BIC - 2018 Registration document

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our social responsibility to our employees [NFPS]

OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 3.4. TO OUR EMPLOYEES [NFPS]

The women and men who make up BIC Group have been the key to its success from the very beginning. With factories all around the world, distribution teams in 53 countries and about 4 million sales outlets spanning the globe, BIC thrives on a shared corporate culture, enriched by local specificities. The challenge for its Human Resources is to continue to nurture this common culture, founded on BIC’s values and philosophy, across geographic, professional and organizational borders. Shared protocols, based on the Group’s history and built to serve its industrial and commercial goals both present and future, are deployed to develop the skills and strengthen the commitment of everyone in the Company, while protecting and improving their health, safety and well-being. Working with its social partners, BIC strives to create a favorable environment for the long-term development of its employees, and of the Group as a whole.

3.4.1

THE WORKFORCE

Breakdown of the workforce 3.4.1.1. by region and activity Changes in staff numbers by region are shown below:

For the year ending December 31, 2018, BIC Group had 13,664 permanent employees and 3,291 temporary staff. The following sections describe the BIC’s workforce in 2018 and the evolution.

WORKFORCE BY REGION – IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31

Variation 2018/2017

Workforce by region

Dec. 2016

Dec. 2017

Dec. 2018

Europe

4,144 2,345

4,014

4,061

+1.1%

North America

805

740

-7.8%

Developing markets

10,873

10,117

8,863

-12.3%

TOTAL PERMANENT STAFF

17,362

14,936

13,664

-8.5%

Temporary staff

3,268

3,912

3,291

-15.9%

TOTAL

20,630

18,848

16,955

-10.0%

In 2018, permanent employees decreased by 8.5% (1,270 employees). This essentially reflects the decrease of headcount in Cello Pens in India (1,331 fewer employees between December 2017 (6,996 employees) and December 2018 (5,665 employees)). This decrease is linked to the volumes production decline and productivity improvement. In all other BC subsidiaries, the permanent workforce is rather constant. Permanent employees (with a permanent employment contract) accounted for 81% of the Group’s total workforce. Temporary workers accounted for 19% of the Group’s total workforce, split

across temporary staff, fixed-period contracts and school and university interns. As of December 31, 2018, the number of temporary workers was lower than December 31, 2017 by 621 (3,291 vs. 3,912). In India, the number of temporary workers decreased to 423, as well as in Athens, Greece (80 less) and in Mexico (230 less). These decreases are linked to changes in the production volumes. Temporary workers are employed in manufacturing (89% of temporary staff), sales support (6%) and distribution and administration (5%), essentially due to the highly seasonal nature of BIC’s activities.

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• BIC GROUP - 2018 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •