Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

Employee reportingAs in the previous years, Boehringer Ingelheim’s workforceincreased in the 2012 financial year. The averagenumber of employees for the year was 46,228, up 4.8%on the previous year.Average number of employees by region 2012 2011Americas 15,208 14,300Europe 22,106 21,380Asia, Australasia, Africa (AAA) 8,914 8,41446,228 44,094Boehringer Ingelheim’s employees are an important factorin the successful future development of the company.Accordingly, we are particularly committed to activelydeveloping and supporting our employees in order to ensurethat we are ideally equipped to deal with the challengesahead. As part of a comprehensive qualificationsystem, we place great importance not only on the acquisitionof technical skills, but also on the promotion ofsocial skills.Creating conditions that enable a healthy work-life balanceis one of the keys to corporate success and satisfactionin the workplace. Flexible working hours, part-timeworking and teleworking, nursery places, individual employeesupport and preventive health programmes aremeasures that allow people to strike a balance betweentheir career and their private life. In the past year, thisfamily-friendly HR policy was again recognised by the“berufundfamilie®” initiative of the Hertie Foundation inGermany. Following basic certification in 2005, we successfullycompleted the re-auditing process in June. Inthe USA, the National Business Group on Health presentedBoehringer Ingelheim with the “Best Employersfor Healthy Lifestyles Award” in 2012. These repeatedawards serve to underline the attractiveness of our companyand also motivate our employees to continue tocreate a family-friendly working environment in future.Boehringer Ingelheim has traditionally upheld a strongcommitment to promoting young talent. In Germany, weemployed 672 apprentices in 30 different occupations inthe past financial year. We also help people with disabilitiesto integrate into professional life thanks to the versatilityof the occupations we offer. In 2012, BoehringerIngelheim became the first company in Germany to preparea dedicated plan of action for implementing the UNConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.As a result, we received a special prize from the Rhineland-PalatinateState Department of Social and YouthServices for the exemplary employment of severelyhandicapped people.Talent management plays an important role within ourcorporate strategy. The aim of the programme is to havethe right employees available in the right place at theright time. This ensures the employability and professionaldevelopment of all employees. Employees withdevelopment potential are identified and specifically preparedfor strategically important positions from an earlystage. This targeted employee development providesBoehringer Ingelheim with a strategic competitive advantagein a rapidly changing and highly competitivebusiness environment and enables it to achieve longtermemployee retention.Boehringer Ingelheim’s remuneration system consists ofa standard basic salary plus variable salary componentsthat vary depending on the success of the company andthe achievement of individual targets by the respectiveemployees. Our attractive remuneration system, whichplaces us in a strong competitive position, is rounded offby extensive voluntary benefits such as our company pensionscheme and preventive health checks. For a numberof years, Boehringer Ingelheim has also offered its seniormanagers a remuneration component linked to the company’slong-term success; this component is geared towardsthe attainment of long-term company targets ratherthan short-term goals.Corporate citizenshipA commitment to society and an awareness of social responsibilityhave been key elements of Boehringer Ingelheim’scorporate culture for more than 125 years. Thislong tradition shows how important the well-being of30Boehringer Ingelheim annual report 2012