Saying “Yes” Together to Fight Unemployment

In 2012, the French economy had been stagnant for close to five years. The country’s economic and social position was severe, from the decline of industry and the state of public finances to the number one concern of the French people: unemployment, which was at a 15-year high. Adecco, the leading provider of HR solutions globally and in France, was determined to tackle the problem head on, by launching a three-year job-creation initiative: “La Chaîne du OUI.” The aim? To create 270,000 sustainable new jobs, motivating clients, our employees and other organizations across France to step up to the challenge.

By 2013, France was still in the midst of an economic crisis. The growth forecast was 0.3 percent for the year, considerably less than the 1 percent to 1.5 percent minimum needed to create jobs. Unemployment had risen to 10.2 percent at the end of 2012, crossing the 10 percent threshold for the first time since mid-1999. The picture for young people was particularly bleak. Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) had reached a record 25.7 percent, resulting in 730,000 youngsters without jobs.

It seemed an unlikely time for Groupe Adecco France to launch “La Chaîne du OUI,” a national initiative to create 270,000 long-term jobs in just 36 months. As Alain Dehaze, Regional Head of France, explained: “Adecco’s priority is to contribute to job creation, the reduction of unemployment and the further integration of people into jobs.”

It may seem paradoxical that Adecco, which makes most of its revenues from temporary work, launched a program for long-term employment. Yet for many people, temporary work provides a stepping-stone toward gaining work experience and a permanent position. That is why Groupe Adecco France took up the challenge to bring employers together to address and combat unemployment – by collaborating through skills training, employment advice, mentoring and, of course, concrete job placements.

Uniting people and organizations

“La Chaîne du OUI” was launched on January 17, 2013, with a call to action to employers across France to say “yes” to creating jobs. The overall target of 270,000 jobs was broken down into three priorities: to create 40,000 positions for vulnerable people at the edge of exclusion, to find permanent employment for 130,000 temporary workers, and to provide a job for 100,000 youngsters These three priorities all contribute to UN Global Compact Principle 6: “The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.”

By the end of 2013, 110 employers had already signed up to “La Chaîne du OUI,” from small local businesses to large multinationals. Most importantly, more than 71,700 jobs had been created, equating to 26.5 percent of the target.

“The fantastic progress we have made so far is tangible proof that, with the support and engagement of our partners in ‘La Chaîne du OUI,’ we can work together to reduce unemployment significantly and promote the integration of people into employment,” says Alain Dehaze.

Fast forward another 12 months to December 2014 and the number of employers had rocketed to 1,300, and more than 150,000 people had been helped into sustainable employment.

Power of partnership

One of the big names to join the movement was L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company. It partnered with Adecco and IGS University to create a “retail academy” for its sales force. Adecco helped to source and recruit 30 candidates from sensitive urban zones for the roles, while IGS University put together a specific training program that covered both the sales skills L’Oréal was looking for, and an in-depth understanding of the company’s values and approach to doing business.

Marianne Paux, Human Resources Director France for L’Oréal, states: “As the leader in our industry, we have a responsibility and want to play an active role in the vocational training of young people by mobilizing and tapping into the know-how of our own employees.”

Other signatories include consulting group Business & Decision, which launched a seven-month scheme to train 10 new Customer Relationship Management specialists. “Our operations are in full expansion. In order to successfully continue our growth and development, we are always looking for new talent,” says Patrick Bensabat, President and General Director of Business & Decision.

Helping to change lives

Perhaps the biggest difference, however, is for those who have been helped into work by “La Chaîne du OUI.” People such as 43-year-old Francis Jahan, who, in April 2014, became the first person with a disability to be employed through one of the new “interim CDI” contracts by Adecco. An “interim CDI” is a new permanent contract in France, which gives the employee a monthly salary from the employment agency, even if they are not actually placed into an assignment. With his new contract, Francis secured a role in the quality-control department at Sateba, a company specializing in the production of concrete sleepers for railway tracks.

“The contract has given me a guarantee of work and real security, since I’m now an employee of Adecco. It has really boosted my confidence and I appreciate the skills and knowledge transferred to me by the Adecco team,” says Francis.

Michel Diaby, one of the youngsters at L’Oréal’s retail academy, says that the opportunity had inspired his career ambitions: “I am very grateful for this opportunity, which came at a critical stage of my life. I gained valuable know-how and experience with regards to sales and negotiation techniques, and developed my interpersonal skills. I now have a clear ambition: to become a sales development representative!”

Adecco’s own staff, too, has been invigorated by the challenge of “La Chaîne du OUI.” Rather than passively accepting the tricky economic situation that was troubling the whole of France, the initiative galvanized their energy and their determination to take action and to make a difference in their communities.

“Being able to say ‘yes’ is also having the power to say ‘no.’ So we are saying ‘yes’ in order to achieve the highest standards,” explains Anne Roiret, who has worked in the HR team at Adecco in France for more than 20 years.

Harnessing the insights of partners

As well as collaborating with “La Chaîne du OUI” signatories to implement concrete actions and create employment and training opportunities, Adecco saw the potential to harness the collective insights of the group to combat France’s employment challenges.

It launched “Oui! Le Cercle pour l’Emploi,” an employment think tank, in December 2013. More than 100 business leaders and government representatives – including the president of Mouvement des entreprises de France, the largest employer federation in France – came together during “Le Cercle pour l’Emploi” on December 19, 2013, to share their experiences and observations of the employment situation as well as brainstorm new approaches and initiatives. Since its launch, “Le Cercle” has met on a regular basis to discuss and propose measures to improve the current labor market situation.

Members of “Le Cercle” also contributed to “Recruit Differently,” a study published in 2015 by Lab’Ho – a further initiative by Adecco France – that focuses on the skills needs by employers and how to meet them.

“Rather than living through an unemployment crisis, we are undergoing a revolution of work,” explains Denis Pennel, General Director of Ciett, the International Confederation of Private Employment Services. “A new reality of work is developing. These changes require individuals and companies to look at education and recruitment in new ways.”

After two years of hard work, energy, and above all, collaboration, the achievements of “La Chaîne du OUI” are indisputable. By the end of December 2014, Adecco and its 1,300 partners had managed to place 155,898 people in employment, 57.6 percent of the total target.

The date set for achieving the ultimate objective of 270,000 sustainable employment opportunities is still some months away. And there is much work to be done. But regardless of the total figure, perhaps the lasting legacy of “La Chaîne du OUI” is the power of partnership between employees, companies, organizations and government. It is about the differences people can make when they say “yes” to working together for a common cause.