Sanofi’s hybrid work mandate fuels innovation drive
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has successfully navigated a challenge faced by companies worldwide: encouraging employees to return to the office.
Under a hybrid work model, employees are required to work in the office three days a week, a move the company believes is critical for fostering innovation.
How Sanofi balances remote work with innovation
Speaking to Fortune, Sanofi’s Chief Digital Officer, Emmanuel Frenehard, emphasized the role of face-to-face collaboration in driving creativity and progress. Despite the company’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, including its daily use of the automated app Plai, Frenehard asserted that human interaction remains irreplaceable.
“This technology is a facilitator. It’s not going to supersede us or take our space. Technology complements us,” Frenehard explained. “You need something very special that humans have called serendipity.”
Frenehard argued that remote work schedules often lack spontaneous moments of inspiration. “When you work from home, every part of your day is scheduled because this is how my calendar is. There’s no moment of, ‘Hey, have you thought of that?’
“How many great inventions were scheduled? How many great moments of innovation were scheduled? They’re not. They’re conversations, they’re challenges. And so it’s very difficult to get that [working from home].
Sanofi’s hybrid model, which prioritizes in-office days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, is designed to encourage those chance interactions that drive innovation.
Recruitment success amid AI transformation
As Sanofi transitions to an AI-first model, the company’s hiring focus has shifted toward data scientists and engineers. Despite competition from tech giants, Frenehard noted that Sanofi has had no trouble attracting top talent.
“You can work for a digital bank or fund. You can work for TikTok, that may be fun. Or you can work and truly see the impact you have on people’s lives,” he said.
Frenehard attributed this hiring success to a growing appreciation for the importance of health and lifesaving medicine, especially post-pandemic.
The success of Sanofi’s hybrid model demonstrates that even in an AI-first company, the human element remains irreplaceable for driving innovation and maintaining corporate culture. Their experience suggests that the future of work lies not in choosing between technology and human interaction, but in finding ways to maximize the benefits of both.
