Federdistribuzione 2024 Observatory: labour inclusion in Modern Distribution

The presentation event of the first "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Observatory in Modern Distribution" conceived by Federdistribuzione and curated by the ALTIS Graduate School of Sustainable Management of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart was held in Milan.

In light of the evidence of a research conducted in 2022 by ALTIS for Federdistribuzione, which showed a high level of heterogeneity among Modern Distribution companies on the issue of promoting inclusion, the Federation has decided to launch a new research project, on an annual basis, dedicated to monitoring initiatives aimed at promoting diversity over time, equity and inclusion within the modern retail sector.

The event was opened by the greetings of Carlo Alberto Buttarelli, President of Federdistribuzione, Prof. Matteo Pedrini, Director of ALTIS Università Cattolica and Anna Maria Gandolfi, Effective Equality Councilor of the Lombardy Region, followed by the speech dedicated to the analysis of the regulatory framework and possible evolutions in the field of DE&I conducted by Ciro Cafiero, Founding Partner of the law firm Cafiero Pezzali & Associati. The event then continued with the presentation of the results of the Observatory presented by ALTIS Università Cattolica researchers Maria Cristina Zaccone and Chiara Arrighini.

The morning also saw two round tables: the first dedicated to the best practices of Modern Distribution companies, the second focused on the theme of the inclusion of women within companies in the sector. The event, moderated by Nicola Varcasia, Content Creator & Brand Ambassador of ALTIS Università Cattolica, was concluded by Francesca Tugliani, Head of Active Policies at Federdistribuzione.

The results

The DE&I Observatory for the year 2024 is divided into two parts: the first aims to analyze the spread of practices and initiatives regarding DE&I in companies, while the second focuses on the inclusion of women within Modern Distribution.

The first section of the research involved 30 Modern Distribution companies that contributed to outlining a significant picture of the practices currently in place in the sector. The commitment of the companies interviewed on DE&I issues is reflected in the implementation of various initiatives: 20% of companies have set up dedicated management committees, 30% have designated DE&I representatives, 26.7% have formalized a DE&I policy and 33.3% have allocated specific financial resources for DE&I projects.

The data also show that a significant share of companies are actively promoting fair and transparent hiring (73.3%) and career advancement (70%) processes. The first part of the survey also shows that 80% of companies promote work-life balance by adopting different solutions with particular regard to the needs of employees with children.

The second section of the Observatory is dedicated to the issue of gender equality in the world of work with the aim of examining the challenges faced by women and the solutions to overcome them. An inductive approach was employed, based on in-depth interviews involving 20 women who hold different hierarchical levels within Modern Distribution companies.

From the interviews carried out, it emerges that it is still crucial to eliminate gender bias, both towards women and men, through continuous training and awareness of these issues. It is also essential to ensure fairness in selection and career advancement criteria, to conduct constant analysis and monitoring of the gender gap and the gender pay gap and to implement corrective measures where necessary. The results of the analysis of this second part of the Observatory also highlight the fundamental importance of adopting welfare policies that facilitate the balance between work and family life for all parents, using tools such as: work flexibility, smart working, bonuses for nurseries and care facilities and the development of time-saving services.

"We hope that the Observatory can be the beginning of a path of open discussion on DE&I issues and sharing of good practices already in place among Modern Distribution companies, in order to create increasingly fair, inclusive and respectful work environments for individual diversity," said Carlo Alberto Buttarelli, President of Federdistribuzione.

"The path to full gender equality in the world of work is still long and complex. It is a journey and, like all journeys, it has a starting point and a point of arrival. The first step is therefore to understand the point from which we start, become aware of the spaces for improvement and activate virtuous changes. This is also why we are pleased to be able to present the first results of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Modern Distribution Observatory and to be able to continue the work with Federdistribuzione, in a sector that is so important for the economy and the world of work in our country," said Matteo Pedrini, Director of ALTIS.