Inclusion
It's All About People!
At Sonepar, we foster an environment where everyone can feel safe, empowered, and valued - ensuring fairness, based on merit, and our sustainable performance culture. Inclusion is a central focus of our global strategic plan.
Inclusion ensures that people from all backgrounds have equal access to opportunities and resources.
Sara Biraschi Rolland, Chief People and Engagement Officer
"Everybody deserves to be heard and respected. Sonepar aims to ensure all associates have an inclusive working environment. We are Powered by Difference. It means our role is to build an inclusive organization, leveraging all our differences as strengths to power sustainable performance".
Inclusion at the Core of Everything We Do
Our inclusion strategy has been developed with guidance from dedicated experts, sponsorship from our Executive Committee, and input from associates.
The resulting roadmap is a key vehicle for raising awareness among associates and managers, as well as consolidating and communicating inclusion initiatives across all countries where we operate.
Our ambition, which encompasses our associates, customers, and suppliers, is to:
- Embed inclusion across our business, operational, and HR initiatives
- Foster an inclusive and safe work environment where everyone can realize their full potential
- Create an inclusive and caring customer experience for all customers
- Engage our suppliers in our inclusion journey and commitments
These ambitions are strengthened by a series of commitments.
First, we’re building a clear inclusion governance structure that can drive all our initiatives forward, build a network of experts, and ensure support and appropriate key indicators across the Group.
We’re also creating a transparent and consistent employer brand, underpinned by inclusive HR and managerial processes that see talent management through an 'inclusion lens' and promote it internally. This, in turn, requires an inclusive and flexible work environment to attract and retain the best talent.
Lastly, awareness and enablement are vital success factors in developing a more inclusive culture. Recent actions in this area include awareness sessions with our Executive Committee and broader HR network, adding inclusion as a topic to our in-house Leadership Program.
Inclusion in action
Below are some examples of local good practices.
Supporting veterans in the United States
The Group is committed to integrating veterans into the organization, recognizing the inestimable value of their skills, discipline and dedication. This is an expression of Sonepar’s social responsibility and commitment to those who serve their country.
On July 16, 2024, in Charleston, Sonepar USA was honored to receive the prestigious 2024 DAV Patriot Employer Special Recognition award, presented by the Disabled American Veterans (“DAV”), in recognition of its excellence in recruiting veterans. This national award underscores Sonepar’s commitment to providing career opportunities for military veterans.
The DAV Patriot Employer program recognizes employers who, through their employment policies, hiring practices and community involvement, demonstrate dedication to and a passion for ensuring that all veterans have a suitable job, enabling them to support themselves and their families. The Special Recognition Award recognizes Sonepar’s efforts in the areas of veteran recruitment and hiring, retention, career development and community outreach initiatives.
Sonepar has established over 20 strategic military partnerships as part of its strategy of empowering associates who are veterans, reservists and military spouses, while offering veterans the opportunity to join the organization. Sonepar representatives have taken part in 186 veteran recruitment events over the past 24 months, significantly increasing military recruitment. In the United States, Sonepar’s MERGE employee resource group for military employees also provides an internal support network for members and supporters of the military community.
Professional integration program for women in Chile
In Chile, Sonepar has continued to demonstrate its commitment to inclusion and diversity with the third edition of its professional integration program for women. Conducted in partnership with suppliers Nexans and Schneider Electric and local NGO RedMaestra, the program built for women pursuing professional retraining or seeking financial independence. In 2024, they received the “Coup de coeur” (“Favorite”) prize at the Colam Sustainability Awards recognizing the initiative’s significant impact and its ability to help communities on a large scale.
During the first edition in 2022, 20 women were successfully trained as electricians in the Santiago Region. In 2023, the program spread to other regions of Chile, allowing 60 more women to benefit from this initiative. The following year, the program expanded, training 170 women in five regions of Chile.
These women received certification training, including basic and advanced courses, workshops, internships and inspiring exchanges with associates from Sonepar who have built a successful career in the industry. Today, they are all professionally integrated in companies or as self-employed workers. Under this initiative, Sonepar Chile was also awarded the GEEIS-SDG Trophy for Gender Equality in 2023.
European Disability Employment Week
In France, Sonepar renewed its commitment to inclusion during the European Disability Employment Week. Sonepar took this opportunity to strengthen its partnership with Special Olympics, allowing its associates to take part in relay events alongside athletes with disabilities.
The “DuoDay” initiative resulted in 11 pairings between Sonepar associates and people with disabilities, providing valuable opportunities for mutual learning and partnership. Sonepar France associates also shared their personal experiences through video profiles, and over 500 associates attended webinars on disability.
Finally, more than 1,200 associates participated in the “Mets tes Baskets” (“Put on your sneakers”) event organized by ELA, the European Leukodystrophies Association, together collecting 11 million steps for charity.
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Compliance and integrity
Complying with legal and regulatory requirements is a challenge we meet in all the countries where we operate.