Chéserex, Switzerland, September 28, 2004. Adecco, the worldwide leader in HR Solutions, launches a service guarantee consisting of 12 service commitments through an international business initiative to build its service differential to companies and to those seeking temporary employment or a permanent role. Adecco aims to set new standards for both temporary staffing and placement industries.

 

As the role of the temporary workforce increases, combined with the growing shortage in candidates and the change in regulatory environment, economy encourages worker flexibility. In this respect, companies require pre-selected candidates backed by a standard of service that brings the guarantee of personalised and continuous professional support. At the same time, temporary workers and candidates to a placement expect more from a HR service than just the ability to find them a job. They want tangible security and to benefit from a long-term partnership in building their careers. This is part of Adecco's Social Responsibility.

 

After two years of research and a comprehensive study conducted by the Business School of Lyon (EM Lyon), Adecco has created a new concept of temporary work and permanent placement by identifying new standards of service. For example, Adecco guarantees to recruit without discrimination and takes every care to ensure safety at work. At the same time Adecco has enhanced its traditional services with tangible guarantees to give an answer to clients within four hours and ensures continuity of service. In case of failure the company will offer compensation. This service commitment initiative is about to be implemented in 16 countries across Europe, after having been successfully launched in France earlier this year.

 

Commenting on the launch of the commitments, Jerome Caille, Chief Executive Officer of Adecco said: "We always try to anticipate the changes in our industry. Our Service Commitments are our answer to a changing world of work. They represent our promise to create a service experience that brings a new quality to our industry. Through our endeavours we believe that we can change the HR solutions business to the benefit of our associates and our customers."

 

 

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About Adecco

Adecco S.A. is a Forbes 500 company and the global leader in HR Solutions. The Adecco Group network connects millions of associates with business clients each day through its network of 28,000 employees and more than 5,800 offices in 71 territories around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

 

The Adecco Group comprises three Divisions, Adecco Staffing, Ajilon Professional and LHH Career Services. In Adecco Staffing, the Adecco staffing network focuses on flexible staffing solutions for global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics and telecommunications; Ajilon Professional offers an unrivalled range of specialised branded businesses and LHH Career Services encompasses our portfolio of outplacement and coaching.

 

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Adecco S.A. (the "Company") as of the date of this release, and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things: the outcome of the independent investigation on behalf of the Audit and Finance Committee of the Company's Board of Directors or of investigations by governmental agencies or stock exchanges; the pace of economic recovery in various regions and the demand for temporary staffing; the impact and result of any litigation (including private litigation); any adverse developments in existing commercial relationships, disputes or legal proceedings; volatility of the Company's stock price; intense competition in the markets in which the Company competes; and negative reactions from the Company's stockholders, creditors or vendors with respect to any of the foregoing matters.

 

The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 29, 2002, and other reports filed with or submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with our business.

 

Enquiries:

 

Adecco Media Centre:

Vanessa Oakes

vanessa.oakes@adecco.com or +41 1 878 8888