Nexans shows its ambitions in terms of disability in France

• The representative trade unions (CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC and FO) unanimously signed the agreement on disability, reflecting Nexans’ desire to take concrete action for inclusion and diversity.
• This agreement was signed at the heart of the European Disability Employment Week.

Paris, 18 November 2022 – With 6.1% of the workforce disabled, above the national average of 4% for French companies, Nexans is continuing its long-term commitment to disability in France. The result of effective social dialogue, this agreement contains the commitments and means necessary to aim for direct or indirect “100% inclusion”, whether in terms of recruitment, training, remuneration, quality of life at work, or professional development and support.

Promoting the declaration of disability

The first challenge is to encourage employees with disabilities in France. To do this, Nexans relies on four pillars: communication and information, adjustments to paid hours and absences to carry out the necessary procedures, the possibility of directing donations to dedicated associations, and finally the procedures for declaring its situation guaranteeing discretion.

A challenge for employment

Recruitment is also a major focus of the maintenance and professional development of employees with disabilities. To meet this challenge, Nexans in France intends to rely on the Cap Emploi network and local players. Associations, training centres, integration structures and specialised recruitment firms are all valuable relays close to the ground. This particular attention will illustrate Nexans’ desire to be “handi-welcoming” and will result in personalised operations at trade fairs, through campaigns on social networks and in the partnership with the Agefiph.

Everyone involved!

Nexans’ ambition in France is based on the mobilisation of all departments, managerial lines and the unfailing commitment of the company’s Disability representatives. These trusted persons have the responsibility of being facilitators, steering actions and acting as job ambassadors. They also provide the essential link with the occupational health doctor, in particular for adaptation of the workstation: working hours, teleworking, organisation, training, equipment, ergonomics and presence of a living assistant. The Nexans purchasing department will also contribute to developing relations with establishments and companies in protected and adapted work sectors (EA and ESAT). A target of €500,000 in orders is set for the period 2023-2025. 

Concrete commitments

To support Nexans' policy in France, the agreement also provides for the implementation of communication actions carried out at the local and national levels, such as the European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities: conferences, sharing time, testimonials, digital communication punctuate this 2022 edition.

Always rich in sharing, Nexans is also renewing its participation in the Duo Day which is held each year in November. The principle is simple: a disabled person spends a day with a Nexans employee to discover the Group and our businesses.

Other concrete commitments support this trajectory, including a contribution to finance the remaining costs of hearing or optical equipment and housing development. This is in line with the desire to promote the link between professional and personal life, thanks to working hours and authorisations for paid absences for medical reasons.

Finally, Nexans also undertakes to pay part of the apprenticeship tax to specialised training centres.

A lasting agreement

All the aforementioned indicators will be monitored to assess the progress of the operational implementation of this agreement.