Sustainability Report 2021

Employees

TAG overview

Results for

Total number of employees

Total number of employees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Total number of employees

 

51,749

 

57,071

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

8,081

Men

 

29,006

 

32,531

 

33,204

 

34,274

 

5,292

Women

 

22,743

 

24,540

 

24,923

 

26,074

 

2,789

Number of employees by hierarchical level

Number of employees by hierarchical level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

20181

 

20192

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Total employees

 

51,749

 

57,071

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

8,081

Senior management (Role 6+)

 

193

 

190

 

193

 

194

 

70

Middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

3,095

 

3,352

 

3,637

 

3,831

 

824

Low management (Role 3)

 

9,019

 

9,499

 

10,286

 

10,880

 

2,077

Other employees (below Role 3)

 

39,442

 

44,030

 

44,011

 

45,443

 

5,110

% of women (total)

 

44

 

43

 

43

 

43

 

35

thereof in senior management (Role 6+)

 

36

 

39

 

42

 

49

 

18

thereof in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

1,025

 

1,146

 

1,284

 

1,413

 

257

thereof in low management (Role 3)

 

3,795

 

4,029

 

4,352

 

4,669

 

773

thereof other employees (below Role 3)

 

17,888

 

19,326

 

19,245

 

19,943

 

1,741

% of men (total)

 

56

 

57

 

57

 

57

 

65

thereof in senior management (Role 6+)

 

157

 

151

 

151

 

145

 

52

thereof in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

2,070

 

2,206

 

2,353

 

2,418

 

567

thereof in low management (Role 3)

 

5,224

 

5,470

 

5,934

 

6,211

 

1,304

thereof other employees (below Role 3)

 

21,554

 

24,704

 

24,766

 

25,500

 

3,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by age group
Up to 29 years old (%)

 

15

 

15

 

15

 

15

 

14

thereof in senior management (Role 6+)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

thereof in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

5

 

8

 

6

 

8

 

2

thereof in low management (Role 3)

 

211

 

190

 

199

 

241

 

65

thereof other employees (below Role 3)

 

7,279

 

8,362

 

8,365

 

8,880

 

1,058

30 to 49 years old (%)

 

61

 

60

 

60

 

60

 

53

thereof in senior management (Role 6+)

 

69

 

69

 

68

 

63

 

25

thereof in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

1,829

 

1,933

 

2,032

 

2,172

 

512

thereof in low management (Role 3)

 

6,206

 

6,516

 

6,926

 

7,298

 

1,336

thereof other employees (below Role 3)

 

23,536

 

25,859

 

25,948

 

26,624

 

2,415

50 years or older (%)

 

24

 

25

 

25

 

25

 

33

thereof in senior management (Role 6+)

 

124

 

121

 

125

 

131

 

45

thereof in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

1,261

 

1,411

 

1,599

 

1,651

 

310

thereof in low management (Role 3)

 

2,602

 

2,793

 

3,161

 

3,341

 

676

thereof other employees (below Role 3)

 

8,627

 

9,809

 

9,698

 

9,939

 

1,637

1

In 2018 the position assessment had not yet been carried out for employees of all Sigma-Aldrich legal entities in Germany, or for employees of Allergopharma. In the facts and figures, these employees are included under “other employees (below Role 3)”.

2

In 2019, the position assessment had not yet been carried out for employees of Versum Materials as well as of Allergopharma. In the figures, employees whose positions have not been assessed have been allocated to “other employees (below Role 3)”.

