2011 Annual Report - SBM Offshore

Workforce diversity
Over the decades, with its business spreading over 6 continents, the Company has embraced the challenges
offered by different environments and adapted to this cultural mosaic. This need for adaption and in-country
development has generated flexibility and diversity at all levels of the Company’s workforce. Indeed, the Company
has managed to turn this diversity into strength, building complementarities and synergies amongst its
employees.
The Company’s policy to recruit local-based employees whilst at the same time maintaining competency
requirements through training, has led to the employment of over 55 different nationalities.
In 2011, the Group is composed of 4 main populations: French, Angolan, Brazilian and Dutch followed by 3 other
key populations: Malaysian, British and American. This is explained by the geographical position of the Execution
Centres, construction sites and offshore production units.
Absenteeism and turnover
The average rate of absenteeism due to normal illness remains relatively steady at 2.95% in 2011 (2.6% in 2010).
Voluntary departures have been the main trigger for the Company’s slight increase in turnover rate, which has
risen from 10% in 2010 to 12% in 2011 and can be related to the economic up-turn in Houston and Kuala Lumpur.
Nevertheless, the percentage of turnover remains low compared to the average rate given for similar industries in
Europe and the USA. This can be attributed to the Company providing a competitive equitable remuneration
package, good working conditions and overall professional satisfaction to its core resource: its employees.
This is a customized selection from the SBM Offshore N.V. Annual Report 2011
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