Ubisoft 2005 Annual Report Download - page 43

1
41
UBISOFT • 2006 ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIER
The group’s activities and performance for fy 2005-06
c. Continuous emulation thanks to dialogue
among the group’s experts
New employee integration and sponsorship programs have
been developed at most of the large subsidiaries. Multi-
site production projects were carried out in 2005-06,
requiring even greater dialogue among the studios (e.g.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™, which
was developed at three sites).
The Academy of Experts, which meets several times per
year, is a sort of internal “think tank” whose mission is two-
fold: to allow the sharing of information among the studios
and to solve complex technical problems.
Associations with related industries (music, film, etc.)
continue to grow and include, in particular, presentations
made by experts to Ubisoft’s teams as well as collabora-
tions on some of our games (e.g. Peter Jackson and the
Montpellier team for Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The
Official Game of the Movie).
Finally, to ensure greater synergy within a particular site,
activity or project, more than 100 collaborative web spa-
ces have been developed, and their number increases on a
daily basis.
In terms of human resources management, Ubisoft
continues to strengthen its foundations and develop
new programs that support its growth strategy while
at the same time adhering to its founding values.
Evidence that these choices are paying off includes the
high overall satisfaction of the various teams (more
than 90%, according to the latest in-house survey) and
Ubisoft’s ever-growing attractiveness as an employer
(more than 700 applications received in France each
month and 600 in the USA).
Ubisoft employment
in France
673 employees (average staff during the year: 665), a
2.6% increase since 03.31.05.
69% men and 31% women.
58% in production activities and 42% in business and
support activities.
An average age of 32 years.
Average seniority of 4.95 years.
a. Work environment and working conditions
Working hours
Full-time employees work 35 hours per week. Work sche-
dules vary depending on each division’s requirements and
employees’ preference for a five-day working week or for
accumulating time off.
2.4% of employees work part time. Overtime hours during
the course of the fiscal year were worked in accordance
with current legal and union provisions.
The absenteeism rate in 2005-06 was 1.9%(2) and breaks
down as follows:
- 84% due to illness.
- 14% due to exceptional leave.
- 2% due to work-related accidents.
Entertainment
The entertainment department offers shows at reduced
prices (1,600 tickets purchased in 2005-06 at discounts of
up to 40%), leisure weekends and events. It has an annual
budget of €350,000. A sports room opened only to
employees offers fitness activities and classes.
b. Skills development
In 2005-06, Ubisoft incorporated the individual right to
training into its occupational training policy. During the
period, the budget allocated to training (excluding sala-
ries) increased by 16% compared with the previous year,
for a total of €626,429.
Ubisoft also offered positions to several trainees and
apprentices during FY 2005-06. Traineeships are often a
bridge to employment. At head office over the past two
years, for example, nine of 16 recent graduates hired were
individuals who had previously completed a traineeship at
Ubisoft.
c. Employment and non-discrimination
70% of Ubisoft’s workforce in France comprises manage-
ment-level staff. Women account for 31% of all
employees, and 79% of them hold management positions.
In terms of compensation, professional equality between
men and women is respected.
82% of personnel are employed under open-ended agree-
ments.
Staff elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election
of employee representatives.
Lastly, in FY 2005-06, Ubisoft had two disabled employees
and contributed €50,589 toward the vocational integration
of disabled people.
d. Compensation
In France, compensation consists of a fixed amount and a
variable amount (cf. Section 1.4.3). The company also
contributes to the Company Savings Plan for French
employees. At the time of the last equity issue, they were
offered a 15% discount on the share subscription price.
The total amount of Ubisoft’s contribution was €269,634,
and today 366 people, i.e. more than two-thirds of eligible
employees, are enrolled in the plan.
Social service
activities
Ubisoft organizes activities based on special events on a
regular basis and provides a number of employee benefits,
particularly in the area of sports and entertainment.
Having participated in philanthropic efforts for several
years through occasional activities at its subsidiaries, this
year Ubisoft wanted to take its philanthropic policy a step
1.4.5
(2) The absenteeism rate does not include maternity and paternity leave.
1.4.6