Sanofi’s global workplace strategy centres on data, hospitality and purpose
Biopharma company Sanofi has embarked on a global workplace strategy journey which sets out to create offices that are cultural catalysts
Global biopharma company Sanofi has created a global workplace strategy that leverages data, hospitality and purpose to structure a model for how and where employees should work.
Sanofi has moved its workplace transformation decision-making from the finance department to the People and Culture division of the company. This move aimed to reposition the workplace as an enabler of wellbeing and collaboration for employees.
Guiding principles
The strategy was built around four guiding pillars: culture and collaboration, sustainability and wellbeing, technology and innovation and hospitality and workspace. Together these principles create workplace that are functional as well as emotional and social ecosystems.
The transformation began at Cambridge Crossing in Massachusetts, a 900,000 sqft campus combining research and development with office space. This became the testbed for Sanofi’s data-driven approach.
From day one, all data was collected anonymously, with a strong focus on protecting individual privacy while gathering space utilisation insights. Over time, through consistent results, transparent privacy practices, and change management, Sanofi built trust in the insights which led to the creation of a standardised global data framework that now informs every project.
Global approach
Sanofi’s goal is to align 75% of its global office and R&D footprint with the new workplace model by 2028. This is a vast undertaking that reflects the scale and consistency of its approach.
Sanofi’s experience offers a blueprint for others navigating the tension between data, design and human behaviour. It shows that the most effective workplaces are those which are purposefully measured to deliver impact for workers. This requires a balance between real-time insights and empathy, and where the office becomes a living expression of organisational culture.
As an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives, Sanofi continues to demonstrate that workplace transformation is about creating environments where people can bring their best selves to work, embody the company’s values, and collaborate effectively.
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