COVID-19 has shaken communities, people and economies to the core. As a global industry leader, EssilorLuxottica is at the forefront of supporting its people and the communities it operates in, while also preparing for a future recovery.

The Company’s priority is to ensure the health and safety of its 150,000 employees across the globe. To that end, EssilorLuxottica launched a Euro 100 million fund to support employees and their families who are in need. It also introduced emergency pay schemes for its most vulnerable employee populations.

In facilities that remained open across the globe to provide essential services to customers, including factories, labs and distribution centers, EssilorLuxottica has implemented heightened industrial hygiene protocols, provided employees with masks, introduced temperature checks and established social distancing practices to keep employees safe.

As these facilities have remained open along with the Company’s online optical retail stores and e-commerce platforms, EssilorLuxottica has been able to continue providing essential eyecare services and products to its customers and ultimately clients, many of whom are on the front lines of this crisis.

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is real and EssilorLuxottica is not immune to it. In an effort to preserve the workforce and minimize the impact of the crisis on employees, top managers across the Company have agreed to voluntary salary reductions and compensation deferrals. The Board of Directors voted to apply a similar measure to its own members by reducing their attendance fees by 50%.

EWs-I4zWoAYExv6_Spain donation photo high-res

Doing the right thing is deeply embedded in the Company’s DNA. Honoring its commitment to social responsibility, EssilorLuxottica donated over 2 million units of personal protective equipment including safety goggles, protective eyewear and face masks to hospitals, public institutions, employees and partners where it operates including China, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the US, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, Australia, India, Bangladesh, and many more. Other donations include protective gloves, hand sanitizing gels and plano glasses.

While COVID-19 has forced the Company to put its inclusive business expansion and charitable clinics on hold, it has channeled its goodwill efforts into ensuring the safety of its partners and communities. It also tapped into the influence of its rural network of primary vision care providers to raise awareness among their communities about social distancing, observing basic hygiene and keeping safe during the pandemic.

For more information on Essilor’s efforts: https://www.essilor.com/en/medias/news/essilor-donates-close-to-1-million-protective-equipment-to-support-global-covid-19-relief-efforts/.

For more information on Luxottica’s efforts: http://www.luxottica.com/en/luxottica-battling-covid-19-solidarity-and-safety.