| Diversity – Being an Employer of Choice
Sunoco continues to expand its efforts to prepare, attract and retain a diverse workforce with a three-phase strategy focused on specific audiences:
- Community Outreach – Sunoco prepares and supports a diverse workforce with its outreach and financial support.
- Employee Recruitment – Targeted recruiting efforts help Sunoco work toward a workforce that mirrors the communities it serves.
- Employee Support – Sunoco nurtures its diverse talent with training, communications and talent management programs to ensure they remain contributing members of the company.
Community Outreach Sunoco’s commitment to diversity extends beyond the workplace. The company has a long history of dedicating a share of its resources to charitable organizations in the communities in which it operates. Sunoco supports numerous organizations that
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| Tulsa Refinery employees participated in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. parade. | promote diversity, education, health and human services, and arts and culture. The company is especially proud of the role its employees play in communities throughout the service territory as part of the National Day of Caring in honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunoco provides financial assistance to community organizations that assist women and minorities and is a member of local chapters of groups such as the National Minority Development Council and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council.
Philanthropy is an important part of Sunoco’s culture, but the company also believes that developing women and minorities in the community will create a more diverse and better prepared pool of available talent for Sunoco in the years to come.
A Focus on Education Sunoco’s long-standing support for the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group and Philadelphia Futures helps these organizations in their important work to increase educational opportunities for minorities.
The company has taken a more direct approach to education through its long-term support for the Philadelphia Academies. In 2004, Sunoco made a commitment to the Philadelphia community by founding the Academy of Process Technology, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Academies. The Academy focuses on petrochemical science and technology and helps high school students build strong skills in science
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| Dedication ceremonies were held in 2005 for the new science lab that Sunoco helped provide for the Academy of Process Technology. | , math, computers, language, team building and problem-solving – all skills necessary for successful Sunoco employees. This effort is more than simply financial – Sunoco employees use their skill and experience to teach classes and act as guest speakers at the Academy. During 2005, the Academy’s 60 students were educated about the petrochemical industry and the latest technologies, while interacting with Sunoco professionals both in the classroom and at Sunoco refineries.
In April 2005, the University of Toledo presented a recognition award to the Toledo Refinery for its support of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Student Chapter at the University. The award was given at the Chapter’s 2nd Annual Breakfast Social, which serves to develop working relationships between industry professionals, engineering faculty and such student organizations as NSBE, and the Society of Women Engineers. The refinery also collaborates with the University and NSBE on job fairs and the refinery co-op program, which offers students an opportunity to receive work experience to augment their classroom studies.
A Focus on Women Sunoco is a long-time supporter of Catalyst, a research and advisory organization that works to enable women to achieve their full professional potential and helps employers capitalize on women’s talents and abilities. Catalyst’s 30th Annual Awards Dinner highlighted companies that promote women’s career development and advancement. Sunoco sent a delegation of women to this event to hear about successful diversity strategies.
The company also sent a delegation of 20 women to the 2005 Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference for Women, a day-long event highlighting strategies for helping women achieve professional success through networking and career planning.
A Focus on Career Development Sunoco employees are encouraged to participate in minority professional associations, to both broaden their own professional skills and help introduce Sunoco to potential new employees. Sunoco employees participate in such organizations as the National Society of Black Engineers(NSBE), Professional Hispanics in Energy (PHIE), National Bar Association, and the American Association of Blacks in Energy(AABE).
A Focus on Individual Commitment Beyond Sunoco’s corporate commitments, many employees share their time and talents by serving on the boards of directors for organizations such as:
- Philadelphia Academies, Inc.
- Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition
- Pan American Association of Philadelphia
- Urban League of Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Futures
- PathWaysPa Inc.
- Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
- American Association of Blacks in Energy
- Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, Inc.
Recruiting New Employees Sunoco remains focused on achieving a more representative employee population. Each year, the company reviews its recruiting initiatives to assess its progress in hiring and retaining a diverse employee population. Sunoco has expanded its recruiter base and continues to reach out across communities by posting employment opportunities on diverse websites and job boards. In addition, new tools are allowing the company to more closely track the numbers of diverse candidates who apply for open positions. This allows Sunoco to more accurately target its recruiting efforts.
One way Sunoco supports potential employees is through its continuing participation with INROADS, a national summer internship program for women and minorities. In 2005, this program was expanded with mentor/intern pairings and improved communications to help interns with their assignments. Sunoco also continued its Sunoco Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which is awarded to INROADS interns who maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.7; four $2,000 scholarships were awarded in 2005. Sunoco anticipates there will be permanent placement opportunities for INROADS interns in 2006.
Supporting Sunoco Employees Sunoco’s commitment to diversity does not end with recruiting. From their first day on the job, Sunoco employees are introduced to the company’s diversity efforts through the New Hire Orientation program. This theme continues throughout the full range of the company’s leadership and supervisory training. Sunoco’s online diversity toolkit for managers and employees helps both groups recognize and value diversity in the workplace. The toolkit includes “Diversity Discussion Starters,” a set of 14 facilitated conversations about diversity, including topics such as:
- Talking about Diversity;
- Six Steps for Moving Past Stereotypes; and
- Working Effectively across Cultures
The company has invested in Human Resources processes to support and retain its women and minority employees. The Talent Management process was more fully utilized in 2005 and improved management’s ability to review information about employee performance and development. In addition, an online Performance Assessment tool allows management to provide timely and accurate feedback and develop the skills of employees.
Sunoco is committed to administering its employee policies fairly to allow employees to work to their fullest potential. The company’s Employee Resolution in Action (ERA) program allows for formal dispute resolution. When disputes arise, employees are encouraged to speak with their supervisor or manager first. If the situation cannot be resolved at that level, the ERA program is a more formal resolution process that includes phases for outside mediation and arbitration if needed.
A Record of Progress While recognizing that there is always more work to do, Sunoco continues to make steady progress toward its diversity goals. As anticipated retirements increase, Sunoco has a unique opportunity to continue diversifying its employee population. Regular reviews of Sunoco’s diversity goals are conducted by the senior leadership team and Board of Directors. The Chairman’s Diversity Council, comprising representatives from the corporate Professional Services Group and each of the business units, advises senior management and human resources professionals on how programs to hire, retain and develop a diverse workforce can be strengthened. In particular, the Council has helped develop a robust system for tracking our diversity progress. One important metric tracks the number of salaried exempt and paraprofessional employees. As the charts below indicate, employment of women and minorities in these roles continues to grow.
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HES Glossary
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Conversion Table
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Summary Report
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A Focus on Diversity The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) supports the professional development of minorities within the corporate world by sponsoring research... read more. |