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Compliance training

Compliance training

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group
1

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Total number of persons trained on anti-corruption guidelines2

 

28,827

 

5,790

 

5,082

 

6,688

 

486

Total number of employees trained on anti-corruption guidelines

 

28,805

 

5,772

 

5,071

 

6,671

 

486

% of employees trained on anti-corruption

 

50

 

10

 

8

 

11

 

12

by employee category3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Role 2+ employees trained on anti-corruption

 

27,123

 

5,284

 

4,658

 

6,325

 

463

% of Role 2+ employees trained on anti-corruption

 

90

 

17

 

14

 

18

 

18

% of employees below Role 2 trained on anti-corruption

 

6

 

2

 

1

 

1

 

2

by region (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

51

 

8

 

7

 

10

 

2

North America

 

45

 

11

 

8

 

8

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

44

 

12

 

9

 

14

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

44

 

8

 

7

 

13

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

66

 

12

 

9

 

16

 

not applicable

1

The anti-corruption e-learning rolled out in 2020 was replaced by a new training course on November 1, 2023. The data for 2023 includes the completion figures for both the old and the new e-learning. A total of 2,177 employees completed the old e-learning course.

2

Includes contractors, external supervised workers (e.g. temporary workers) and contract partners working on-site who were trained on anti-corruption guidelines (2023: 13).

3

Employees whose role level had not yet been recorded in our database by December 31 of the respective reporting year have been allocated to “employees below Role 2”.

The (employee) target audience for a specific training is related to the risk level associated with employee positions and Role levels. Target audiences therefore may not include all Group employees and also may vary from training to training.

In order to address the special responsibility held by management personnel, and staff with HR responsibility, trainings on anti-corruption guidelines for these employees are in focus. This applies to all employees rated Role 2+.

At the beginning of 2020, the old e-learning course on anti-corruption was rolled out for a broad target group. The majority of this target group already completed the e-learning in 2020. The number of employees trained is comparatively lower in 2021 and 2022, as the training was only assigned to new joiners, internal transfers or employees who did not yet complete the e-learning. In 2023, we record an increase again as we replaced the former e-learning course with a new one in November. In addition to anti-corruption, the new training also covers the topic of money laundering.

Internal audits on corruption

Internal audits on corruption

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA
1

Number of audits relating to corruption

 

52

 

56

 

55

 

53

 

17

% of audits relating to corruption

 

66

 

67

 

70

 

66

 

21

1

Includes global audits which are conducted at the headquarters in Darmstadt and/or the management of the audited function is reporting into KGaA.

Human rights violations

Human rights violations

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Number of reported violations of Social and Labor Standards Policy

 

108

 

121

 

136

 

184

Number of confirmed violations of Social and Labor Standards Policy

 

29

 

41

 

68

 

60

thereof number of incidents of discrimination

 

2

 

6

 

7

 

71

1

As of 2023, the incidents of discrimination also include cases of harrassment as a specific form of discrimination.

Reported compliance violations

Reported compliance violations

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Total number of reported compliance violations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of reported compliance incidents

 

81

 

79

 

79

 

106

 

9

Number of confirmed cases

 

41

 

42

 

28

 

32

 

1

Confirmed cases by category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bribery and corruption

 

6

 

1

 

2

 

1

 

0

Violation of cartel laws and fair competition rules

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

0

Fraudulent actions against Merck

 

11

 

6

 

11

 

3

 

0

Other violations of the Merck Compliance Principles for the relations with business partners

 

0

 

0

 

2

 

3

 

0

Other violations of Merck values, internal guidelines or legal requirements

 

24

 

35

 

12

 

25

 

1

Data Privacy

Data Privacy

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Reported violations of Data Privacy Guidelines

 

3

 

3

 

4

 

7

 

0

Customer Privacy1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of substantiated complaints received from outside parties

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

Total number of complaints from regulatory bodies

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

Total number of identified leaks, thefts, or losses of customer data

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

0

1

These data only reflect incidents classified as significant.

Legal actions

For further information please see our annual reports:
Annual Report 2020, pages 125-127 and pages 252-256, No. 27
Annual Report 2021, pages 100-101 and pages 280-284, No. 27
Annual Report 2022, pages 97-98 and pages 282-285, No. 27
Annual Report 2023, pages 90-91 and pages 284-287, No. 27

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