What Works in Biotech HR? - BioTalent Canada

3.0 Innovative Practices in Biotech HR (Keynote Presentation)
The keynote speaker on May 11 was Mary-Ann Rafferty, Director of
Organizational Development for California-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals. A
widely recognized expert in the Human Resources field, Ms. Rafferty stressed
the need for creativity and flexibility in managing HR issues. This is especially
true of the San Francisco Bay area, where intense competition for skilled workers
has driven companies to continually up the ante in offering compensation and
benefits to their employees. The severity of the situation has obligated senior
management in these companies to develop a profound understanding of the
importance of HR issues to their bottom line. This has opened the door to a
great deal of innovation in implementing strategies for attracting and retaining
skilled workers.
Specifically, Mary Ann shared her philosophy of the HR function moving from the
Gate Keeper role to that of the Wisdom Keeper. The Gate Keeper is a ‘corporate
cop’ role, where HR personnel are busy stressing compliance, explaining,
defending, executing policy and administrative decisions, and are often out of the
strategic decision loop. By contrast, the Wisdom Keeper stresses a
consciousness of ‘common good’, encourages a strong tolerance for ambiguity,
asks “what’s the problem” not “what’s the policy” and as a result is sought for
input in strategic decisions. Mary Ann also focused on her experience with
recognition and reward practices including novel stock options and plans,
relocation trends and perquisites. Finally Mary Ann also spoke on the success of
mentoring programs as a way of developing leadership and management skills –
such mentoring programs are often cross industrial.
Although the HR pressures faced by Canadian companies have not yet reached
the extreme levels seen in the Bay area, important lessons can be drawn from
the experience of biotech firms in California. The concepts of “a culture of
common good” and flexibility were seen again and again in the discussions
during the Roundtable session.
Biotechnology Human Resource Council (BHRC) 2000 6