Our people

All employees participate in an annual performance evaluation to assess their performance, through which a plan to improve their knowledge and develop their skills is designed.

In 2021, all employees (Group average 97.14%) were evaluated according to the integrated evaluation system. Detailed information by Group company is provided in index 404-3.

The Group’s leading market position is due to its ability to attract and retain the most competent employees in line with its principles and values.

In the Group, the remuneration system is designed to acknowledge and reward employees for their achievements and performance, as well as for the value that they add. The Group is committed to providing competitive remuneration designed to support the attraction and retention of employees who possess the skills required to achieve its business objectives.

The Group has a defined Remuneration Policy for Executives, which for the parent company is approved by the Remuneration and Succession Planning Committee, while for its subsidiaries the Policy is approved by their Boards of Directors. The Policy provides, inter alia, for the definition of the framework of total annual remuneration and the way in which total remuneration is divided into fixed and variable remuneration. Variable remuneration is designed to link remuneration to individual performance and contribution to the achievement of the Group’s objectives and is determined on the basis of predetermined measurable quantitative and qualitative criteria, which have been established by the Company’s remuneration policy for Executives. In formulating the Remuneration Policy for Executives, the best remuneration practices in the domestic labour market, based on market surveys, as well as the most important elements affecting the competitiveness and motivation of executives are taken into account. The salary policy for staff is determined by the Company’s Collective Labour Agreements, which are negotiated between the Company and the Union.

At the same time, a benefits policy is in place that provides substantial support to employees and their families. The Group is by their side at all times, offering assistance, security and certainty. Group employee benefits vary by company and country (detailed information is included in the GRI 201-1 index).

The supplementary Life and Health and Pension plans cover 91% and 86.36% of employees respectively (averages).

The Group recognises that the continuous development of team spirit and collegiality and the adoption of synergies can contribute to achieving work-life balance. To ensure this balance, the Group has developed corporate policies and programs such as:

• Open door policy between management and employees.
• Intranet (internal electronic communication network) and Employee Suggestion Box*.
• Provision of lunch for employees.
• Free transportation for employees to and from the premises.
• Psychological Support Line, for employees and their families.
• Coverage of expenses for camps and summer camps for employees’ children.
• Coverage of the costs of crèches for children of employees.
• Coverage of expenses for a six-day excursion.

Through continuous training, each employee seeks to understand the Group’s strategic objectives and his or her role in them, as well as to develop knowledge and skills in his/her area of responsibility in order to broaden his/her professional prospects. In 2021, the Group’s total training expenditure amounted to €734,727 (for 2020 it was €438,477), while training hours amounted to 102,426.

During the same year, Group-wide Development Programs of the HELPE Academy in the form of webinars and Executive Management Skills Empowerment Programs were conducted and extended to new Executives. Finally, the distance learning platform “HELPe-learning” was enriched with courses of general interest, as well as specialized technical courses for Refining and Trading.

As part of the effort to acquire a common safety culture in all the Group’s industrial facilities, a common basic training procedure (fire safety, rescue techniques, first aid, etc.) is carried out and leadership seminars are organised for all levels of hierarchy, with the aim of strengthening and consolidating a culture of safety. Training is also extended to contractors, customers, tanker drivers, service station operators, and students. At the same time, visitors are informed through printed material about the safety guidelines of the facilities.

For contractors in particular, the training is based on oral presentations by Safety Technicians and written examinations at accredited training centers and only successful candidates are issued with an entry card to the industrial premises for work.

It is important to note that in 2021, 51,758 man-hours of Health & Safety training of permanent staff and external contractors were carried out, representing 50.5% of the total man-hours of training. In addition, the percentage of people trained increased by 10%.

Group Training Program

Man-hours of Health & Safety Training by Facility & Gender

Ensuring the Health & Safety of employees and partners is the Group’s top priority and one of its key business commitments. Its objective is to prevent accidents and illnesses through the implementation of safe working environment practices and continuous improvement of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

The Group’s four main lines of action on Health & Safety are:

1. Leadership and commitment
2. Adoption of a safety culture
3. Improving performance and using safety indexes
4. Leveraging experience from incidents, implementing actions and corrective measures

The Group aspires to be at the forefront of the energy sector and to ensure a working environment, in all its activities, with zero accidents and absence of occupational diseases. With strong leadership and participation of all personnel, it seeks to protect the Health and enhance the Safety of employees and external partners from any negative effects that could arise during business activities.

