When you take care of your employees, your employees take care of you.
And while, yes, taking care of employees includes benefits like health insurance, a retirement plan, tuition assistance and parental leave, among others, it also includes creating a work environment that is safe, healthy and fun, according to Zeon Chemicals L.P.
Location: Louisville, Ky.
No. of employees: 340
Since its founding in 1989, the Louisville, Ky.-based specialty elastomers business has ensured its employees know they're valued, supported and return home safely every day. As a result, the company boasts low voluntary turnover, with most employees having a tenure over a decade.
It's this foundation of mutual "RESPECT"—relationships, empowerment, safety, people, environment, community and trust—that makes Zeon a Rubber News Best Place to Work.
Lindsey Heimbrock, the firm's human resources manager, shares what sets Zeon apart.
"We believe a company is a 'best place to work' when its management is committed to its employees and actively embodies the company's purpose and values. At Zeon, our employees have an average tenure of over 11 years, with almost 25 percent having at least 20 years of service. Our employees come to work each day knowing their contributions impact the business and that our leadership values their ideas and feedback. A company is successful when its employees feel heard and appreciated.
"We are proud of the company we've built, which offers great benefits, fosters a fun and positive work environment and is family friendly. Our purpose, 'Making Rubber that Makes a Difference,' and our values of RESPECT (Relationships, Empowerment, Safety, People, Environment, Community and Trust) are at the core of everything we do."
"Zeon's heritage dates back to the 1940s with BF Goodrich, and in 1989, ZCLP was formed from the former elastomer assets of the BF Goodrich facilities. Today, Zeon stands out in the rubber industry due to our commitment to the U.S., with three manufacturing facilities and an R&D center located here. We are investing in initiatives such as the expansion of our Texas plant for Zetpol HNBR and battery binders. Our U.S.-based technical service team has decades of hands-on experience, allowing us to partner with our customers to produce the best possible products for them.
"We are proud of the relationships we have formed with our customers by selling directly to them in the U.S. instead of through distributors, made possible by the expertise and dedication of our employees."
"Zeon takes care of its people not just by providing competitive wages, but also by offering excellent benefits such as cost-effective health plans for employees and their families, a generous 401(k) plan with company match and additional contributions, and a host of other benefits such as EAP, parental leave, tuition assistance, adoption assistance and paid time off.
"In addition to the pay and benefits that support our employees' livelihoods, we have created a workplace culture that genuinely cares. Our leaders care for and support their teams, and everyone takes care of each other through the good times and bad. Our leaders are empowered to help in times of need and are often able to offer flexibility and other support, like dinner, flowers or a helping hand to show up for their employees."
"Zeon wants employees to have fun, both at work and outside of work. We host a variety of events throughout the year, led by our Zeon Helping Hands Committee, including cookouts, a Maker's Day where employees showcase their hobbies and businesses, and a holiday costume contest where the winners dress up and deliver holiday gifts to a local elementary school.
"We plan family events outside of work, such as the Day at the Downs, where employees and their families join to watch the horse races at Churchill Downs, or bowling nights, where employees bring their families and have some friendly competition. Zeon is also involved with the Kentucky Derby Festival and a sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville, the Kentucky Derby's Opening Ceremonies and one of the country's top air shows and largest annual firework event. As part of this partnership, Zeon employees and their families are invited to join on the top of a parking structure for a front row seat to the day-long festivities.
"These events bring everyone together and foster a sense of community. In fact, it was through the Best Places to Work survey several years ago that we were reminded of the importance of our family events, and we have renewed our commitment to hosting them each year."
"At the end of the day, Zeon is successful when each employee has returned home safely to their families. Success also means producing a quality product that meets our customers' needs, supports our shareholders, neighbors and the communities in which we work through economic returns, charitable contributions, volunteer work, and sustainable business practices. We strive to live our values of (RESPECT) each day while 'Making Rubber that Makes a Difference.' "
"Zeon is committed to being involved in and making a positive impact on the rubber industry. As the founding corporate member of ACS Rubber Division, Zeon and our employees are very active in the organization and industry. Our technical service team is well-known throughout the industry and has presented technical presentations at a host of local Rubber Group meetings. Another impact to the industry is our Zeon Academy where we share technical knowledge with others in the industry to continue moving the rubber industry forward. We also have employees who dedicate time to educating young people about the industry and participate in career readiness and educational programs in high schools."
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