BIC - 2019 Universal Registration Document

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our social responsibility to our teammembers [NFPS]

OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 3.4. TOOUR TEAMMEMBERS  [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 57 countries and with approximately 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 team members, and of the Group as a whole.

3.4.1

THEWORKFORCE

3.4.1.1

Breakdown of the workforce by region

and activity Changes in staff numbers by region are shown below:

For the year ending December 31, 2019, BIC Group had 12,777 permanent teammembers and 4,017 temporary staff. The following sections describe BIC’s workforce in 2019 and the evolution.

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

December 2019

Workforce by region

December 2017

December 2018

Variation 2019/2018

Europe

4,014

4,061

3,935

-3.1%

North America

805

740

746

+0.8%

Developing markets

10,117

8,863

8,554

-3.5%

TOTAL PERMANENT STAFF

14,936

13,664

12,777

-6.5%

Temporary staff

3,912

3,291

4,017

+22.1%

TOTAL

18,848

16,955

16,794

-1.0%

In 2019, permanent team members decreased by 6.5% (887 team members). This reflects the decrease of headcount in Cello Pens in India (859 fewer team members between December 2018 (5,665 team members) and December 2019 (4,806 team members)). This decrease in permanent headcount is linked to productivity improvements in the factories and a move to a more flexible workforce in order to address changing business demands. The increase in temporary workers in India, (377 more than in 2018 for a total of 2,400), is indicative of this flexible workforce. In all other BIC subsidiaries, the permanent workforce remained broadly constant. Permanent team members (with a permanent employment contract) accounted for 76% of the Group’s total workforce. Temporary workers accounted for 24% of the Group’s total workforce; split across temporary staff, fixed-period contracts, and university interns.

As of December 31, 2019, the number of temporary workers was higher than December 31, 2018 by 726 (4,017 versus 3,291). In addition to the India increase mentioned previously, Mexico also saw an increase in temporary workers by 209. BIC grew in Africa through acquisitions in Kenya (206 team members plus 98 temporary team members) and Nigeria (18 permanent teammembers). Temporary workers are employed primarily in manufacturing plus some in sales support, distribution, and administration. The use of temporary workers is essentially due to the highly seasonal nature of BIC’s activities.

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• BIC GROUP - 2019 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •