Caring for the planet inevitably means caring for its people. The technology and science that define its industry do not make Sonaca Group blind to the importance of its workforce and to the well-being of its individual employees.
Its vision, mission and values benefit its employees, but the group also draws on the experience and knowledge of these same employees to define and apply them.
The group’s genuine concern for its employees’ mental health is enshrined in its “Right to disconnect” charter, which is an undertaking not to expect employees to answer the phone outside working hours.
Bullying, sexual harassment and burn-out are three unacceptable risks that the group has set out to eradicate through information, training, and sanctions.
The health of its workforce is another key concern that it sets out to enhance through its employee benefits. Every industrial worker at Sonaca must undergo a medical examination each year, and workstations are adapted as and when necessary. Individual and collective safety equipment is put in place for the specific work locations and an occupational physician is present on site every morning. Health and safety are monitored closely, with each incident reported and assessed.
Physical health is actively encouraged, but the mental health of its diverse workforce is also catered for. The group lays on activities, organizes conferences, and launches awareness campaigns designed to have a positive impact on employees:
- Conferences to boost well-being.
- Bi-weekly meetings with trade union delegations.
- Group pension insurance.
- Incentives to eat together at the company restaurant rather than at their desks.
- Outreach operations with schools and universities.
- Training sessions on psycho-social risks.
- Mobility awareness campaigns.
- Teambuilding within departments.
- Involvement in sporting and local events.
The group’s 1305 employees benefit from these policies.
For Sonaca, investing in its workforce is a no-brainer. The company ensures that the workforce is upskilled and trained in the specific equipment, machinery, and production sites, not only to further their own personal development, but also to limit and even eliminate the occurrence of accidents.
Diversity and inclusion
Sonaca is mindful of diversity in the workplace and makes concerted efforts to reduce underrepresentation of women, narrow the gender pay gap and attract talented women, without resorting to positive discrimination.
By creating a welcoming work environment that allows employees to thrive regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, or any other characteristic, the company sets out to foster innovation, improve performance, and secure sustainable growth.
Gender distribution amongst employees:
Age is another factor of diversity. Ageism is outlawed at Sonaca, a signatory to the CCT 104 plan, designed to retain workers older than 45 within the company. The company’s workforce is broken down as follows:
- 9% under 30 years old
- 57% between 30 and 50 years old
- 34% older than 50 years old
Equity
On a wider scale, the group’s people policy also extends to undertakings in the fields of child labor, forced labor, equal opportunities, and the General Data Protection Regulation GDPR.
The group also gives due consideration to the well-being of the communities where it operates by being actively involved at a local level.
Customers
The attitude towards its internal customers, i.e. its staff, also comes across in Sonaca’s treatment of its external customers. After all, they are the ultimate beneficiaries of its sustainable practices and are increasingly concerned about the impact of the products they use. These efforts are reflected in:
- Sustainable supply chains.
- Ethical sourcing.
- Environmentally friendly packaging.
- Sustainable production processes.
- etc.
This is Sonaca’s way of ensuring that customer satisfaction, product quality and safety, and innovation are at the heart of its business model.
The group actively seeks its customers’ feedback to ramp up its service to them. Audits are held regularly to demonstrate compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, which is crucial for gaining customer trust and confidence and gaining a competitive advantage. These audits also help identify risks and opportunities that may impact business operations and make it possible to anticipate risks, prevent incidents, improve customer service, and increase efficiency.