ENGIE Italia
Company profile
ENGIE Italia generates and sells power to homes, companies and the public administration, focusing on producing energy from renewable sources while phasing out traditional ones. The company has around 100,000 employees worldwide and 3,000 in Italy.
Context and objectives
The Fenix Project seeks to strengthen the corporate culture by creating an inclusive and supportive work environment, where diversity is seen as an added value rather than an obstacle. The project was also set up to respond to a number of social and personal challenges, namely social rehabilitation, reducing repeat offences, and women’s empowerment.
Description of activities and results
The Fenix Project involved providing a job placement for a prisoner with a view to offering them a stable position at the company.
The implementation of the project required a number of steps. First of all, the company identified and selected the candidate from among the female prisoners at Dozza prison in Bologna. The woman received professional training as well as emotional and psychological support. The work placement phase then began, with the woman working on a company project. Her work and well-being were monitored constantly to ensure that the objectives were being met and to evaluate the feasibility of repeating the project. Alongside this, meetings were held with colleagues from the selected team to discuss the importance of including the resource, to curb prejudice. The results were positive for all those involved. The woman fitted in well at the company, working hard and building good relationships with colleagues. Her new specific technical skills will improve her employment prospects and a stable job will reduce the likelihood of recidivism. For colleagues at ENGIE, this experience helped reduce gender biases around certain jobs, but also biases around how people view those leaving prison, who are considered dangerous and untrustworthy. The company now also has new uniforms for women and a dedicated changing room to create a welcoming environment for female staff.
Tip
For such a complex, delicate project to be a success, you need to be willing to give a prisoner a second chance and make sure they receive a sincere welcome from the team, free from prejudice.