Fostering diversity, a priority for Air Liquide

International Women’s Day, on March 8, is the occasion to review the place of women in society, everywhere in the world.

Because gender diversity is high on the agenda at Air Liquide, the Group has joined its efforts for this day.

In 2008, women represented 24% of the Air Liquide workforce worldwide (42,300 employees in 75 countries) and in October 2009, the Group signed the Diversity Chart as a pledge to fight against discrimination in all its forms (nationality, sex, age, experience, ethnic origin, training).

Since 1998, when the objective for female executive recruitment in France was increased to 30%, the Group’s Executive Committee has been conducting yearly revisions to feminize key positions in the company and in the high potential population. In five years (2003 - 2008), the percentage of female engineers and executives in the Group rose to 22% from 14%, and women now make up 32% of employees identified as high potential. Moreover, eleven senior management positions in the Group’s subsidiaries are held by women.

Today, two women are members of the Group’s Board of Directors: Béatrice Majnoni d’Intignano, professor at the University of Paris XII-Créteil and Karen Katen, a director on the boards of several companies.

The implementation of concrete plans of action around gender diversity is centered on several themes: recruitment, career development, communication and manager involvement.

Focus on training

More than seven hundred managers took part in 33 sessions held during training days hosted by the Group in France and Japan. Created in 2007, this program was designed to raise awareness and promote discussions on gender differences and the benefits of diversity in teams.

Focus on diversity

As a guiding principle of Air Liquide’s HR policy, diversity facilitates the willingness to embrace new horizons and a greater understanding of customer expectations in any situation.