BNP Paribas signed a new contract with the international trade union federation UNI Global Union that strengthens its employee’s rights worldwide.
Under the four-year agreement, the bank committed to implementing new ways of working, technological transformations and measures to support diversity, inclusion, parenting and employee health and well-being.
The company plans to extend the first agreement signed in 2018 by enabling different remote working conditions. It will also assist staff with developing their skills and using artificial intelligence ethically and securely.
The bank has “chosen” to continue its pro-parenthood policies and will offer staff at least 6 days of paid paternity and paid leave for adoption or surrogacy as well as 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave.
The staff will be able to access a new whistleblowing tool, which allows employees who feel disrespected or have been discriminated against the confidentially report any behaviour that violates a firm’s code. The firm has also introduced shared principles for dealing with such alerts, and stronger follow-up actions.
The bank will continue to provide support for domestic violence victims through in-house help, counselling and the dissemination of initiatives that have already been developed in many countries.
BNP Paribas committed, under the agreement, to a three-pronged global ‘We Care” plan for employee wellbeing. This includes access to mental support and counselling, an annual preventive medical examination with personalized feedback, as well as advice and assistance to employees with long-term illness to avoid isolation and to promote continued employment. The agreement will also provide guidance when employees return to work.
The new agreement will cover all 183,000 employees of the bank in 63 different countries.
Sofia Merlo is the head of Human Resources at BNP Paribas Group. She said, “Our first agreement was signed in 2018, and it enabled us to create a social framework that we could share with all of our employees around the world.” The agreement with UNI Global Union was renewed in 2018. It makes concrete and measurable promises and allows us to strengthen our employees’ fundamental rights, taking into account the significant changes that are occurring in our society.
She said that the bank is committed to ensuring that all employees are treated with dignity and respect, and that the working conditions in every location ensure their physical and mental well-being. This includes hybrid environments.
Christy Hoffman, UNI’s general secretary, said that this agreement was a major step forward in the protection of trade union rights for BNP Paribas employees around the world. It includes new protections on important issues such as teleworking and AI. UNI has been recognised by BNP Paribas as a partner in its due diligence process, which means that the voices of workers will be heard. We are looking forward to working with BNP to implement this deal and continue improving the lives of workers around the globe.”
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