Fujitsu France, a “senior friendly” company
In this company of Japanese origin, 100 of the 300 employees based in France are over 55 years old. Better still, 80% of them are between 57 and 63 years old. The oldest employee is 66 years old. Balance sheet, the average age of the box is 47 years.
In Japan, the relationship to work and to the company is different from in France. When they leave school, young people choose a company and stay there for 20 to 25 years. Turnover is therefore very low. The company has a real social mission until retirement at age 65.
Karine Garcini, the new general manager who arrived within the walls since November 2022.
In line with the parent company, the French entity of Fujitsu therefore monitors the employability of its seniors and even hires new ones.
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Reinforced training programs for the over 55s
At Fujitsu France, particular attention is paid to the continuing education for over 55s. And this, in order to allow them to reorient themselves towards new jobs internally.
For example, we trained developers and senior dev project managers in no code and low code who had developed technology 25 years ago, which is now outdated. Feedback from clients and managers is good.
And yet, it was not won in advance. The main obstacle came from direct managers who wondered about the ability of these seniors to adapt to new technologies. “By explaining to them and proving to them by example that it was possible, we managed to lift their brakes”she adds.
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Intergenerational diversity in teams
Mixing young and old in the teams is also one of the pillars of the successful integration of seniors at Fujitsu France. “We capitalize on the know-how of seniors who don’t hesitate to pass it on. Our customers are also reassured to have to deal with “knowledgeable” people with the history of the commercial relationship of a project”, explains Karine Garcini.
A highlight of diversity each month
Every month, the firm highlights in its internal communication but also on its social networksa profile resulting from diversity. “There are no taboos. We tell the professional and personal life course of an employee without hiding his health difficulties, disability, his sometimes complicated family situation, etc. And I make sure that seniors are obviously represented,” she says.
A reinforced hybrid work system for seniors
At Fujitsu France, the possibility is offered to seniors who wish to organize their teleworking time as they wish. “If they want to come to the office only once a week to avoid the difficulty of transport, it’s possible”, illustrates the general manager.
Hiring seniors with different profiles
“80% of seniors over 55 that we hire have specific know-how and a certain value on the job market. Real “knowledgeable” experts in a profession, very resilient. Candidates who have changed company every 6 or 7 years, who therefore display a good culture of learning and extreme curiosity », explains Karine Garcini. The remaining 20% have more chaotic paths, including periods of unemployment.
They arrive broken but are ready to invest. It is up to us to train them. For them, finding a job is almost a second youth. They must sometimes revise their salary expectations downwards. Knowledgeable seniors do not. We are not in a low cost hiring process for seniors.
In the recruitment interview, age is not discussed. It is indeed illegal. But given the date of graduation and their past experiences, the calculation is quickly made. “We ask them instead how they see themselves in the company in the next 3 to 5 years”, she adds.
No more absenteeism problems with senior employees than with others
Karine Garcini is formal, seniors working at Fujitsu France are no more absent than other employees. They are even rather very invested.
The subject of retirement discussed with senior employees
For the moment, nothing is really framed but Karine Garcini knows “that there is something to be done around the retirement of employees. We obviously need to anticipate succession plans. But also because some seniors find it difficult to make the leap. To accept this transition into inactivity. I therefore ask managers to raise the subject with the employees concerned in order to see how best to provide support”.
Employment rate of seniors in Europe
Reading: in 2021, the employment rate of 55-64 year olds is 56% in France and 60.5% for the European Union average.
Source: Eurostat, Labor Force Survey; Dares calculations for France. Scope: European Union.