NATIXIS : Company staff fully engaged in solidarity efforts during Covid-19 crisis - 09/18/20

Company staff fully engaged in solidarity efforts during Covid-19 crisis Companies and their staff displayed unwavering community support during the health crisis. According to the Covid-19 report conducted by Admical* in France, 86% of companies rolled out a financial sponsorship program, 54% implemented a sponsorship in kind policy and 39% set up a skills sponsorship program: even more impressively, almost one company in six surveyed rolled out at least two of these three types of philanthropy efforts.

For example, Vinci set up Vinci Solidarity, a solidarity platform for group staff to lend their support, while the FDJ Foundation launched the Solidarité Confinement Teams discussion space. Another example is Identicar, which encouraged staff - most on part-time working job retention schemes - to get involved in the French réserve civique, a platform enabling citizens to support causes, or get in touch with their co-workers aged over 60.

Staff at Natixis were also actively engaged, as they gave their time and/or money and again demonstrated their ability to rise to the challenge. Natixis rolled out numerous initiatives (85 in total) all over the world.

Let's look back at one of them in France: the Covid-19 solidarity campaign, with Louis Douady, Head of Corporate & Social Responsibility (CSR) at Natixis.

How did Natixis' staff get involved in providing support during the health crisis?

Louis Douady: staff commitment in the Covid-19 crisis has taken many forms at Natixis, all around the world. In France in particular, it took the shape of a microdon giving platform. Employee mobilization via this platform already existed before the crisis, and at the end of March, we launched the 'Tous mobilisés contre le Covid' section on the platform, with the aim of supporting those who were isolated, by backing three supported causes - Tous unis contre le virus, the Paris Samu Social emergency medical service for the homeless, and Action contre la faim (websites in French only).

How did the giving platform work?

L. D.: Staff had two options to support these efforts - they could either give their time to support a wide range of charities outside their working hours, or they could make donations. To lend further weight to their commitment, Natixis decided to fully match all donations from its staff.

How much did you raise?

L.D.: We raised €100,000 in the space of three months between April 30 and July 31, 2020, which we split equally between the three supported causes. We posted videos on the giving platform, so staff were able to see just how their donations were being used in practice. For example, they helped improve living conditions in hostels by transporting essential goods during lockdown or by equipping families with computers.

What encouraged donating staff to get involved?

L. D.: Our staff saw that all members of society had a role to play in tackling this crisis. Banks fulfilled their role, particularly in France where they provided state-guaranteed loans: we saw that our staff wanted to personally support this cause, but they did not really know how to go about it in practical terms, which is why we launched this special Covid giving platform. But let's also remember the range of local initiatives, such as the giving campaign by our staff in Italy, which helped build an emergency field hospital in Milan.

What other initiatives testify to engagement from Natixis' staff?

L. D.: We launched an ARRONDI sur salaire program in France in November, where staff can give directly from their monthly salary. Basically, anyone who wishes can pay a few cents or euros out of their monthly income to a charity (Action contre la faim, France Alzheimer & maladies apparentées - site in French only, UN Women, Sport dans la Ville and Terre de Liens - site in French only). On average our staff give six euros out of their salary, which is an excellent figure compared to the average of three euros according to figures from the platform manager. Of course, we want to increase the number of staff involved in this project.

What are the next initiatives on this staff engagement theme?

L. D.: In addition to developing our workplace giving platform, we also want to set up a program for staff, or even entire teams, to use a leave day to support a charity. This program has a twofold dimension - supporting the community while also providing a team-building opportunity for our staff.

So sort of a volunteer assignment?

L. D.: Not exactly - this is a more agile initiative, with just one-day assignments. But we do offer our staff the opportunity to go on short-term volunteer assignments with Planète Urgence. This program enables staff to spend a week or two in another country to support a charity's work in the field, particularly environmental conservation programs. Since 2012, 20-30 of our staff each year have been able to get involved in this short-term volunteer assignment, or Congé Solidaire® program.

* French corporate philanthropy network

Read also:

• Five words for equality, with Anne-Christine Champion, Global Head of Real Assets (aviation, real estate, infrastructure) at Corporate & Investment Banking at Natixis, and chair of WINN, Natixis' network for promoting gender equality. In France and Boston, the WINN network has raised more than 10,000 euros to support UN Women, in particular via our workplace giving platform. - 09/18/20
• Worldwide efforts to support the fight against Covid-19- 06/22/20