Average number of employees by functional area

Average number of employees by functional area1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20182

 

20193

 

20204

 

2021

Group

 

53,809

 

53,645

 

57,612

 

58,731

thereof women

 

23,388

 

23,503

 

24,746

 

25,295

Production

 

16,240

 

16,455

 

17,624

 

19,782

thereof women

 

5,359

 

5,529

 

6,043

 

6,541

Logistics/Supply Chain

 

4,014

 

4,109

 

4,298

 

4,557

thereof women

 

1,569

 

1,626

 

1,734

 

1,838

Marketing and Sales/Commercials

 

15,479

 

13,970

 

14,127

 

14,318

thereof women

 

6,981

 

6,608

 

6,787

 

6,906

Administration

 

9,864

 

10,342

 

11,342

 

11,824

thereof women

 

5,067

 

5,194

 

5,499

 

5,718

Research and Development

 

7,245

 

7,561

 

7,504

 

7,168

thereof women

 

3,871

 

4,053

 

3,996

 

3,694

Infrastructure and Other

 

966

 

1,208

 

2,717

 

1,083

thereof women

 

541

 

493

 

687

 

598

1

The average employee headcount is calculated by adding up all employees at the end of each of the last 13 months, and dividing this total by 13.

2

The average employee headcount for fiscal 2018 incorporates the Consumer Health employees on a pro rata basis up until the end of November 2018 due to the divestment of the Consumer Health business as of December 1, 2018.

3

To calculate the average number of employees in fiscal 2019, the employee headcount of Versum Materials has been included on a pro rata basis as of October 2019 owing to the acquisition. They are allocated to the functional area “Infrastructure and Other”.

4

The average employee headcount for fiscal 2020 incorporates the Allergopharma employees on a pro rata basis up until the end of March 2020 due to the divestment of the Allergopharma business as of March 31, 2020.

Number of employees by region

Number of employees by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Total

 

51,749

 

57,071

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

8,081

Europe

 

25,792

 

26,715

 

26,587

 

27,217

 

8,081

Women

 

11,464

 

11,909

 

11,743

 

12,098

 

2,789

Women (%)

 

44

 

45

 

44

 

44

 

35

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

1,209

 

1,137

 

1,105

 

988

 

247

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

5

 

4

 

4

 

4

 

3

North America

 

10,978

 

12,829

 

13,312

 

14,070

 

0

Women

 

4,742

 

5,285

 

5,527

 

5,800

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

43

 

41

 

42

 

41

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

148

 

158¹

 

139

 

115

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

1

 

1¹

 

1

 

1

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

10,486

 

12,728

 

13,518

 

14,285

 

0

Women

 

4,348

 

5,049

 

5,425

 

5,874

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

41

 

40

 

40

 

41

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

2,846

 

3,263¹

 

3,362

 

3,660

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

27

 

26¹

 

25

 

26

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

3,340

 

3,433

 

3,387

 

3,529

 

0

Women

 

1,648

 

1,690

 

1,630

 

1,721

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

49

 

49

 

48

 

49

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

62

 

55

 

67

 

12

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

0

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

1,153

 

1,366

 

1,323

 

1,247

 

0

Women

 

541

 

607

 

598

 

581

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

47

 

44

 

45

 

47

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

189

 

182

 

420

 

59

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

16

 

13

 

32

 

5

 

not applicable

1

Employees whose contract type had not yet been recorded in our database by December 31, 2019 were divided up proportionally between the categories “employees with permanent contracts” and “employees with temporary contracts”.

Employees by business sector

Employees by business sector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Life Science employees

 

20,667

 

21,934

 

23,196

 

25,323

thereof women

 

8,837

 

9,487

 

10,175

 

11,255

thereof women (%)

 

43

 

43

 

44

 

44

Healthcare employees

 

17,456

 

18,136

 

17,463

 

17,269

thereof women

 

8,884

 

9,232

 

8,788

 

8,717

thereof women (%)

 

51

 

51

 

50

 

50

Electronics employees

 

5,278

 

7,329

 

7,228

 

7,432

thereof women

 

1,411

 

1,712

 

1,666

 

1,704

thereof women (%)

 

27

 

23

 

23

 

23

Employees by contract type

Employees by contract type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Total employees

 

51,749

 

57,071

 

58,127

 

60,348

Number of employees with permanent contracts

 

47,295

 

52,276¹

 

53,034

 

55,514

% of employees with permanent contracts

 

91

 

92¹

 

91

 

92

thereof women

 

20,545

 

22,237¹

 

22,500

 

23,640

thereof women (%)

 

43

 

43¹

 

42

 

43

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

4,454

 

