International Women’s Day: 7 ways Faurecia is taking action to accelerate gender equality

At Faurecia, putting gender equality at the center of our business is an everyday commitment, as our Conviction that “diversity is a strength” states it. In the frame of our approach to sustainability – Inspired to care – and to mark our commitment, the Group signed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in July 2020. This set of principles from the UN Global Compact and UN Women offers guidance to business on how to promote women’s empowerment.

Get a glimpse of how Faurecia is taking action to follow the 7 principles.

Principle #1: Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality

Diversity is rooted in Faurecia’s convictions and translated into key commitments in its sustainability strategy. A special focus is placed on gender diversity, through a dedicated action plan to attract, support and develop talents. By 2025, our objective is to reach 30% of women among our Managers & Professionals population. To involve the Group’s 300 senior executives in the roll out of our diversity strategy, 10% of their long-term variable compensation is linked to the achievement of the gender diversity targets set by the Group. The appointment of a Group Diversity Director helps boost women’s empowerment within Faurecia.

Principle #2: Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non-discrimination

Respect and non-discrimination are guided daily by our Group’s Values and Code of Ethics. To support equal empowerment, a review of women’s careers and statistical analysis of pay equality are conducted every year.

Principle #3: Ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all women and men workers

The health and safety of Faurecia employees is the Group’s first priority. Through the ‘Faurecia Excellence System’, Faurecia commits to providing a safe working environment for all women and men. In 2020, our employees have recognized (through the engagement survey), the particular attention put by the Group on their health and safety through the Safer Together protocol.

Principle #4: Promote education, training and professional development for women

• Recruitment: A program to attract high-potential female executives has been deployed across the Group since 2019. Specific initiatives aim to increase female representation in the R&D and operations functions, through partnerships with target universities around the world. Since 2019, it has been mandatory to shortlist at least one woman in every recruitment process.
• Learning & Development: 1,700 women were enrolled in coaching & mentoring programs in 2020, and leadership trainings specifically targeting women were delivered by Faurecia University.
• Awareness: Raising awareness is also a key pillar of our Diversity action plan, including through the deployment of unconscious bias trainings – 400 senior managers trained last year.

Principle #5: Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women

The Group has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact since 2004 and as such, we commit to aligning our operations and strategy with its 10 principles, including respect for human rights and international labor standards. Faurecia's commitments in terms of equal pay, equal treatment, non-discrimination and working conditions are also set out in Faurecia’s Sourcing and Supply Chain Code of Conduct.

Principle #6: Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy

In 2020, Faurecia launched a Diversity Champion network of 40 ambassadors worldwide. Their role is to promote a Diverse & Inclusive culture in countries where we operate, through advocacy, events, workshops, and local activities.

Through the Faurecia Foundation, the Group is involved in the ‘Improving Education in India’ project, targeting 400 schoolgirls, 2 schools and 30 teachers in the Pune area. Support includes the distribution of students’ kits, infrastructure renovation and specific training programs for the schoolgirls.

Principle #7: Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

The Group regularly presents gender diversity progress in the extra-financial chapter of its Universal Registration Document and in the 2020 edition of its Sustainability Guide.

These principles provide a framework & good practices to continue strengthening our actions for women empowerment. By signing them, Faurecia reasserts its commitment to boost an inclusive culture and further progress on gender diversity.