In this context, the Group:

• Strengthens measures to prevent and mitigate risks.
• Commits to the provision and availability of the necessary resources to implement the Health & Safety objectives, as well as to the continuous improvement of the Health and Safety Management System.
• Consults with all stakeholders and ensures that the needs of society are met.

These three Principles are clearly reflected in the Group’s Policy and constitute a commitment on behalf of its Management.

In the area of occupational risk management, the principle of prevention is applied in order to anticipate and control all potential health & safety risks. Specifically, potential risks are identified and controlled in accordance with the criteria of Greek legislation (L.3850/2010), European and international codes and good practices. All facilities have occupational risk assessment studies, which include the measures taken to eliminate or control the risks and keep them at low levels.

Furthermore, the Health & Safety Management System is implemented, the core of which is “Risk Assessment”, supported and receiving feedback through procedures, inspections and safety training. The Group believes that “Safety is Everyone’s Business” and encourages employees to report and investigate incidents, near misses and unsafe situations, while rewarding successful safety interventions by staff. The Group’s approach focuses on the need for employees to be ‘open’ to learning from incidents and from their mistakes. Through the reporting and investigation of incidents, the immediate adoption of protective measures is strengthened.

The assessment and management of health & safety risks and opportunities lead to improved working conditions and employee performance and, consequently, to improved Group performance. The implementation of the Holistic Safety Management System is extended to the Group’s other activities, next to Refining, in order to improve corporate culture and safety performance.

Finally, by implementing Health & Safety programs/ actions for all stakeholders (e.g. the local community), the long-term benefits of the Health & Safety Management System are promoted and consolidated. The Group places particular emphasis on employee Health & Safety training. More information on this is presented in the Training section.

Ensuring the health of employees is an integral part of the Group’s policy. The Health Supervision Procedure is implemented and periodic medical examinations of employees are carried out in connection with their workplace, age group and gender. Ensuring the good health of employees is completed by the additional examination of employees by the Occupational Physicians.

In 2021, approximately €13 million were invested in safety improvements at all Group facilities in Greece and abroad. These fixed investments do not include the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for operations and for protection against COVID-19, the supply and maintenance of safety instruments and equipment, and the supply of fire-fighting materials and other consumables.

The Group, with the aim of continuously improving its corporate culture and achieving excellence in Safety, is committed to implementing a Holistic Safety Management program across the entire range of its activities, based on the standards of major international groups in the sector.

The Holistic Safety Management consists of 21 Systems – Pillars, which have been completed for the industrial facilities and cover every aspect of the Facilities’ operations. Since 2021, the Holistic Safety Management program is being implemented at EKO SA too. In order to achieve Safety Excellence within each System, the requirements to be met, the roles and responsibilities related to their implementation, and the methodology for assessing and measuring performance are described.

2021 was another particularly challenging year for all Group companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the key actions in terms of Health & Safety, the Group continues to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, through the coordinated actions included in the pandemic response Policy and implemented in all activities and at all levels of the Organization. The Group’s pandemic prevention and response Policy is reviewed periodically in accordance with the guidelines of the National Public Health Organization (EODY) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as in accordance with new scientific data. The Policy applies to all employees working on the premises and facilities of the Group and its subsidiaries, as well as to all employees of third-party companies, providers of works, services or supplies, and commercial partners who come to the Group’s facilities to carry out works.

In 2021, the following practices for the protection and information of employees continued:

• 197,415 total tests (rapid test and PCR) among employees for COVID-19 detection.
• >8 million PPE (masks, gloves, goggles and protective suits) provided to staff for protection against COVID-19.
• Establishment of teleworking where feasible.
• Review of COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention Measures Management System (COVID SHIELD) certification by an independent third-party certification body at all Group facilities and Headquarters.
• 22 issues of “NEWS-19”, since the beginning of the pandemic, with updates and news of the Group regarding COVID-19, exclusively for the Group’s employees in Greece.

Each Group activity (industrial facilities, fuel storage facilities, hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, self-operated fuel stations, offices) sets annual measurable targets to improve its Health & Safety performance. Reporting against targets is done on a monthly and annual basis and a report is presented to management.

In addition, the Group cooperates with the European organisation CONCAWE and participates in the annual survey and benchmarking of accidents that occur.

In particular, in 2021, out of a total of 9,464,621 man-hours worked, 28 accidents resulting in lost workdays occurred among staff and external partners.