The Professional Equality Between Women and Men label, a guarantee of inclusion in the world of culture

We live in an era where gender equality—once considered a secondary issue—has become a central, non-negotiable concern in society and the business world. Companies are compelled to take action, and the most committed ones choose to demonstrate their commitment. The Professional Equality label, created in 2008 by the Ministry of Labor and the ANDRH, and awarded by AFNOR Certification (sometimes in conjunction with the Diversity label), thus serves as a badge of virtue. And it happens to be appealing to the cultural sector, a world where the theme of inclusion resonates more strongly than in other circles.

Labels that directly reflect the Ministry of Culture’s “diversity and equality” mission

In 2016, a “Diversity and Equality” task force was established within the Ministry of Culture. “This task force helped to raise awareness of these issues within cultural institutions. The dual certification (Equality and Diversity) earned by the Ministry itself has inspired many institutions to follow suit and has served, for many of us, as a framework and benchmark,” says Karim Chettouh, Director of Human Resources and General Services at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. This newly certified institution, where 56% of the staff are women, is now considering other measures such as organizing work schedules over four days following maternity leave and extending parental leave. In addition to this voluntary initiative, there is a mandatory requirement: since late 2019, all public employers must implement a multi-year action plan on professional equality.

Listen to the interview with Stéphanie Deprocq from the Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival

What specific benefits does this professional equality certification issued by AFNOR Certification offer?

This new mandatory measure prompted the Musée du Quai Branly to submit an official application for certification in 2021. “By its very nature, a museum is open to the world. These issues are at the heart of the museum’s mission, strategy, and values,” explains Céline Féraudy, Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Parisian institution. She continues: “Our first concrete action in 2021 was to sign an agreement on workplace equality. Subsequently, we developed financial reports detailing average compensation and enabling us to objectively assess the pay levels granted to each employee.” Today, the museum has earned the certification following an evaluation audit by AFNOR Certification and intends to pursue the Diversity certification, also created at the initiative of the Ministry of Labor.

At the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, this initiative was launched as early as 2017. “Women play a very prominent role in our cultural programming. The Public Engagement Department has also long been conducting initiatives targeting school groups and audiences with limited access to culture (hospitals, prisons, youth, etc.),” notes Karim Chettouh. He joined the museum in 2019, at a time when “there were initiatives, but no structured framework,” he reflects in hindsight. The Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie then capitalized on this momentum by submitting an application for dual certification to AFNOR Certification in April 2022. Their efforts paid off: they received the dual certification in January 2023.

According to many certified organizations, the audit plays a central role in the process and serves as a catalyst. “The audit lasted half a day and included interviews with our president, our general administrators, several directors, and a panel of staff members,” says Bernadette Leroy, head of HR development at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie. At the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Stéphanie Deporcq explains: “The AFNOR auditor assessed the sincerity of our commitment and pinpointed what was missing from our approach. She was both supportive and demanding in highlighting areas for improvement. ” Among the initiatives that made a difference: a permanent listening unit staffed by two people, the implementation of micro-learning with short videos so that staff can access information related to discrimination, and the designation of liaisons at each site—the Festival d’Aix has 70 permanent staff members and up to 750 employees during peak season.

Listen to Emmanuelle Baumgartner discuss the Equality Label awarded to Radio France

The Gender Equality Label, just like the Diversity Label, lends credibility to a promise

Then there is the question of appeal. The label lends credibility to a promise: that of a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable institution. At the Musée du Quai Branly, Céline Féraudy considers it “valuable for fostering social dialogue and for its impact on visitors.” At the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, it is “a significant boost for promoting training programs, for example, but also for recruitment.” Visitors, new employees, local partners, patrons, suppliers… Surrounded by a wide range of stakeholders, the cultural sector is thus a strong supporter of the Equality label.

The performing arts sector is following the same trend. Stéphanie Deporcq, Administrative and Financial Director of the Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival, confirms: “When I arrived in 2018, the human resources manager and I wanted to align our HR policy with the festival’s overall policy and values. Social responsibility was enshrined in the bylaws in 2020. That was a turning point.” In December 2020, the Aix festival submitted its application for certification. The result was a Professional Equality certification awarded in October 2021 and a Diversity certification in February 2022: a tangible demonstration of a strong commitment.

And for those who are curious… what is the Diversity Label?

The Diversity Label, also created in 2008 at the initiative of the Ministry of Labor and the ANDRH, aims to prevent discrimination and promote diversity in the public and private sectors. To obtain this label, organizations must also contact AFNOR Certification. The Alliance for Equality and Diversity Label is often sought after because it complements the Diversity Label so well. Check out our FAQ to learn more