4,795¹

 

5,093

 

4,834

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

9

 

8¹

 

9

 

8

thereof women

 

2,198

 

2,303¹

 

2,423

 

2,434

thereof women (%)

 

49

 

48¹

 

48

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

full-time employees

 

49,273

 

54,265

 

55,220

 

57,091

% full-time

 

95

 

95

 

95

 

95

thereof women

 

20,577

 

22,208

 

22,572

 

23,585

thereof women (%)

 

42

 

41

 

41

 

41

part-time employees

 

2,476

 

2,806

 

2,907

 

3,257

% part-time

 

5

 

5

 

5

 

5

thereof women

 

2,166

 

2,332

 

2,351

 

2,489

thereof women (%)

 

87

 

83

 

81

 

76

1

Employees whose contract type had not yet been recorded in our database by December 31, 2019 were divided up proportionally between the categories “employees with permanent contracts” and “employees with temporary contracts”.

New employees

New employees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

20191

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Total number of new employee hires

 

7,129

 

7,924

 

6,669

 

8,960

 

504

by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up to 29 years old

 

2,967

 

3,432

 

2,889

 

3,679

 

263

30 to 49 years old

 

3,728

 

4,055

 

3,347

 

4,610

 

225

50 or older

 

434

 

437

 

433

 

671

 

16

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

3,401

 

3,622

 

3,016

 

4,101

 

215

Men

 

3,728

 

4,302

 

3,653

 

4,859

 

289

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2,560

 

2,529

 

2,160

 

2,567

 

504

North America

 

1,524

 

1,733

 

1,789

 

2,855

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

2,222

 

2,729

 

2,206

 

2,803

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

583

 

578

 

396

 

579

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

240

 

355

 

118

 

156

 

not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate of new employee hires2 (%)

 

14

 

14

 

11

 

15

 

6

by age group3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up to 29 years old

 

42

 

43

 

43

 

41

 

52

30 to 49 years old

 

52

 

51

 

50

 

51

 

45

50 or older

 

6

 

6

 

7

 

8

 

3

by gender3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

48

 

46

 

45

 

46

 

43

Men

 

52

 

54

 

55

 

54

 

57

by region3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

36

 

32

 

32

 

29

 

100

North America

 

21

 

22

 

27

 

32

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

31

 

34

 

33

 

31

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

8

 

7

 

6

 

6

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

3

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

not applicable

1

These figures exclude the approximately 2,400 Versum Materials and Intermolecular employees who are not classified as new hires because they joined the Group as part of the acquisitions.

2

Formula for calculating the rate of new employee hires: Total number of new employee hires divided by number of employees at the end of the fiscal year.

3

Formula for calculating the rate of new employee hires by age/gender/region: New employee hires of the focus group divided by the total number of new employee hires.

Staff turnover

Staff turnover1,2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

20203

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Total turnover rate

 

9.09

 

9.07

 

8.22

 

10.82

 

2.37

Turnover rate by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men

 

9.03

 

8.69

 

8.22

 

10.69

 

2.45

Women

 

9.18

 

9.54

 

8.22

 

11.00

 

2.22

Turnover rate by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

14.24

 

13.13

 

11.30

 

16.64

 

2.59

30 to 49 years old

 

8.53

 

8.90

 

7.74

 

10.05

 

1.95

50 or older

 

7.39

 

7.03

 

7.52

 

9.22

 

2.95

Turnover rate by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

5.73

 

5.72

 

5.64

 

6.00

 

2.37

North America

 

9.90

 

11.02

 

9.79

 

15.44

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

14.51

 

13.18

 

10.60

 

14.66

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

15.41

 

13.47

 

11.40

 

12.95

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

9.77

 

12.14

 

11.80

 

16.57

 

not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of leavers

 

4,613

 

4,863

 

4,721

 

6,354

 

201

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men

 

2,578

 

2,621

 

2,697

 

3,575

 

139

Women

 

2,035

 

2,242

 

2,024

 

2,779

 

62

by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

1,061

 

1,042

 

974

 

1,451

 

