Ethics Day celebrates its 10^th anniversary

In 2018, L’Oréal celebrated the 10^th anniversary of its Ethics Day, which has now become a key event for Group employees.

Ethics Day, an eagerly awaited annual event

Each year for the last 10 years, Ethics Day has enabled the Group to explore its key ethical principles. It is an ideal opportunity for employees to put questions about ethical matters to Jean-Paul Agon, President and CEO of L’Oréal, who answers them live, via a webchat. This highly constructive exchange of views is eagerly awaited by employees all over the world. Since 2012, each Country Manager has organised a similar live discussion with their teams at a regional level. In 2018, all members of the Executive Committee took part in the same exercise with their French-based international teams.

“This kind of open dialogue is essential for L’Oréal: it lets all employees know they are free to talk about ethical issues at any time. Ethics Day is an additional opportunity to share questions and suggestions in a spirit of continuous improvement”, explains Emmanuel Lulin, L’Oréal’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Ethics Officer.

An exercise in transparency

Since the first-ever Ethics Day was held in 2009, the participation rate has more than tripled worldwide. Every year thousands of questions are asked. The opportunity for open dialogue and exchanging views about the everyday application of L’Oréal’s Ethical Principles is clearly welcomed by employees. A vast range of topics are raised through employees’ questions on matters such as the Group’s Human Rights policy and diversity, the Speak Up policy, the “Sharing Beauty With All” sustainable development programme, and the ethical challenges presented by digital media.

6,800

More than 6,800 questions asked by employees worldwide on Ethics Day, with a participation rate of more than 60%.

L’Oréal’s Ethics Day is widely acknowledged as embodying best practices in terms of leadership, setting the agenda and helping to maintain a strong ethical culture.
“Ethics Day is a perfect opportunity to remember why ethics are so important at L’Oréal. I firmly believe that acting with integrity, respect, courage and transparency is the best way to foster and maintain trust”, said Jean-Paul Agon, President and CEO of L’Oréal at the Ethics Day 10^th Anniversary celebrations. “The difference between an ethical company and a less ethical company lies in the sincerity of its actions.”