Dialog with stakeholders
AXA's stakeholders include all the people and organizations that may influence or be influenced by its decisions and activities. Some of these stakeholders, such as clients, employees and shareholders, represent long-standing partners for AXA. Cooperation between their representatives and AXA is effectively managed, and this recognition has enabled AXA to improve its performances by embarking firmly on the path toward social responsibility.
For example, since 2006, AXA has had two dedicated correspondents for the European Works Council (one French and the other German). They are working closely with the Group sustainable development department, looking at the main environmental and social issues. The EWC representatives are also invited to give their opinion on the content of the Activity and Sustainable Development Report.
Furthermore, both at Group and local levels, close ties are built up with distributor representative associations, trade bodies and NGOs concerned by the sector's activities.
AXA has a longstanding tradition of social involvement, in particular through corporate philanthropic efforts to benefit the community, society and culture in general. However, the perception of civil society as an organization's stakeholder is changing. More complete than the simple notion of being involved in the community, we now speak of the company being "embedded" in the region, more clearly reflecting its commitment to contributing to meeting local stakeholder expectations.
The regional integration of the business within its environment represents a long-term approach, built around joint efforts and ongoing consultation between the company and local representatives.