Key social figures

Galenica continues to grow

Galenica continued to grow in 2021. At the end of 2021, the Galenica Group had 7,239 employees, an increase of 0.5% over the previous year. This increase is due to the acquisition of companies such as Spagyros and Lifestage Solutions. The proportion of women is around 74% and has remained relatively constant over the past five years. 42% of employees work part time, i.e. with a workload below 90%. This figure has also remained more or less unchanged since 2017. The proportion of managers to all staff has remained unchanged since 2017 at 9%. From 2017 to 2021, the proportion of female managers rose from 48% to 52%. Employee turnover at Galenica was 14.5% in 2021, 4% higher than in the previous year. This increase can be attributed, among other things, to the adjustment of Galenica’s organisational and management structure at the beginning of 2021 or the additional workload due to COVID-19-related extra work, especially in the pharmacies and logistics.

Increasing investment in employee development and the next generation of skilled workers

In total, Galenica invested around CHF 3.7 million in employee training in the year under review. In 2021, Galenica trained 823 apprentices at its companies, of which 244 completed apprenticeships. Since 2017, the number of apprentices in the Galenica Group has increased by around 7%.

Occupational accidents decreased compared to the previous year

Compared to the previous year, the number of occupational accidents fell by 5%. This decline is partly attributable to awareness-raising campaigns carried out in recent years. The number of non-occupational accidents rose by 14% compared to the previous year. The increase can be explained by the integration of some companies and pharmacies into the HR system in 2021 and the resulting increase in the number of employees for whom non-occupational accidents are recorded. In 2021, Galenica recorded a total of 163 occupational and 708 non-occupational accidents. These figures also include minor accidents, which did not result in an absence of more than three working days. In 2021, minor accidents accounted for 10% of all occupational and non-occupational accidents. The absence rate for occupational accidents was around 1% in the reporting year and was recorded for the first time in 2021. Over the last five years, occupational and non-occupational accidents have increased by 18%. The number of employees rose by 15% over the same period.

Reduction in cases of illness since 2017

At the end of 2021, Galenica recorded 434 cases of illness. Cases of illness are classed as all long-term absences due to an illness lasting more than 30 days and which are entitled to daily sickness benefits. The number for the reporting year should always be interpreted with caution, as certain cases are usually reported at a later date in the following year. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of cases of illness fell by 36%.

In 2020, Galenica recorded the absences of all employees for the first time. In 2021, the Galenica Group recorded a total of 538,990 hours of absence for 7,239 employees, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. Compared to the target hours, this results in an absence rate of around 5% for the reporting year. The absence rate has thus increased by 8% compared to 2020.

In 2021, Galenica Case Management provided assistance to 67 employees at risk of illness or who had already fallen ill, thus helping to prevent or reduce absences where possible. Out of 44 closed cases in 2021, 33 employees were able to return to work thanks to Case Management. This corresponds to a return rate of around 75%. This has increased by 44% compared to the previous year.

Employees adhering to pharmacovigilance

In 2021, Verfora employees met the deadline for forwarding adverse event reports in 92% (target: >90%) of cases. The authorities or contractual partners were notified within the required period in 100% of cases (target: >90 %). The completeness of information on the reported adverse events was exemplary at 98% (target: >80%).

Employee data

The key figures on the number of employees cover all companies of the Galenica Group. The other key employee figures only include the companies that are fully integrated into the Galenica Group HR system. The integration of new companies such as Bichsel, Spagyros, Lifestage Solutions and Apodoc into the HR system will take place at a later date. Due to systemic challenges, full HR integration may take a some time, depending on the size of the company.