recruitment and management. Courses are offered to students at higher education establishments situated in sensitive areas near Aviva's head office in Bois-Colombes.
This year, Aviva has begun a statistical study of the pay differences between men and women, according to status and seniority, in order to assess the salary differential to be reduced, if applicable.
The assessment of Aviva France's diversity policy was entrusted to an independent firm which has carried out an anonymous annual survey of all staff since 2006.
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Contacts:
IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité
Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 87 52 52
Aviva press contacts:
Ambre Garnery (Zap agency)
Telephone: 01 47 07 19 44
E-mail: agarnery@agencezap.com
Estelle Joubert
Telephone: 01 76 62 57 86
E-mail: estelle_joubert@aviva.fr
Notes to editors:
About IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité
Formed in 1986, IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité brings together a network of 180 companies and assists them in their efforts towards social advocacy. The association helps companies to develop initiatives to create a fairer society and generate value for the areas in which they are established: integration of communities which may be discriminated against (especially in sensitive areas), promotion of non-discrimination and diversity management, partnerships in solidarity, access to products and services for communities in difficulty, support for local socio-economic development, and so on. More broadly, IMS invites companies to open new channels for working with the other stakeholders in the City. The aim is to help them to construct social engagement programmes that are truly in line with their stakes and the expectations of society. Website: www.imsentreprendre.com
About Aviva
Aviva is the top life and pensions insurer in Europe and occupies a strong position in other markets throughout the world. Aviva was the fifth largest insurer worldwide based on gross premiums as at 31 December 2005. Aviva is involved in three main areas, life assurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with a turnover of €61.9 billion and assets under management of €543 billion as at 31 December 2006.
With more than 150 years' experience in France, Aviva is among the top 10 players in the insurance market. Aviva France is distinguished by a balanced multidistribution model which has proved itself: 875 general agents, 1,800 agency staff, 400 life advisers, more than 1,000 brokers, partners (Union Financière in France and Médéric). Aviva France's partners also include AFER, the leading association of savers in France, and the Crédit du Nord Group. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is well-known for the performance of its long-term funds and its strong commitment to its customers through its good advice approach. Aviva has more than 3,200 employees. As at 31 December 2006, Aviva France recorded a consolidated turnover of €6.4 billion, a consolidated operating profit of €689 million (based on intrinsic value - EEV/IFRS norms) and managed assets worth €72.9 billion.