30

30 to 49 years old

 

2,649

 

2,898

 

2,677

 

3,545

 

86

50 or older

 

903

 

923

 

1,070

 

1,358

 

85

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

1,457

 

1,500

 

1,490

 

1,601

 

201

North America

 

1,064

 

1,264

 

1,281

 

2,078

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

1,468

 

1,484

 

1,394

 

2,015

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

522

 

459

 

398

 

449

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

102

 

156

 

158

 

211

 

not applicable

1

The table contains unadjusted turnover rates. The rate excludes employees who pause due to parental leave or a long-term illness, as well as employees who are transitioning to the non-working phase of partial retirement.

2

The employee turnover rate is calculated as follows: Total number of leavers from the past 12 months divided by the average employee headcount multiplied by 100.

3

The figures do not reflect the approximately 500 Allergopharma employees, who were not included in the employee turnover rate due to the divestment of the business.

In 2021, the average length of service for employees Group-wide was 9.5 years (2020: 9.6 years), with 15.7 years (2020: 16.2 years) for employees of  Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Work-related accidents

Work-related accidents1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR = workplace accidents resulting in missed days of work per one million hours worked)

 

1.2

 

1.6

 

1.3

 

1.2

 

2.5

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

1.8

 

2.6

 

2.4

 

2.1

 

2.5

North America

 

1.1

 

1.0

 

0.8²

 

1.2

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

0.3

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

1.5

 

1.7

 

0.8²

 

0.4

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

0.7

 

0.0

 

0.4

 

0.0

 

not applicable

Number of deaths

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

North America

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

Men

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

1

Including supervised temporary staff

2

Figure retroactively adjusted

Through the LTIR, we record work-related accidents that involve at least one day of missed work. A work-related accident is an injury that results from the type of work, in the course of doing said work, and that has no internal cause. Work-related accidents are considered relevant if they occur on the premises, on business trips, during goods transport, as a result of external influences (e.g. natural disasters), or due to criminal acts involving personal injury. Commuting accidents and accidents during company sporting activities are not included. First-aid incidents are generally not included in the LTIR since these usually do not result in more than one day of missed work.

We aim to sustainably lower our LTIR to 1.0 by 2025.

The LTIR is the key occupational safety indicator for the Group as a whole. Therefore, we do not publish any other indicators such as workplace accidents, lost days or days of absence. The LTIR is not broken down by gender as this differentiation is not relevant to our strategic planning.

For Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (about 13% of the employees of the Group), we only report work-related illnesses if these have been certified as an occupational illness by the employers' liability insurance association. In 2021 period, 4 cases of work-induced illness were verified.

Employees who regularly receive a performance and development evaluation

Employees who regularly receive a performance and development evaluation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20181

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021
The Group2

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany2

% of employees who receive a performance and development evaluation

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

100

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

99

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

100

Men

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

100

by employee category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior management (Role 6+)

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

Middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

Low management (Role 3)

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

Other employees (below Role 3)

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

100

1

In 2018 the position assessment had not yet been carried out for employees of all Sigma-Aldrich legal entities in Germany, or for employees of Allergopharma. In the facts and figures, these employees are included under “other employees (below Role 3)”.

2

Employees whose role level had not yet been recorded in our database by December 31, 2021 are included under “other employees (below Role 3)”.

Regular feedback and employee performance evaluations are essential to fairly ranking individual performance and to helping all employees follow their own career path at our company. Our globally uniform Performance and Talent Management Process requires annual feedback meetings and performance assessments. Apart from evaluating employee performance, this helps us to identify individual development opportunities.
In Germany, all permanent employees have been participating in the Performance and Talent Management Process since 2013. In 2021, a total of 59,209 employees worldwide were involved in the process. The Performance and Talent Management Process is coordinated via our online platform HR4You.

Internationality of employees

Internationality of employees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

20181

 

20192

 

2020

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

Number of nationalities

 

136

 

139

 

141

 

142

 

89

Number of nationalities in management positions (Role 4 or above)

 

70

 

73

 

75

 

79

 

39

% of non-Germans in management positions (Role 4 or above)

 

64

 

64

 

66

 

66

 

13

1

In 2018 the position assessment had not yet been carried out for employees of all Sigma-Aldrich legal entities in Germany, or for employees of Allergopharma.

