The refining and petrochemical ORLEN Unipetrol Group has almost 5,000 employees, with over 2,600 people working in the Ústí Region. Therefore, providing for the needs of employees is a long-term priority, which is also reflected in the Employer of the Year 2021 competition results. In this independent ranking, ORLEN Unipetrol finished third in the Ústí Region. For 19 years, the Employer of the Year ranking has focused on companies in the Czech Republic from the human resources perspective. Its mission is to draw attention to companies with an excellent approach towards their employees nationwide and in individual regions. In addition to employees’ welfare, the awarded ORLEN Unipetrol strategy also includes intensive support of education and the Czech school system.
“Employer of the Year is a prestigious award that we appreciate very much. Our largest production plant is located in the Ústí Region, namely in Záluží near Litvínov. The award is proof that we have succeeded at satisfying our employees’ needs and improving our care for their professional and personal development despite the challenging pandemic period,” says Michał Chmiel, HR Director of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, in a comment on finishing third in the ranking.
“The Employer of the Year competition results show that ORLEN Unipetrol can successfully compete on the local labour market and significantly exceed the usual level in the majority of indicators,” explains director Pavel Hulák from the organising Employers Club. He adds: “Remuneration, education and career advancement are reflected in an independent ranking according to an international methodology. On the other hand, financial results also play an important role.” The Employers Club ranked ORLEN Unipetrol third in the Ústí Region based on a comprehensive evaluation of registered firms. The evaluation is done using a methodology by PricewaterhouseCoopers Czech Republic, which, as an expert guarantor, prepares the documentation. Since 2003, the objective of the competition has been to publicly present firms that take an excellent approach towards their employees.
In the Ústí Region, ORLEN Unipetrol has been using modern trends in its approach to employees for a long time. In addition to traditional tools ranging from a wide selection of benefits to supporting personal and professional development, it strongly emphasises employee involvement in corporate social responsibility projects. This area includes volunteer days, the employees’ Running Club, and environmental projects such as releasing fish into the River Bílina. Still, the Group does not forget about supporting Czech schools or students. Together with the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation, it promotes chemistry and provides financial assistance to hundreds of students and teachers and dozens of secondary schools and universities. Over the four years of its existence, the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation has distributed almost CZK 16 million in grant programmes and spent almost CZK 18 million on projects in education.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. In all these areas, it belongs among the critical players in the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo, with its Mogul brand in Pardubice, Spolana Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes a network of Benzina ORLEN filling stations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With 421 filling stations, Benzina ORLEN is the largest chain in the Czech Republic. Since its entry in 2019 to Slovakia, Benzina ORLEN has been one of the fastest-growing chains and currently has 20 stations in its network. ORLEN Unipetrol employs more than 4,800 people. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became a member of the ORLEN Group, the largest crude oil processor in Central Europe. In addition to its business development, ORLEN Unipetrol is proud to be a socially responsible corporation. Therefore, it pays an equal amount of attention to initiatives, focusing on the cultivation and support of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment.