Since 2016, Publicis Groupe has pursued a transformational strategy to develop the skills essential to partner with clients in today’s fast-moving consumer and business world. In Australia and New Zealand, Publicis is the only holding company that can genuinely deliver end-to-end marketing transformation and digital business transformation solutions to clients through its ‘connected platform’ of companies and capabilities.

Publicis’ connected model means it has also built a connected culture focused on creating a healthy, happy and engaged workforce where people’s lives, needs and wants – both in and beyond work – are recognised and supported. 

Through the company’s ‘Whole Self’ philosophy, it aims to holistically address three key pillars of wellbeing: the physical, mental and financial health of its people. This philosophy is brought to life through wellbeing programs and initiatives, including an ever-evolving mental health policy, an online suite of health and wellbeing training courses, accredited Mental Health First Aiders made up of Publicis people interested in better mentally supporting staff, and free confidential counselling for staff and family members.

Publicis has one of the leading parental policies in the advertising industry. It aims to encourage and enable both parents to take an active role in their child’s life. Any primary carer is eligible for parental leave the moment they join Publicis; while the ‘Secondary Carer Swap’ means in the child’s first nine months, the secondary carer can swap to become the primary carer, giving them the same entitlements.

In continuing to develop a high-performing workforce, Publicis re-imagined its learning and development program; designed to help people create the space and time they need to progress and explore their careers. In a 2020 staff engagement survey, when asked if Publicis ‘provides equal opportunities for training and career development’, 77% said they agreed or strongly agreed.

In recent initiatives, ‘Marcel Gigs’ was developed last year to connect talent with short-term projects or part-time opportunities at another Publicis agency business anywhere in the world, in person or virtually. The program has been so successful it has now been adopted across the global Publicis network. During last year’s pandemic, the ability to offer ‘Gigs’ helped save over 2,000 jobs globally.

The company’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging strategy is driven by its genuine belief that when people feel respected, supported and valued they are enabled to deliver stronger solutions; helping Publicis to continue to transform its business. In a 2020 staff engagement survey, 91% of its people said they felt treated with respect and dignity at work. Publicis is a proud member of the Diversity Council of Australia.

In further recognition of its diverse workforce, in 2019 Publicis implemented a behaviour-based flexible working framework, Publicis Liberté, based on behaviours rather than strict policies. This progressive approach, which was developed prior to the pandemic, allows individuals and the business to work together, recognising personal and business needs. In February, Publicis re-launched and evolved Liberté further, to ensure it remains an adaptive employer that creates a progressive, safe and supportive workplace.