Relocation as a catalyst for change: How leadership empowered employees and achieved organizational change at Sanofi Canada

Résumé

This paper tells Sanofi’s relocation story and offers insight for organizations embarking on a similar journey. The work environment can be a powerful tool through which to communicate information about the organization and its values to both employees and the outside world. In 2013, the sale of part of its business prompted leading healthcare partner Sanofi Canada to relocate its headquarters. Moving from closed “silo” offices, to a state of the art open-plan work environment, Sanofi Canada achieved meaningful change in its work culture in a very short period of time: a companywide survey undertaken four months into life at their new headquarters revealed satisfied and engaged employees who were taking advantage of new technology and embracing new opportunities to collaborate. 

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