Probe! - Inspiring Marketing Research

D&I and Gender Equality Policy

We strongly believe in the value of human resources as an essential factor in achieving the highest quality of our services. Our collaborators represent an invaluable asset of experience, passion and expertise. For this reason, we do our utmost to create a workplace where everyone is proud to work and to offer all individuals, without distinction, meaningful opportunities for professional growth, as well as a stimulating and rewarding environment.

We reject all forms of discrimination, starting from the hiring process and continuing through compensation management, access to training, career opportunities and every other area. We actively promote freedom of expression and are constantly committed to countering both conscious and unconscious biases, often rooted in individual and collective culture.

We firmly believe that the values of diversity and inclusion — including equal treatment between men and women — are fundamental to building a fair and diverse work environment that is able to fully recognise and develop each person’s talent.

With this in mind, and in full respect of the principle of equality among all individuals, we promote inclusive behaviours and language that encourage self-expression and recognise the value of differences. We repudiate all forms of discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, health status, ethnic origin, nationality, political opinions or religious beliefs of our employees and collaborators.

With the active contribution of everyone at Probe!, we are committed to addressing the inequalities embedded in systems, policies and processes. Our goal is to cultivate a shared culture based on common values, promoting an “open-door” policy that encourages dialogue and engagement. In doing so, we aspire to make more inclusive decisions that take into account the opinions and suggestions of all individuals, as well as the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This Policy is addressed to all Probe! stakeholders — including employees, collaborators, companies, suppliers and Public Administration — with the aim of establishing the Company, from a perspective of social responsibility, as a reference model for future generations and for all parties with whom the Company interacts, now and in the future.

Aware that we are part of a broader socioeconomic system, we believe that only collective commitment can generate real progress. For this reason, we actively promote a culture of inclusion and non-discrimination through information and training initiatives, and we are committed to communicating transparently — both inside and outside the organisation — our intention to value diversity and pursue gender equality, with particular attention to strengthening the role of women.

INTERNAL POLICIES

We are committed to concretely supporting tangible changes in the Company’s internal policies and procedures, basing them on the centrality and dignity of the individual. These new standards are guided by the recognition of diversity, effective governance, responsible behaviour and inclusive communication, with the overarching objective of upholding and defending D&I (Diversity and Inclusion).

In this framework, Probe! works to achieve the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda and, more generally, to align with the inclusiveness policies implemented by our Country and by the European Union. Particular reference is made to Goals 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

To this end, and with specific regard to gender equality, we have adopted dedicated policies that we implement daily within the Company.
These policies concern, in particular, the following areas:

• Recruitment and hiring
• Personal development and empowerment
• Pay equity
• Parenthood
• Work–life balance
• Prevention of harassment and abuse
• Training and awareness

Recruitment and Hiring

Throughout the various stages of the recruitment process, all candidates are assessed and contractually framed based on their experience, skills and competencies, regardless of their gender.

Probe! guarantees an impartial process, free from systemic bias: the only guiding principles are meritocracy and the organisational role to be assigned to the candidate.

We provide the corporate functions involved in the hiring process with adequate training on inclusion and on cognitive biases, including gender bias, which may negatively affect selection procedures. To ensure that all phases of the process are properly regulated, we have developed specific internal guidelines for the functions involved, which receive appropriate training on gender equality.

Personal Development and Empowerment

Probe! ensures equal opportunities for professional growth and development for all its employees, regardless of gender, basing such opportunities exclusively on skills and professional levels. Consequently, the Company promotes corporate policies that support equal opportunities throughout the entire employee journey, starting from the selection process and continuing through onboarding, training, participation and career advancement.

The principle of equity within our processes and practices is pursued by guaranteeing impartiality and applying meritocracy as the sole evaluation criterion.

Pay Equity

Probe! develops performance evaluation processes and systems that encourage ongoing dialogue between managers and their collaborators, establishing development plans free from any form of gender discrimination and grounded in a culture of meritocracy. Periodic salary adjustments, incentive systems and related processes are linked to the recognition of assigned responsibilities, achieved results and the quality of the professional contribution provided, taking into account the context and applicable market benchmarks for comparable positions or roles of similar responsibility and complexity.

In all cases, we guarantee equal pay for equal work and are committed to addressing and resolving any unjustified anomalies or disparities in remuneration.

Parenthood

We guarantee access to parental leave and caregiving support for children and elderly parents for all employees, assisting caregivers through initiatives designed to meet the needs of those who—due to their parental status—must balance their work commitments with newly emerging responsibilities. In particular, recognising the importance of a fair distribution of workload within the Company and the significance of family needs, we support and encourage parental leave so that all eligible employees may benefit from it.

Work–Life Balance

We are committed to ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to balance their work responsibilities and personal time through measures that take into account both the Company’s business objectives and their specific personal needs, as well as their overall physical and mental well-being. Work–life balance measures apply to all personnel.

Prevention of Harassment and Abuse

We ensure the prevention of sexual, verbal and psychological harassment in the workplace through dedicated awareness initiatives on gender-based violence, aimed at fostering awareness and guiding individuals in their daily behaviours. Any form of violence, harassment or abuse in the workplace is not tolerated by Probe!, as it is contrary to our values and principles of conduct.

With regard to the prevention and management of abusive behaviour, Probe! — with a view to recognising individual responsibility in achieving shared objectives — has established secure mechanisms for reporting and managing any abusive conduct that may jeopardise the pursuit of inclusion and gender equality.

Training and Awareness

Probe! recognises the importance of promoting a culture of kindness, understood as continuous attention to active listening and to gentle, neutral communication aimed at preventing potential gender biases and/or the use of non-inclusive language. To this end, in addition to ongoing awareness initiatives addressed to all Personnel on D&I and gender equality, we are committed to training everyone on these topics, with the specific goal of eliminating any form of prejudice — even unintentional — thereby creating a workplace where every person can feel protected and valued.

Establishment of a Steering Committee

Probe! has implemented a management system designed to monitor the effective application of D&I and Gender Equality policies, as well as to record any violations of the policies and procedures adopted on this matter.

To ensure the concrete and effective implementation of the principles and rules of D&I and Gender Equality Policies, a dedicated body (the “Steering Committee”) has been established to support Probe! in the implementation and monitoring of these policies.