We pay attention to our employees’ opinions, and use them as a source of inspiration in defining our policies and the areas of improvement to target so as to unite employees around strong values, thus increasing the commitment and motivation of all. All employees regularly participate in a satisfaction survey that allows them to confidentially express their expectations on a very broad range of topics.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Safety is a major focus for the Group. Over the years, it has become ingrained in the corporate culture. Our priority actions in this field, which are borne by EHS management, are to ensure that industrial equipment and the risks associated with the use of chemicals comply with local regulations.

OUR KEY OBJECTIVES

• To increase the safety of employees in the workplace by implementing action plans such as better protection against potentially hazardous materials, improved ergonomics and psychosocial hazard management, which aim to reduce the number of workplace accidents.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Our ambition is to support the development of organizations and professions, as well as the specific needs of the teams, by building a strong partnership with managers and all employees.

Our policy in this area is based on three complementary pillars:

• training, skills development, performance compensation;
• well-being in the workplace and recognition;
• mobility and diversity aspects that provide a valuable resource for the Group.

Our key commitments:

• promoting employee commitment and loyalty;
• continuing training initiatives aimed at improving skills and employability; 
• encouraging equal treatment and diversity of employees.

GOVERNANCE

For Virbac, job equity between women and men is fundamental and requires that no form of discrimination exists or is tolerated, both in terms of access to employment and promotion, as well as in wage policy and other determinants of working conditions.

POLICY

Our diversity policy aims to guarantee equal treatment of staff, encourage diversity among people and human relationships, as well as maintain worker employability. It is built around three key areas of focus: gender equality, disability and age mix.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COVERAGE AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE

We place social dialogue at the heart of our sustainable development strategy and we are part of a global approach that favors listening, consultation and co-construction with all our employees.

Convinced that the company’s performance relies on the fulfillment and well-being of our teams, we promote constructive social dialogue at all levels. 

Our commitment to social dialogue demonstrates our desire to build a stimulating, fair and respectful work environment for everyone, while adapting to the necessary changes of the Group. We are convinced that this collaborative approach is essential to achieve our sustainable development goals and guarantee the long-term future of our company.

OTHER WORK-RELATED RIGHTS

Respect for human rights

We are sensitive to the risks associated with non-compliance with human rights and in particular with regard to modern slavery, child labor and other related topics. We are vigilant about the application of the provisions of international conventions on this subject and comply with local regulations on these subjects in all countries where special prevention, detection and remediation measures apply to our business. 

Our human rights policy applicable to all entities in the Group, and the regulatory framework in which Virbac operates at the global level (Good laboratory practices, Good clinical or manufacturing practices), and which, under the control of agencies, precisely sets the guidelines for the skills and training of the staff involved in our activities, the anticorruption program and the associated policies and procedures applicable to Virbac as well as to our value chain, seem to us to be conducive to very broadly preventing and detecting the use of illegal work, such as child labor or modern slavery. 

ENGAGING WITH OWN WORKFORCE AND WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Our employees are at the heart of our concerns. Their feedback helps us build a stimulating and responsible work environment, where everyone feels engaged and motivated. To achieve this, we regularly conduct confidential satisfaction surveys addressing a wide range of topics, including the social and environmental impact of our activities. 

At the end of this survey, volunteer employees participate in workshops in order to propose actions which are then submitted to the steering committee.

PERFORMANCE RELATED TO OWN WORKFORCE

Breakdowns by gender and by country for countries in which the undertaking has 50 or more employees

The total workforce as of 12/31/2024 represents 6,365 employees.

Excluding recently acquired subsidiaries, the total reference workforce is 5,620 employees. For 2024, all performance indicators are calculated on this basis unless otherwise stated directly in the section concerned.

Turnover

 

Employees at top management level by gender

Number of employees by age and gender

Adequate Wages

Within the Virbac group, no employee receives compensation less than the living wage defined for the country in which he/she works, reflecting our commitment to fairness and respect for the most demanding social standards.

Persons with disabilities

For several years, we have been reaffirming our commitment and desire to promote the employment of disabled workers and to ensure their integration and working conditions by applying a set of measures.

Our key commitments:

• adjusting workstations;
• supporting employees in their administrative procedures;
• helping employees who have a child with a disability;
• enabling disabled workers to better balance professional and personal life;
• participating in the well-being of disabled workers beyond the framework of the company.

Innovating, producing and marketing responsibly cannot be done consistently without our entire ecosystem being involved through regular dialogue: customers, employees, suppliers, scientists, local residents, representatives of public authorities and non-governmental organizations.

POLICY

Virbac group subsidiaries, partners and suppliers are required to comply with local laws as well as a set of common fundamental rules, which include respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, health, human safety and the environment. These rules are referred to as the applicable rules. In the event that local laws, or internal regulations of subsidiaries and suppliers are stricter than these applicable rules, these stricter regulations take precedence. Conversely, if the Applicable Rules are more stringent, they must be respected, unless this leads to illegal activity. Finally, in the event of a conflict between local laws and internationally recognized human rights, Virbac strives to comply with international standards.

ACTION PLAN 

For every invitation to tender and for the main suppliers, we administer a questionnaire evaluating their compliance with the environmental and social standards in force. Since 2015, new framework contracts have included a provision requiring compliance with these standards. 

In 2024, our assessment process carried out with new suppliers did not identify any risks in the area. If we were to identify a non-compliant supplier, we would require it to comply or risk ending the commercial relationship.

We constantly strive to listen to and take into account the views and rights of communities that may be affected by our activities. As far as we are aware, we have no material impact on communities in the countries where we operate. 

POLICY

In particular, respect for human rights and the environment is recalled in our code of conduct (see section We understand our responsibility toward others), applicable to all our employees and accessible by all our stakeholders.

ACTION PLAN

Our key commitments: 

• develop new drugs that are consistent with a sensible use of antibiotics;
• develop modern alternatives to traditional treatments.

Since our foundation, we have built unique close relationships with our customers. Through dialogue and co-construction, we work together to meet their needs and provide them with sustainable solutions, which improve veterinary practice at the same time as the quality of life of animals. Our local roots consolidate this proximity: as close as possible to the field, hand in hand with the actors, we are able to identify and deeply understand the diversity of expectations. A proximity that goes as far as supporting all our customers so that they make the best possible use of our solutions.

ACTION PLAN

We take care to:

• ensure transparent and secure use of personal data;
• ensuring the quality of products and services.