The Athletes' Career Program

17 August 2005 - Adecco website - press release

The Adecco 'Athletes' Career Program' – developed with the Olympic movement – integrates athletes into the labor market at the end of their sporting careers, harnessing the Human Resource (HR) services capabilities of the Adecco Group.

NOC and IOC Support

In 1999, Adecco launched its first Athlete Career Program with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Spain. Since then the Program has helped close to 900 athletes in Spain, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Italy transition into the mainstream labor market.

In 2005, Adecco signed an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to support the introduction of Athletes' Career Programs to other countries in conjunction with National Olympic Committees. The NOCs signed up to Adecco Athletes' Career Programs – which has the 2005 goal of helping around 2000 athletes – include: Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, at the 11.02.05 announcement of the Athletes' program with Adecco said, "They dedicate their lives to sports and it is only right that sports should give them something back at the end of their sporting careers. We believe this is a great step for the Olympic Movement and we are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with Adecco in the best interest of the athletes."

Adecco, as the world's largest HR services company connects millions of people to work every year, directly impacting their welfare, quality of life and the health of society at large. Going beyond a commitment to conduct business efficiently and ethically, Adecco recognises that it has a social responsibility to encourage fair accessibility to work for everybody, equal opportunities and high standards of workplace conditions.

Competing at an international level in sport requires a huge personal investment and focus. Many athletes finish their sports career at an advanced age, making their integration in the labor market difficult – despite the fact that during their sports career many have developed skills which many companies value. Adecco is ideally positioned to help match these athletes with the right company that can harness those skills and offer a career.

How the Athletes' Career Program works

Adecco Group, the IOC and NOCs set up an operational structure through which Adecco Group companies Adecco Staffing, Ajilon and Lee Hecht Harrison provide a combination of career consultation, job placement assistance, and career transition services.

A four-phase program:

The Athletes' Career Program is flexible and tailored specifically to meet the needs of different athletes with various backgrounds and needs. The program is offered to the Athletes free of charge. Some athletes embark on the program – which has the following phases – during their sports career.

Phase 1: Transition Career Seminar

• Psychological support (to promote self analysis)
• Self candidature tools (CV, presentation letter, role interview)

Phase 2: Personal Analysis (first interview)

• Motivation, skills, geographic/economic analysis
• Availability analysis (time, mobility, training)

Phase 3: Professional Preparation (second interview)

• Defining professional profile, objectives, and necessary training
• Personal development plan
• Interview simulation

Phase 4: Employment

• Introduction to Adecco clients
• Insertion in Adecco candidate database
• Regular individual monitoring

Adecco and Corporate Social Responsibility

Accountability: In 2004, Adecco became the first global staffing company to publish a Sustainability Report. Adecco Group signed up to the UN Global Compact in November 2003.

Enabling the disabled: In December 2004, the Company became a founding member of Business and Disability, a network of European companies supporting disabled persons' access to the labor market. In 2004, in Europe alone the Company helped more than 9,500 disabled people find work.

Encouraging Diversity: In 2002, Adecco (and fellow Adecco Group business Adia) signed up to French Government's Latitude diversity program. In 2003, Adecco USA launched the 'Dimensions' diversity awareness and education program and a similarly focused initiative, Adecco Plus was launched in the UK in 2004.