Promoting equal opportunities

The promotion of diversity is a top priority for the Group. The PPR Group comprises a variety of customers and employees through its various companies, product brands and businesses. Conscious of this wealth, PPR undertakes to promote equal opportunities and diversity.
This represents an economic and competitive advantage, a factor contributing to social cohesion and dialogue, and a socially responsible commitment.

The Group HR Department has now given a framework to this commitment, which was initiated in 2001 by SolidarCité: promote equal opportunity and treatment for populations who could be subject to discrimination on account of their health, gender, age or ethnic background and encourage team diversity. This does not involve segregating employees or implementing positive discrimination measures. The focal points are the audit and review of current human resources and managerial processes (recruitment, training, career management, etc.), and behavioural change through awareness raising and training.

The Group’s companies and brands define their priorities and actions in accordance with the framework defined by PPR and share best practices. One of PPR’s specifi cities is its decentralised management organisation. The Group’s role is therefore to determine and communicate a framework, promote discussion within each brand and company, and to provide encouragement and support throughout the process.

Relying on the managers of each brand and company, the Group’s HR Department thus coordinates this commitment through the Diversity Committee. This operating procedure means that PPR can provide a better response to the companies’ specific problems in terms of culture, history and employment regions. It also facilitates an understanding of the issue by each Group entity.

The Diversity Committee has met every three months since November 2004 to monitor company developments, action plans and objectives, transfer best practices, defi ne new measures and create tools. The committee is backed by Mission Handicap.

In June 2007, PPR signed a new agreement with the AGEFIPH, following the successful partnership concluded in 2005. The agreement’s goal is to promote the employment of disabled workers. At the time of its signing, this new agreement concerned the entire PPR Group in France. CFAO and the 5 Gucci Group brands in France are thus joining Fnac, Redcats Group and PPR Holding in this new partnership. Conforama, which continues to play a role in PPR’s Mission Handicap, is pursuing its endeavours for the disabled as part of a company-wide agreement with its social partners.