Precariousness on the rise

Inflation, housing crisis, increase in energy costs, inequalities in access to health care or food... In France as elsewhere, warning signs are multiplying.

In 2022, more than 9.1 million people live below the poverty line in France (Insee). And poverty does not end there: the median standard of living of households encountered by Secours Catholique is 555 euros per month (Poverty Report 2024).

Associations are facing an increase in requests, including from audiences that were previously far removed from these problems.

Precariousness does not only concern unemployed people: it also affects active workers, young graduates, retirees, or even single-parent families.

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Precariousness: what are we talking about?

The word “precariousness” is often used, but it covers multiple realities. It's not just a lack of money or resources. Precariousness refers to a situation of instability or fragility, in which a person cannot satisfy one or more essential needs to live with dignity.

It can affect various aspects of daily life:

• The job : part-time work suffered, short contracts, temporary work, unemployment... people in precarious situations often have an unstable professional situation.
• The housing : excessively high rents, emergency accommodation, risk of eviction, unsanitary conditions... Poor housing affects more than 4 million people in France in 2023, according to the Housing Foundation.
• The diet : not being able to eat enough is an increasingly common reality, especially among students, single-parent families or precarious workers.
• Health : precarious people are sometimes forced to give up care or are forced to postpone medical appointments due to lack of resources, time or access to complementary health care.
• The digital : not having a computer, a stable Internet connection or digital skills can lead to isolation, especially when it comes to accessing rights or looking for a job.
• Mobility, education or access to rights can also be significant barriers to inclusion.

Fighting against precariousness starts with Combating discrimination in business and the inclusion of groups far from employment: people without diplomas, young people in integration, refugees, people with disabilities...

Precariousness also has consequences within companies themselves, often in an invisible way. Indeed, some employees encounter difficulties that they do not dare to express: isolation, mental load linked to financial problems, precarious personal situations...

Becoming aware of these realities is already a first step towards a more successful business. Inclusive and united!

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How to mobilize your employees around the fight against precariousness

Each employee can contribute at all levels to the fight against precariousness by engaging in societal actions. Whether it's taking action with vulnerable groups or raising awareness, every gesture counts!

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Raise awareness on the subject of poverty and precariousness

Above all, it is essential to understand the realities of precariousness. Many stereotypes still persist: the idea that poverty is chosen, that it only concerns a certain type of public, or that it is necessarily visible. In reality, precariousness is multifaceted, often invisible, and can affect anyone, at any time in their life.

Offering awareness-raising workshops or webinars to your employees makes it possible to deconstruct stereotypes related to poverty and to better understand the systemic causes of precariousness. These formats are useful for promoting understanding and engagement: they create awareness and make you want to take action.

The association Entourage offers a quiz to raise awareness about precariousness, but also workshops to be carried out in groups: the ideal opportunity to mobilize as a team!

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Ideas for actions to mobilize employees around the fight against precariousness

Collecting equipment or financial donations

Collecting donations for people in precarious situations is a simple way to mobilize employees. This may include:

• Garment drives for homeless people;
• Distributions of food products;
• Donations of basic necessities (hygiene kits, care products, etc.)
• Or digital material collections to reduce the digital divide (computers, smartphones, etc.).

These actions make it possible to meet concrete needs, while creating a collective dynamic within the teams.

Financial donations are also essential for associations so that they can continue their mission.

Also to read: Corporate donations to associations: decryption

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Mentoring

Mentoring aims to create a relationship focused on the personal and professional development of the person being supported. The mentor shares their experience and advises the mentee so that they can develop in their professional career.

Some examples of actions around mentoring:

• Support a young person from ASE in their professional or digital integration with The Shadows ;
• Support a refugee woman in the definition of her socio-professional project with UniR Universities & Refugees ;
• Becoming a mentor for a young person with disabilities with 100% Handdynamic.

Also to read: Acting for equal opportunities and professional integration through mentoring

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The marauds

Participating in a marauding means meeting homeless people to offer them direct help: listening, talking, distributing hot meals, hygiene kits or clothing.

Marauds allow employees to concretely understand the realities of precariousness, while being in a solidarity approach.

Some examples of marauds to participate in:

• Join the “Good morning” initiative of The Salvation Army : a mobile distribution that is deployed in people's places of life, mainly in the North of Paris along the ring road and on the Parisian gates.
• Discuss and break the loneliness of homeless people with Entourage.
• Participate in one of the marauds of The Walk of the Fireflies and provide homeless people with a moment of conviviality and exchange, around a good meal, a hot or refreshing drink.

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The associations to support to engage your teams in the fight against precariousness

In France, there are numerous associations that fight against precariousness. Each one meets a specific need as close as possible to precarious people. Whether it is a question of making a donation or an action, employees can mobilize to support them in their actions.

Some examples of associations that help the most disadvantaged:

• Elementary rules is an association that fights against menstrual poverty and the taboo of periods.
• The Food Banks form an associative network dedicated to the fight against food insecurity and waste.
• La Chorba distributes food aid to the poorest on a daily basis by fighting against waste and acts against exclusion by recruiting people who are far from employment.
• Catholic Relief — Caritas France (SCCF) is an organization that works to promote solidarity and fight against poverty in France and around the world (Caritas network).
• 1 tote bag for 1 student is a solidarity sponsorship platform that connects 1 family with 1 student in difficulty in the same city to support them and build a link.
• The Bell works with homeless people to develop projects that aim to change the way we look at the street world and promote “Building Together” between homeless and homeless neighbors, in order to build a more inclusive society.

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Going further with Komeet

Do you want to involve your employees in the fight against precariousness but you do not know where to start? Komeet accompanies you in the construction, deployment and management of your engagement program.

Today, Komeet is proud to count:

• 430 corporate clients
• 3,500 associations supported
• 2.1 million hours of commitment (that's 1,000 years of impact!)
• +200,000 committed employees and +2 million € in donations
• And an international presence!

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