Commitees and programs

Desjardins Diversity Committee
Desjardins Group Equity Committee
Voluntary equal employment opportunity program
Desjardins's position on language

Desjardins Diversity Committee

The Desjardins Diversity Committee is made up of Desjardins Group executives and works to promote awareness of diversity among officers and employees, recommend business strategies and ensure the consistency of communications and Desjardins image with regards to this issue.

It also works to share information, both internally and externally, about winning practices and Desjardins Group success stories.

Desjardins Group Equity Committee

The Desjardins Group Equity Committee, also made up of Desjardins Group executives, sees to it that initiatives to promote the advancement of women are put into place and that women are represented in executive positions. It also shares information, both internally and externally, on key gender equity practices.

A gender equity action plan outlines several strategies aimed at increasing representation of women in senior executive positions within Desjardins Group. These include:

• executive succession programs
• development plans
• nominations to committees or assignment to special mandates
• mentorship and coaching
• work-life balance initiatives
• a female executive support network
• lectures and information about careers at Desjardins

Voluntary equal employment opportunity program

A voluntary equal employment opportunity program is in place throughout Desjardins Group, enabling us to get an overall view of our workforce in terms of the following targeted groups: women, visible and ethnic minorities, Native people, and persons with disabilities. Desjardins initiated this program in order to:

• have a more representative workforce
• attract and retain a workforce whose strength and knowledge are conducive to innovation
• put the cooperative values of integrity, respect and equality into practice

Desjardins's position on language

Desjardins makes it a point of honour to follow the guidelines established by the Charte de la langue française au Québec and the Loi de 1994 sur les caisses populaires et les credit unions in Ontario.

However, the number of Anglophone and allophone clients and members is growing. As a result, Desjardins Group has adopted a language policy consistent with its cooperative service principles.

Service in French and English

With their members and clients, Desjardins Group components use the other's spoken language, usually French or English. If personnel available allow it, members of cultural communities can obtain service in their own language. Standard contracts are available to members and clients in French and English.

Language of governance

French is the language of governance in the majority of caisses in Quebec and Ontario, as well as at the Fédération and its companies and subsidiaries. English is the language of governance in approximately 10 Quebec caisses and at Desjardins Credit Union. If the context justifies it, documents are available in French and English and simultaneous translation services are provided.

French and English as the language of internal communications

French is predominant in all internal communication throughout the network. But in a concerted effort to meet the needs of components or units in which several employees speak English, internal communications may also be done simultaneously in both languages with equal regard to language quality.

Second language instruction

To promote a better understanding of the needs of linguistic communities and to benefit from a more flexible workforce, Desjardins components encourage their employees to learn a second language.