1) Zero Tolerance: a principle embedded in the Groupe’s values
This “Zero Tolerance” principle remains intangible and universal. It is central to the Company’s vision of human rights and respect for everyone. It has always been applied to the fight against all forms of discrimination, whatever the grounds (gender, age, origin, sexual orientation, religion, etc.), and must be respected by everyone, employees and managers alike. This principle also applies to moral and sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct or any form of violence. It is stated as such in Janus, the Groupe’s Code of Conduct and Ethics, in the General HR Policy, and in the Impact & Social Equity Policy. [S1-1-24 (a) to (d), S1-1-AR 16, S1-3-32 (a) to (e)]
2) Gender balance targets
Diversity and equity are considered priority objectives. As of 2019, after having reached an initial target of 40% in 2020, the 2025 target has been exceeded with 46.5% (excluding the United States). It comprises the Groupe Management Committee and the main Executive Committees (countries and regions).
These objectives have been defined in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements to encourage and facilitate gender equality and ensure that equal opportunities are translated into concrete actions. These targets have been approved by the Groupe’s various governance bodies. In France, these targets have been discussed with employee representatives, and developments by type of business line and entity are examined every year. The Talent & HR and Impact & Equity teams support operational departments in the agencies in the development of their teams and recruitment, transfer and promotion plans. Action plans are developed locally to meet the challenges of agencies and the country. This metric is monitored quarterly by the Executive Committee and is published in detail. [S1-5-46, S1-5-47 (a) to (c)]
3) Internal affinity networks
The affinity networks (Business Resources Groups – BRGs, or Employee Action Groups – EAGs) illustrate the Power of One in action for and with employees. They also reflect the Groupe’s philosophy of universalism, which ensures that each employee is respected for their uniqueness. At Groupe level, four affinity groups are active internationally and open to all employees: VivaWomen! (women), Égalité (LGBTQ+), enABLE (disability) and Écologique (climate). BRGs also play a role at the external level: they take part in different events and actions aiming to change behavior and practices.
VivaWomen! – Present in many cities around the world since 2009, VivaWomen! brings together women and men, all volunteers, who are mobilized to take action to promote gender equality.
Égalité - Launched in the United States in 2012, this network brings together employees from agencies to monitor the application of the Zero Tolerance for discrimination policy.
enABLE - Network created in 2019 and open to all, brings together various local initiatives in favor of the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Écologique - since 2020, this affinity group brings together employees who volunteer to facilitate the ecological transition of the business lines. [S1-1-AR 14]
4) Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society
The Women’s Forum has been a Publicis Groupe subsidiary since 2009. This global platform’s role is to promote the voices of women, not only to issues of equality, but also to other issues concerning global social and economic issues as a whole, and to defend their rights.
In 2025, the Women’s Forum celebrated its 20th anniversary in Paris, during the traditional annual Global Meeting, in a smaller format that brought together 1,800 people, leaders from the political, economic and civil society worlds, alongside highly committed young people. This edition operated under the slogan of Courage, given the manifest decline in the rights of women and girls in several regions of the world. This edition highlighted three initiatives that promote collective intelligence to have an impact:
- an inter-company endowment fund to help employees who are victims of violence to be able to use a lawyer and be supported (the lawyer being compensated by the fund). Making the link between the Company and the justice system is unprecedented and the objective is for many companies to join the initiative;
- Safe Spaces created by AXA, with the support of other companies to mobilize companies to support victims of violence against women, and to train employees to act, with free access modules in 12 languages;
- a charter of commitment for sports partners to fight against violence in sport and competitions, whatever the level. One in three young girls faces sexist or sexual violence in her sport. The charter emphasizes the training of all actors in the sports world to put an end to this violence.
