The focus on people at Publicis Groupe translates to clear benefits for our employees.  Some of these benefits include our HR initiatives in integration, training and mobility, as these opportunities provide on-going personal and professional development.

Publicis Groupe has many Shared Service Centers, which allow major countries to pool resources and talent in certain administrative areas. Several HR functions are consolidated within this approach, which serves our autonomous entities as well as their employees.  This ensures that country-specific benefits packages - vacation, leave, insurance, retirement, etc - respect local regulations and requirements, and are delivered across entities.  This also allows our employees more flexibility and mobility within our different entities at a local level.  

Our compensation policies respect market practices and regulations in each country.  In addition, each Brand network has defined a specific compensation policy in line with its own values and culture.  The guidelines set by Publicis Groupe state that compensation packages must be determined according to position, responsibilities, individual performance, fairness and market practices. Based on their full scope of responsibilities, Top Executives may receive compensation packages which include fixed salary, short-term incentives (variable compensation), long-term incentives (shares or stock options) and co-investment opportunities in Publicis Groupe through the Lion Lead program.

In July 2009, Publicis Groupe was awarded a GEO Award for our equity compensation plan. The GEO Awards are designed to celebrate excellence by honoring impressive companies from around the globe who demonstrate their leadership and dedication to their employee stock plans. An independent panel of judges carefully review each submission to select those that deserve to receive an award.  Criteria for the award include how well the plan was creatively adapted to local tax and regulatory laws, innovative ways to increase employee participation and excitement, and how the plan differs from competitors or industry norms.  Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO, commented:
"I am very proud that Publicis Groupe has received the Most Innovative and Creative Plan Design award at the GEO Awards. This recognition illustrates how creativity is fundamental to the management of our Groupe, including the motivation and compensation of our employees."