To respond to the challenges facing the firm, we need to have a broad range of talent, ideas and perspectives at our disposal. From the very outset of our professional activity, Garrigues has been committed to nondiscrimination, equal opportunities, the integration of people with disabilities and respect for diversity.
Committed to equality
We fight all forms of discrimination at Garrigues. We strongly believe that success can only be achieved by building up a broadly diverse personnel base, including diversity of gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, culture, marital status and physical capacity, among others.
Our Equality Plan has been in place since 2008, reflecting the firm’s solid commitment to incorporating the key principles of equality in all of its policies. Garrigues published a second equality plan in 2017, containing new measures focusing on talent retention and professional development.
The firm has also set up an Equality Committee to consolidate existing policies and ensure new measures are created to encourage joint responsibility between men and women and to promote and maintain the principles of equal treatment and equal opportunities.
All of our professionals are aware of the professional career plan on joining the firm: a defined career path with high expectations for personal and professional development.
Internal promotions are based on a rigorous competency-based performance appraisal carried out each year. During the evaluation process, each individual’s performance and career prospects are analyzed and discussed, personal and professional encouragement is given, and feedback is obtained and assessed. It is an entirely merit-based system.
The firm was notably named a Business in feminine plural at the 6th MDE Solidarity Awards for Equality organized by MDE – Women for Dialogue and Education.
In late 2017, the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality certified Garrigues as an Equal Opportunities Employer, a mark of excellence that acknowledges companies “that notably and significantly excel in the application of equal treatment and equal opportunity policies” through equality measures and plans.
Committed to disability initiatives
We are also determined to continue to strengthen our commitment to people with disabilities.
In addition to complying with legislation on integration of people with disabilities into the labor market, Garrigues promotes pro bono work, provides training and participates in programs to raise awareness through volunteering, grants scholarships, acquires goods and services from special employment centers, takes part in charity races and projects, and collaborates with organizations, not to mention publishing legal articles on disability by its professionals. All of these initiatives are aimed at raising awareness and promoting diversity, and working on legal innovation to create the necessary environment for the social integration of people with disabilities.
Proof of this is the Inserta Agreement, signed with Fundación ONCE in July 2017 with a view to increasing the training and employment of people with disabilities.
Committed to diversity
Our professionals come from a wide range of nationalities, bringing a variety of perspectives which enrich our culture, enhance our work and make us stronger as a firm.
Our team numbers more than two thousand people of twenty-five nationalities, operating out of thirty-one offices worldwide.
With respect to its entire labor force, Garrigues observes the applicable legislation and collective labor agreements in all of the geographical areas in which it operates.