FEATURES
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Posted Mar 13, 2009
 Merck has a long history as a diversity leader, as evidenced by its presence on this list for the seventh year in a row. The pharmaceutical company moved up significantly this year, largely because of its demonstrable CEO commitment and strong employee-resource groups. |
 Led by Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Deborah Dagit, who has become a well-regarded global diversity leader, Merck has been a trendsetter in creating an inclusive work force. Chairman, President and CEO Richard T. Clark is a strong advocate of diversity. He personally signs off on executive compensation tied to diversity as well as goals and achievements for supplier diversity. Clark's 10 direct reports reflect his commitment to diversity--three are Black, one is Asian, one is Native American and two are women.
Clark also meets regularly with employee-resource groups, including the company's 10 Global Constituency Groups: Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Indigenous, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT), Generational, Interfaith, Differently Abled, Men and Women.
Merck has advanced work/life benefits, including paid time off for volunteering/community service and enhanced accommodations for employees with disabilities.
The company has a long history of philanthropic commitment to multicultural groups; its current roster includes the UNCF, GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), The PhD Project, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and COSD (Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities).
Merck also has an improving supplier-diversity program. This year, the company spent 8.6 percent of its total Tier I (direct contractor) procurement with minority-business enterprises (MBEs) and 4.3 percent with women-business enterprises (WBEs). Merck is involved with several multicultural supplier organizations and is partnering with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to start a new chapter in Puerto Rico. |
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Richard T. Clark, Chairman, President and CEO
"Embracing diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, it is an important part of our business strategy and key to the long-term success of Merck. The incorporation of these principles into our business enables us to drive innovation and create the next generation of lifesaving and enhancing products for patients who need them." |
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Deborah Dagit, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
"In a modern global business, the integration of diversity and inclusion principles and practices are required elements. Our work force and our marketplace expect us to be not just culturally aware but culturally competent in how we engage both our employees and our customers. A failure to embrace diversity and inclusion is a signal to your talent and your consumer that you are out of touch with the current realities of doing business." |
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Industry
Pharmaceuticals
Main Competitors
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis
U.S. Headquarters
Whitehouse Station, N.J. |
Number of U.S. Employees
26,265
Annual Revenue
$24.2 billion
% of Operations Outside U.S.
48 |
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