The diversity policy of Aviva France, a socially responsible company and major insurance player in France, is characterised by both its commitment to raising the awareness of its key target groups and its wish to influence people’s behaviour.
The diversity policy of Aviva France, a socially responsible company and major insurance player in France, is characterised by both its commitment to raising the awareness of its key target groups and its wish to influence people's behaviour.
Aviva France's belief in corporate social responsibility (CSR) manifests itself every day, both through its policy of promoting diversity, that is currently exploring four main areas - disability, ethnicity, gender and age, and through numerous activities to raise the awareness of its employees, such as the adoption of simple measures in the workplace (sorting waste, collecting used batteries, etc).
This policy was rewarded last March with one of the five Diversity Trophies.
Aviva France is now keen to enter a new phase of corporate responsibility, with the commissioning of these two studies into internal perceptions of diversity and disability. The aim of these audits will be to raise the awareness of Aviva France employees and make progress in relation to these issues, using leadership tools.
Diversity study with IMS - Entreprendre pour la Cité
Aviva France has chosen IMS - Entreprendre pour la Cité to guide it in this project. A leading organisation in anti-discrimination issues and the integration of differences, IMS - Entreprendre pour la Cité was behind the Diversity Charter signed by Aviva France in October 2007.
This study will address the perception of Aviva France employees regarding diversity in all its forms (ethnicity, gender, age, and so on). To gather the necessary data, IMS is organising individual and group interviews with around a hundred employees from different parts of the company, and representatives of different departments, professions and hierarchical levels. This study will make it possible to both detect possible risks of discrimination and identify best practices in order to draw up a precise action plan.
Disability study with JLO Conseil
Aviva France has also commissioned JLO Conseil, an independent firm specialising in diversity and particularly problems linked to disability, to carry out this internal study.
This audit will be based on a quantitative study of the Aviva France reference documents and a qualitative analysis of perceptions of disability through one-to-one interviews. 70 employees, representing the different departments, professions and hierarchical levels, will be invited to take part in these interviews.
This precise, detailed analysis of the position of the company with regard to employing people with disabilities will enable Aviva France to identify the main issues and establish a precise action plan.
For example, it is expected that this audit will give rise to a recommendation concerning the possible signing of a company-level agreement on disability, for which Aviva France could request approval from the State authorities by 2010.
The results of these two studies will be published in June. They will be analysed independently by both IMS and JLO Conseil, who will treat the comments gathered during the interviews as strictly confidential, with a view to proposing diversity and disability recommendations.
The recommendations will be reviewed by employee representatives and the management before precise action plans are established.
According to Jean-Pierre Menanteau, CEO of Aviva France: "Our diversity and disability audits reflect our commitment to taking our corporate social responsibility policies further, giving strategic priority to sustainable development throughout all our practices. Sustainable development is a long-established driving force within the Aviva Group, which was the first global insurance company to offset its CO2 emissions. Both at the global level and within Aviva Europe, Aviva is taking a proactive approach to issues linked to corporate responsibility."
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Press contacts:
Anne Perthuis
Telephone: + 33 (0)1 4704 1949
E-mail: aperthuis@agencezap.com
Fanny Bezol
Telephone: +33 (0)1 4704 1953
E-mail: fbezol@agencezap.com
Isabelle Noir
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 7021
E-mail: isabelle_noir@aviva.fr
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
With more than 300 years' experience, Aviva is a global insurer of European origin: it is the leading provider of life insurance and pension products in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, particularly in North America and Asia, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. Aviva's principal business activities are life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with total sales of €64.3 billion in 2008 and €393 billion of assets under management at 31 December 2008.
With more than 180 years' experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs. Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of 3 million clients every day. Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale, Ford and Médéric groups. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.
The Aviva Group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France. At 31 December 2008, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.0 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €130 million. The company managed assets worth €69.6 billion at 31 December 2008.