At Novo Nordisk, we are led by a set of values known as the Novo Nordisk Way, underpinning these values are 10 essential behaviors. One of these behaviors is to create and sustain a healthy and engaging working environment. Our 'Speak Up' policy encourages open communication and idea-sharing for continuous improvement. We facilitate transparent communication through regular 1:1s with People Leaders and teams, initiatives like the "Boots-on-the-Ground" campaign, and "Listening Tours". Recognizing the importance of flexibility, we support our staff with a 3-day in-office policy, promoting work-life balance and remote work options.

Challenges in attracting & retaining skilled professionals with requisite experience especially in specialized areas such as research, medical, regulatory and market access are top of the list in the pharmaceutical industry. 

A 360 approach to employee wellness is key to facilitating a healthy organization and an engaged workforce, this is why our BAMEAC Roadmap to Health & Wellness Journey and more specifically the It Starts with Me Campaign were so crucial to our collective success with wellness. This campaign was developed to make wellness a personal journey by reminding everyone in the team that to make changes for our health, we must believe that change starts within each one of us. It is our commitment to our unique journey that will bring about sustainable improvements.

There are several other initiatives that we provide as an affiliate, such as offering an array of fresh fruits twice a week ensuring we are encouraging a healthy lifestyle with our staff. Through the Wellness Team, we have also arranged for chair yoga and other meditation.
 

We have participated in Best Places to Work since 2021 and 2023 was a special year as we celebrated 100-years of Novo Nordisk, and we were awarded number 1 Best Places to Work in South Africa and number 1 in the continent of Africa. In 2023 we also participated in Best Places to Work for Women for the first time, and we received our certification with particularly good engagement scores. This is important as we employ 77% females in our organisation. It has been a wonderful experience which has allowed us to benchmark ourselves externally. 

It is a simple and user-friendly process with support from the Best Places team. Being recognized as a top workplace has enhanced our employer brand, making it more attractive to top talent and aids in retaining existing employees. The employee survey provides valuable insights into employee engagement and satisfaction, this feedback then guides improvements in the workplace. Participation allows an organization to benchmark their workplace practices against industry standards, fostering continuous improvement.