2

In 2019, the position assessment had not yet been carried out for employees of Versum Materials as well as of Allergopharma.

Employee age by region

Employee age by region

As of Dec. 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of employees

 

Worldwide

 

North America

 

Europe
(including Germany)

 

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

 

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

Latin America

 

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

8,570

 

1,906

 

3,193

 

1,161

 

2,800

 

472

 

199

thereof women

 

4,018

 

825

 

1,525

 

420

 

1,307

 

260

 

101

30 to 49 years old

 

34,974

 

6,615

 

15,416

 

4,458

 

9,669

 

2,323

 

951

thereof women

 

15,268

 

2,841

 

7,076

 

1,505

 

3,776

 

1,161

 

414

50 or older

 

14,583

 

4,791

 

7,978

 

2,959

 

1,049

 

592

 

173

thereof women

 

5,637

 

1,861

 

3,142

 

839

 

342

 

209

 

83

Average age

 

41.7

 

44.4

 

43.1

 

43.4

 

37.0

 

40.7

 

39.1

Total employees

 

58,127

 

13,312

 

26,587

 

8,578

 

13,518

 

3,387

 

1,323

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

9,129

 

2,219

 

3,341

 

1,125

 

2,912

 

482

 

175

thereof women

 

4,359

 

961

 

1,598

 

415

 

1,437

 

265

 

98

30 to 49 years old

 

36,157

 

6,939

 

15,653

 

4,288

 

10,260

 

2,404

 

901

thereof women

 

15,888

 

2,958

 

7,224

 

1,550

 

4,081

 

1,225

 

400

50 or older

 

15,062

 

4,912

 

8,223

 

2,668

 

1,113

 

643

 

171

thereof women

 

5,827

 

1,881

 

3,276

 

824

 

356

 

231

 

83

Average age

 

41.6

 

43.9

 

43.1

 

43.1

 

37.1

 

40.8

 

39.7

Total employees

 

60,348

 

14,070

 

27,217

 

8,081

 

14,285

 

3,529

 

1,247

Age of youngest employee

Age of youngest employee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Age of youngest employee, excluding apprentices

 

17

 

18

 

18

 

18

Voluntary insurance benefits

Voluntary insurance benefits (voluntarily introduced and (co-) financed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

20191

 

20201

 

2021
The Group

 

2021
thereof
Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt,
Germany

% of employees with healthcare benefits2

 

67

 

68

 

63

 

64

 

0

% of employees with Group accident insurance3

 

39

 

36

 

41

 

41

 

3

% of employees with life insurance4

 

58

 

58

 

56

 

59

 

0

% of employees with disability insurance
(short-term and long-term)5

 

37

 

39

 

39

 

39

 

0

1

The figures exclude Versum Materials and Intermolecular since the integration process was still underway at this point of time. For more information, see report profile.

2

Any spend on voluntarily introduced and (co-) financed healthcare benefits for employees and possibly their dependents. Not taking into consideration any mandatory social security cover (mostly covered by an insurance policy).

3

Any spend on voluntarily introduced and (co-) financed accident insurance that pays a defined amount in case of death or disability caused by a work-related accident (not taking into consideration any mandatory social security cover, e.g. workman's compensation).

4

Any spend on voluntarily introduced and (co-) financed life insurance cover that pays a defined amount of money in case of natural death (not accidental).

5

Any spend on voluntarily introduced and (co-) financed insurance cover that disability pays for salary continuation in case of inability to work caused by an insured incident.

All our employees are covered by either statutory or voluntary accident and health insurance. Employees of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany are covered by statutory insurance as stipulated by the regulations in force in Germany.

We offer a company pension in numerous countries along with various programs for supplemental company pensions and survivor's benefits.
The global benefits listed in the table above are designed to provide additional security to our workforce and their families and to improve their quality of life. Benefits represent voluntarily employer-initiated as well as employer-financed assistance to our workforce in addition to the regular compensation package.

