Sunoco continues to move forward in our commitment to workforce diversity.
Diversity and inclusion programs are integral to Sunoco’s hiring, retention and employee development efforts. Annual reviews of the company’s diversity program are conducted to determine progress in hiring, retaining and developing a cross-section of talent. During 2008, we expanded our diversity recruiting for entry-level, hourly, and mid-career hires.
We also added four Historically Black Colleges and Universities to our on-campus recruiting schedule and reestablished our relationships with diverse student groups.
Additionally, we are attracting a broad and more diverse slate of candidates for all open positions within the company through efforts such as using external diversity recruiters and job boards.
To help foster improved dialogue among employees, several diversity training courses were developed in 2008. The topics ranged from general awareness to working effectively across cultures and generations. Feedback from sponsoring managers and participants was extremely positive.
The mission of the Multi-Cultural Employee Network (MCEN) is to support and advance the diversity strategy of Sunoco by creating a network of interested employees who are committed to working together to achieve diversity objectives, develop programs and recommendations, and contribute to the success of Sunoco.
During 2008, MCEN sponsored three popular employee events that highlighted particular facets of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The group also sponsored diversity-themed cultural events and started a book club. Examples of the events are:
Putting Yourself In Other People’s Shoes - Promoting Understanding in the Multi-Generational Workplace
February – Black History Month
Women's Leadership Network Launched in early 2008, Sunoco’s Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) is committed to providing women with opportunities to develop professional leadership skills, foster personal and intellectual growth, and build connections to contribute to their success and the success of Sunoco.
During the year, the WLN sponsored several well-attended events that focused on issues of particular interest to female professionals. In addition, they promoted Breast Cancer Awareness, sponsored cultural events and took part in numerous outside events and initiatives.
INROADS Sunoco continued its partnership with INROADS in 2008. An organization committed to “next-level opportunity,” INROADS’ mission is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.
In 2008, we had eight interns. Of those, two were placed in full-time positions, and a third is pending a full-time position for May 2009. In addition, four received offers for summer internships in 2009.
Academy of Process Technology (APT) The Academy of Process Technology (APT) is a high school-based program where students can earn college credits in process technology, the framework of most continuous process operations. Sunoco currently supports two programs in Philadelphia and in Lansdowne, PA.
In Philadelphia, Sunoco has partnered with the Philadelphia School District and Philadelphia Academies, a nonprofit organization that expands life and economic options for Philadelphia public school students through career-focused programming that prepares young people for employment and post-secondary education. The Philadelphia program is housed at Edward W. Bok High School, a school serving a diverse population in South Philadelphia.
In Lansdowne, we partnered with Penn Wood High School, a school serving a diverse population in Delaware County, PA. The Penn Wood High School students travel to the Delaware County Community College to attend classes.
The APT program uses the same nationally accredited curriculum at both locations. Students learn about the process technology used in refineries and chemical plants, as well as skills in math, computers, science, language, team-building and problem-solving. Engineering summer camps, class trips and social events augment the students’ learning experience.
In 2008, Sunoco hired 11 APT alumni for operator positions, nine of whom (82 percent) were people of color.
Executive Leadership Council Sunoco is a member company of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), an organization dedicated to providing African American executives of Fortune 500 companies with a network and leadership forum, as well as sponsoring development training, symposiums, and mentoring programs to support minority success at all levels of corporate leadership.
Community Involvement Sunoco continues to strengthen our relationships with community organizations that target women and minorities, including the American Association of Blacks in Energy, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, the Pan American Association of Philadelphia, the Urban League and Women’s Way. We also utilize these resources and relationships to identify and recruit women and people of color.
Sunoco is also proud of its commitment to the education and development of a diverse workplace. Through support of organizations such as Philadelphia Futures, the Academy of Natural Science’s Women in Natural Science Program, City Year and Philadelphia Academies, the company plays a significant role in increasing educational opportunities for women and people of color. This, in turn, will help to create a broader, more diverse pool of potential company employees in the future.
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