Human Resources

Text size
- -A
- +A

Expanding dialogue and enriching employee relations

Developing employee relations and the dialogue between management and employee representatives is a cornerstone of our human resources policies, as stated in our business principles. Because of our commitment to dialogue that takes into account the diversity of local environments, we create employee dialogue organizations in all non-OECD countries in which legislation allows.

Continuing deployment of employee representation organizations worldwide

In 2008, 87% of the companies polled in the Worldwide Human Resources Survey had employee representative organizations. The same survey counted 166 collective bargaining agreements between employees and management.

A highly structured process in Europe

Members of the Sustainable Development Commission of Total's European Committee

In Europe, where two-thirds of our workforce is located, negotiations between employees and management have produced a number of major agreements, such as the one reached in 2006 on equal opportunity and the accord signed in 2007 on aid for small business startups, acquisitions and expansions.

Total pursues a variety of initiatives to develop employee relations:

The European Works Council provides a forum for formal employee dialogue and encompasses all European Union countries in which Total operates, plus Norway. It has 45 permanent members, of which 26 represent our European subsidiaries and are members of the employee representation organizations of their countries of origin.

A forum for information, consensus-building and co-development, the Council deals with all topics related to Total's strategy, competitive position, social, economic and financial situation, jobs, transfers of operations, and restructuring. Its role and resources were expanded in 2006 and it now has a committee dedicated to sustainable development, corporate social and environmental responsibility, and safety issues.
Created under an agreement signed in 2004, the European Social Platform fosters employee dialogue, promotes jobs and skills planning, and reviews compliance with our business and ethics principles during restructuring. In 2006, it produced a European scorecard that covers ten countries and more than 50 subsidiaries and tracks initiatives in the area of employee relations.

Worldwide

In non-OECD countries, Total promotes employee dialogue in line with local legislation, helping to create appropriate representative organizations. Examples include:

Cameroon: At Total E&P Cameroon, the Committee of Wise Men, elected by employees, regularly provides input on issues affecting the subsidiary.
Nigeria: A Joint Consultative Committee addresses working conditions, safety and security issues, logistics services for employees and other welfare issues.
Indonesia: Total E&P Indonésie provides the SPNTI union with space and facilities and has authorized five hours a month of meetings during working hours.

Regularly gauging employee satisfaction

Every two years, we conduct a wide-ranging survey of our employees, the Total SURVEY, to better gauge their level of satisfaction and commitment. In 2011, nearly 70,000 employees at 324 sites in 94 countries were surveyed, with a response rate of 65%. The last survey was completed on September / October 2011.

An observatory to optimize employer-employee relations

What will employees' future expectations be in terms of a new work-life balance, equal opportunity, expatriation procedures and consequences, telecommuting, a networked company and practical support? How can we fully leverage employee data already collected and pick up on the subtle signs of real change? How do we prepare the introduction of new working arrangements? To answer these and other questions in more detail, Total's Corporate Human Resources Department created an Employee Observatory in September 2008.

A think tank to brainstorm ideas and make real-world recommendations, this advance lookout is designed to help Total project into the future, by fully leveraging the synergies between our internal expertise and the sharpest outside opinions. It is also expected to do more to publicize our achievements and promising experiments.

Boîte à outils