2023-09-25 07:40:23
No Italian luxury brand before Gucci had managed to obtain the Certification of gender equality, introduced by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The Tuscan maison managed to obtain this record thanks to a company policy aimed at creating a fair, inclusive and open to diversity working environment.
The audit process was carried out by Bureau Veritas – independent company recognized worldwide, specialized in inspections, compliance checks and certification. The evaluation process considers six key indicators:
- culture and strategy;
- governance;
- human resources processes;
- opportunities for growth and inclusion for women;
- gender pay equity;
- support for parenting and work-life balance.
Gucci, three-year plan for gender equality
Not just certification, for Gucci the intervention will develop over a three-year plan which will have the objective of implementing actions aimed at promoting equality. The brand has already conducted a global analysis of gender pay equity in 2021, with the aim of eliminating any disparity by 2025, also thanks to the alliance with the Kering Group.
«This milestone, achieved ahead of European trends and first in the luxury sector in Italy, strongly reaffirms our commitment to a culture that values equity, inclusiveness and respect. Through concrete actions such as the use of innovative technologies to eliminate bias in selection, close the salary gap, implement parental leave policies, encourage a greater presence of women in leadership roles, and programs to raise public awareness – I am thinking of the campaign Global Gender Equality Gucci CHIME – we support change and promote cultural transformation in the fashion and luxury industry globally and will continue to do so,” she said Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci.
Guiding the strategic action plan is the Steering Committee for Gender Equality and the Global Equity Boardled by Bizzarri and made up of business leaders and external consultants who define the vision and priorities for diversity and inclusion, while at a global level the DE&I committee made up of representatives from different regions and functions puts the strategy into practice.
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The maison’s actions on hiring and dismissal
The maison has chosen to implement innovative policies and technologies in personnel research and selection, in career management, in pay equity and in internal mobility with the aim of guaranteeing inclusive practices and reducing prejudices in the management of human resources. With a view to greater internal awareness, participation in training courses is encouraged for all employees to raise awareness of the issues of diversity and inclusion.
Gucci is also at the forefront of supplying support for future parents, guaranteeing a minimum of 14 weeks with 100% of salary for paternity, adoption and partner care leave. It also supports work-life balance through initiatives such as a hybrid working model and welfare and parental leave policies.
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Gucci Equilibrium Impact Report 2022
In recent months the luxury brand also presented the Gucci Equilibrium Report 2022 which summarizes the commitments and actions undertaken for positive change for people and the planet.
The results achieved demonstrate a clear change of direction compared to other companies, starting from female leadership reaching 57% of women in managerial roles and 63.1% of female employees.
In 2022, Gucci has been nominated Best Places to Work For Disability Inclusion dal Disability Equality Index, as the first and only luxury brand, thanks to the promotion of greater opportunities for people with disabilities within the working environment.
Also with respect to the planet, various actions have been implemented such as Gucci-Up which made it possible to optimize production efficiency and give new life to processing waste, recovering and reusing 350 tonnes of leather scraps, 298 tonnes of fabric scraps and 67 tonnes of metal waste. Furthermore, 48,000 meters of fabric were donated to social cooperatives and NGOs.
In July 2022, the fashion house became strategic partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an authority on the circular economy, creating solutions that eliminate waste and pollution while improving durability, recovery, reuse, recycling and second life.
The culture of Gucci
All these initiatives start from a corporate culture that places people and the environment at the centre. There are three indispensable pillars to pivot the strategy conducted by Gucci:
- corporate volunteering to create a positive employee impact in local communities. In 2022, more than 2,000 employees participated in the volunteer program Gucci Changemakerstotaling 7,000 volunteer hours in support of over 100 NGOs in more than 55 cities around the world.
- the desire to create a lasting impact. Through Gucci Changemakers North America, local communities were supported in 2022. In the United States, over 600 thousand dollars have been awarded to 12 beneficiaries of the Impact Fund, in addition to 280 thousand dollars in scholarships to support students from different backgrounds, in order to promote new educational opportunities. Since launching in 2019, the company has invested $4.7 million in community funding and grants.
- gender equality was brought forward also thanks to Gucci CHIME, supporting 17 NGOs in 20 countries to support 3,297 women and girls. Since its inception in 2013, the initiative has had a strong influence in gathering, uniting and amplifying voices advocating for gender equality around the world, positively impacting 635,000 women and girls and reaching 3 million families and community.
No brand today can lose sight of its commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive working environment. Gucci has understood the importance of putting people at the center of its ecosystem, producing a positive impact not only within the company but also on society and the planet.
The responsibility to write a new way of living and working belongs to everyone and Gucci has decided to take the helm of this change.
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