Our benefits offer meaningful choices, where possible, to support a diverse workforce and are sensitive to the needs and customs of the employees who use them, regardless of country, age, family status, interests, or values.

Long-term pension obligations and post-employment benefits

Long-term pension obligations and post-employment benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

€ million

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Present value of all defined benefit obligations as of Dec. 31

 

4,719

 

5,644

 

6,352

 

5,995

Pension expenses

 

319

 

357

 

408

 

461

Depending on the legal, economic and fiscal circumstances prevailing in each country, different retirement benefit systems are provided for the employees. Generally, these systems are based on the years of service and salaries of the employees. Pension obligations include both defined benefit and defined contribution plans and comprise both obligations from current pensions and accrued benefits for pensions payable in the future. Further information can be found in the note on Provisions for employee benefits (p. 288-294, No. 33) of our Annual Report 2021.

Flexible working hours in Germany

Flexible working hours in Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

% of employees utilizing the “mywork” program working model

 

42

 

43

 

48

 

51

In coordination with their teams and supervisors, employees taking advantage of our “mywork” program can choose when and where they work.

Parental leave

Parental leave1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Number of employees with a right to parental leave

 

308

 

375

 

351

 

414

thereof women (recorded via maternity leave in the respective year)

 

188

 

239

 

225

 

255

thereof men (recorded via special paternity leave in the respective year)

 

120

 

136

 

126

 

159

Number of employees who took parental leave2

 

500

 

542

 

538

 

617

thereof women

 

240

 

248

 

265

 

278

thereof men

 

260

 

294

 

273

 

339

Number of employees on parental leave who worked part time during their leave

 

128

 

164

 

104

 

198

thereof women

 

109

 

140

 

73

 

172

thereof men

 

19

 

24

 

31

 

26

Number of employees who returned from parental leave2

 

312

 

536

 

529

 

597

thereof women

 

65

 

243

 

252

 

273

thereof men

 

247

 

293

 

277

 

324

Return to work rate (%)

 

62.4

 

98.9

 

98.3

 

96.8

thereof women

 

27.1

 

98.0

 

95.1

 

98.2

thereof men

 

95.0

 

99.7

 

101.5

 

95.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of employees still working for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany one year after their return from parental leave

 

268

 

496

 

490

 

-3

thereof women

 

26

 

218

 

220

 

-3

thereof men

 

242

 

278

 

270

 

-3

Retention rate (%)

 

93.1

 

92.5

 

92.6

 

-3

thereof women

 

63.4

 

89.7

 

87.3

 

-3

thereof men

 

97.9

 

94.9

 

97.5

 

-3

1

Figures pertain only to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (which accounted for around 13% in 2021). Figures are calculated on the basis of the data from one entire year, which also includes those employees who took parental leave during the calendar year but who had not yet returned by Dec. 31.

2

Since parental leave can be taken for a period ranging from one month to three years, it is possible for employees to be recorded across a period of up to four calendar years. This explains why the number of employees on parental leave exceeds the number of employees who have a right to it. It also explains why the “Number of employees who returned from parental leave” might exceed the “Number of employees who took parental leave”.

3

Figure will be available on December 31, 2022.

Employees with disabilities

Employees with disabilities1 (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Employees with disabilities

 

4.3

 

4.4

 

4.7

 

4.8

1

Only pertains to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (which accounted for around 13% of the Group employees in 2021, calculations based on the German Social Code IX - SGB IX).

Apprentices in Germany

Apprentices in Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Dec. 31

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Number of apprentices

 

604

 

589

 

607

 

602

% of apprentices

 

4.5

 

4.3

 

4.6

 

4.1
LTIR
The lost time injury rate measures the number of accidents resulting in missed days of work (one or more days) per one million working hours.
Security
This relates to all necessary measures and governance activities to detect, analyze, handle, and mitigate security- and crime-based threats to the company. It is integral to protecting both our employees and the tangible and intangible assets of the company.

Share this page: