MSD recognized as Top Employer 2022 for the 10th consecutive time
20.01.2022 13:47 Europe/Zurich
MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, a leading global biopharmaceutical company based in Lucerne and Zurich has been officially certified as a Top Employer 2022 in Switzerland for the 10th consecutive time in a row. This recognition reflects a variety of benefits that MSD offers to its employees such as a newly launched Working-from-Home policy as well as a generous 16-week gender-neutral parental leave.
From among various companies evaluated in Switzerland, MSD has been certified as ‘Top Employer Switzerland’ by the independent Top Employers Institute for the tenth time in a row. Each year, the Top Employers Institute certifies organizations that are focused on putting their employees first and provide an attractive workplace environment that encourages professional and personal development.
Crucial factors for gaining the Top Employer Certification
Important factors for winning the Award include above-average ratings under the headings Human Resource Management, Remuneration and Social Security, Career Opportunities, Working Conditions, Education & Training, as well as Corporate Culture. The certification is based on the participation and results of the HR Best Practices Survey. MSD scored highly in all survey categories, particularly in the topics of Employee Engagement, which takes into consideration Well-being, as well as Rewards & Recognition. One more top scorer is the area of Unity, which is comprised of Ethical Integrity, Values, Diversity & Inclusion and Work environment. Judeke Frederiks, HR Director Switzerland comments, “We are honored to be recognized as a Top Employer in Switzerland once again. The 10th award we received underlines our ongoing commitment to creating flexible working conditions and an attractive workplace. We are proud to be above benchmark in many areas, especially in employee well-being – evaluations that are crucial in the best of times and even more important during the actual unprecedented times of the ongoing pandemic.”
Employee benefits
Since 2020, all new parents, regardless of gender, are offered 16 weeks with 100% pay within the first 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child. This policy is one of the most generous and inclusive in Switzerland, compared to the two weeks that have been legally required in Switzerland. In the same year, MSD instituted a new policy giving full flexibility to employees and their managers to determine how much they work remotely. In addition, MSD has put increased emphasis on working in digital ways becoming a more agile organization and more focused on growth and learning.
Diversity & Inclusion
MSD is demonstrating a strong focus on Diversity and Inclusion, for example through the many internal networks like the Women’s network, Next Generation network, LGBTQI network and our network for employees from African descent. MSD will continue to expand these networks.
The mentioned initiatives are big milestones in terms of benefits for all MSD employees in Switzerland, in line with its commitment to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing. More importantly, it reflects the company values and understanding on how to achieve the best possible balance between private life, family, and career.
About Top Employer
Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in people practices. The Institute helps accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Certification Program, participants can be certified and recognized as an employer of choice. Established more than 25 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified over 1 600 organizations in 119 countries and regions. These certified companies positively impact the lives of over 6 900 000 employees globally. Crucial factors for gaining the Top Employer Award include above-average ratings under the headings Human Resource Management, Remuneration and Social Security, Career Opportunities, Working Conditions, Education and Training, and Corporate Culture. Only those companies with above-average performance in all these areas are awarded the Top Employer quality label. Further information can be accessed under the following webpage: www.top-employers.com.
About MSD in Switzerland
MSD Switzerland employs over 1’000 people working in local, regional and global functions across four sites in the canton of Lucerne and one site in the canton of Zurich. Our business activities are subdivided in the two divisions, Human Health and Animal Health. MSD Human Health covers a broad range of biopharmaceuticals. Our areas of research and development are focusing on Oncology and Immuno-Oncology as well as Vaccines to prevent diseases for children, young people, and adults against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Ebola, Hepatitis, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus, Measles, Rubella, Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster. In addition, MSD is conducting research in the area of infectious diseases to find new therapeutic approaches for antibiotic resistance, HIV/Aids and Hepatitis C. Further research focuses include Immunology (auto-immune diseases) as well as Diabetes. MSD has a long-lasting legacy in contributing to major public health challenges, such as River Blindness, Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.
MSD Animal Health develops and markets products for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in farm animals and pets. With the most innovative and largest product portfolio for animal health in Switzerland, MSD contributes substantially to animals’ well-being.
Our company has one of the largest clinical research programs worldwide. MSD Switzerland conducts 35 clinical trials per year for which the required medicines are manufactured at our research & development site in Schachen. The Schachen site operates since 2018 one of the three MSD forensic laboratories worldwide, investigating in manipulations and counterfeiting of MSD products – an important contribution to patient safety.
At the newly opened Zurich site “The Circle”, our company sets the focus on research & development, data management and the commercialization of our medicines and vaccines. The Zurich hub offers a state-of-the-art work environment where our empowered, culturally diverse and inclusive workforce focuses on scientific excellence to improve people’s health.
MSD Switzerland plays an active role in its community and supports a range of local and regional initiatives as for example MSD for mothers, the health congress “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern”, and the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne. Since 2013, MSD Switzerland has been continuously certified as a Top Employer and is pioneering a gender-neutral parental leave program for employees.
For more information www.msd.ch, www.de.msd-animal-health.chFollow-us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
About MSD
For more than 130 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.
For more information, visit http://www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Media department
MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. 058 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)
Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
CH-NON-01518, 01/2022