Other reports

Employees

TAG overview

Total number of employees

Total number of employees

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group
1

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA
2

Total number of employees

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

64,243

 

62,908

 

3,924

Men

 

33,204

 

34,274

 

36,452

 

35,499

 

2,387

Women

 

24,923

 

26,074

 

27,791

 

27,409

 

1,537

1

Merck also employs people at sites of subsidiaries that are not fully consolidated. For the 2023 reporting year, we have aligned the scope of consolidation also for the employee data in the non-financial reporting with the financial reporting. As of now, the figures relate to all employees who are employed in fully consolidated subsidiaries with personnel.

2

The sharp decline in comparison with the previous year (8,485 employees) is attributable to the fact that in addition to Healthcare KGaA, which was hived off in 2019, the two other business sectors, namely Life Science und Electronics, have now also been transferred to separate legal entities.

Number of employees by hierarchical level

Number of employees by hierarchical level

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group
1

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA
2

Total employees

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

64,243

 

62,908

 

3,924

Senior management (Role 6+)

 

193

 

194

 

191

 

200

 

48

Middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

3,637

 

3,831

 

4,018

 

4,139

 

600

Low management (Role 3)

 

10,286

 

10,880

 

11,877

 

11,907

 

1,275

Other employees (below Role 3)

 

44,011

 

45,443

 

48,157

 

46,662

 

2,001

% of women (total)

 

43

 

43

 

43

 

44

 

39

thereof number of women in senior management (Role 6+)

 

42

 

49

 

51

 

58

 

15

thereof number of women in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

1,284

 

1,413

 

1,550

 

1,622

 

214

thereof number of women in low management (Role 3)

 

4,352

 

4,669

 

5,123

 

5,150

 

475

thereof number of women in “other employees (below Role 3)”

 

19,245

 

19,943

 

21,067

 

20,579

 

833

% of men (total)

 

57

 

57

 

57

 

56

 

61

thereof number of men in senior management (Role 6+)

 

151

 

145

 

140

 

142

 

33

thereof number of men in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

2,353

 

2,418

 

2,468

 

2,517

 

386

thereof number of men in low management (Role 3)

 

5,934

 

6,211

 

6,754

 

6,757

 

800

thereof number of men in “other employees (below Role 3)”

 

24,766

 

25,500

 

27,090

 

26,083

 

1,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by age group
Up to 29 years old (%)

 

15

 

15

 

15

 

14

 

14

thereof number of employees in senior management (Role 6+)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

thereof number of employees in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

6

 

8

 

12

 

8

 

2

thereof number of employees in low management (Role 3)

 

199

 

241

 

263

 

249

 

39

thereof number of employees in “other employees (below Role 3)”

 

8,365

 

8,880

 

9,651

 

8,484

 

494

30 to 49 years old (%)

 

60

 

60

 

60

 

60

 

53

thereof number of employees in senior management (Role 6+)

 

68

 

63

 

58

 

65

 

19

thereof number of employees in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

2,032

 

2,172

 

2,235

 

2,283

 

367

thereof number of employees in low management (Role 3)

 

6,926

 

7,298

 

8,007

 

7,963

 

805

thereof number of employees in “other employees (below Role 3)”

 

25,948

 

26,624

 

28,124

 

27,697

 

894

50 years or older (%)

 

25

 

25

 

25

 

26

 

33

thereof number of employees in senior management (Role 6+)

 

125

 

131

 

133

 

135

 

29

thereof number of employees in middle management (Role 4 & 5)

 

1,599

 

1,651

 

1,771

 

1,848

 

231

thereof number of employees in low management (Role 3)

 

3,161

 

3,341

 

3,607

 

3,695

 

431

thereof number of employees in “other employees (below Role 3)”

 

9,698

 

9,939

 

10,382

 

10,481

 

613

1

Merck also employs people at sites of subsidiaries that are not fully consolidated. For the 2023 reporting year, we have aligned the scope of consolidation also for the employee data in the non-financial reporting with the financial reporting. As of now, the figures relate to all employees who are employed in fully consolidated subsidiaries with personnel.

2

The sharp decline in comparison with the previous year (8,485 employees) is attributable to the fact that in addition to Healthcare KGaA, which was hived off in 2019, the two other business sectors, namely Life Science und Electronics, have now also been transferred to separate legal entities.

Average number of employees by functional area

Average number of employees by functional area1

 

 

20202

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Group

 

57,612

 

58,731

 

62,565

 

63,000

thereof women

 

24,746

 

25,295

 

27,123

 

27,461

Production

 

17,624

 

19,782

 

22,086

 

23,827

thereof women

 

6,043

 

6,541

 

7,510

 

8,429

Logistics/Supply Chain

 

4,298

 

4,557

 

4,850

 

4,946

thereof women

 

1,734

 

1,838

 

1,928

 

1,970

Marketing and Sales/Commercials

 

14,127

 

14,318

 

15,095

 

14,021

thereof women

 

6,787

 

6,906

 

7,349

 

7,099

Administration

 

11,342

 

11,824

 

11,889

 

11,924

thereof women

 

5,499

 

5,718

 

5,868

 

5,891

Research and Development

 

7,504

 

7,168

 

7,335

 

6,473

thereof women

 

3,996

 

3,694

 

3,740

 

3,249

Infrastructure and Other

 

2,717

 

1,083

 

1,309

 

1,810

thereof women

 

687

 

598

 

727

 

824

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 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

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Total

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

64,243

 

62,908

 

3,924

Europe

 

26,587

 

27,217

 

28,244

 

28,304

 

3,924

Women

 

11,743

 

12,098

 

12,620

 

12,681

 

1,537

Women (%)

 

44

 

44

 

45

 

45

 

39

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

1,105

 

988

 

882

 

659

 

73

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

4

 

4

 

3

 

2

 

2

North America

 

13,312

 

14,070

 

15,847

 

14,718

 

0

Women

 

5,527

 

5,800

 

6,501

 

6,113

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

42

 

41

 

41

 

42

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

139

 

115

 

31

 

20

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

13,518

 

14,285

 

15,412

 

15,259

 

0

Women

 

5,425

 

5,874

 

6,351

 

6,357

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

40

 

41

 

41

 

42

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

3,362

 

3,660

 

3,726

 

3,182

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

25

 

26

 

24

 

21

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

3,387

 

3,529

 

3,490

 

3,458

 

0

Women

 

1,630

 

1,721

 

1,715

 

1,693

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

48

 

49

 

49

 

49

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

67

 

12

 

8

 

7

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

1,323

 

1,247

 

1,250

 

1,169

 

0

Women

 

598

 

581

 

604

 

565

 

not applicable

Women (%)

 

45

 

47

 

48

 

48

 

not applicable

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

420

 

59

 

9

 

9

 

not applicable

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

32

 

5

 

1

 

1

 

not applicable

Employees by business sector

Employees by business sector

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Life Science employees

 

23,196

 

25,323

 

28,013

 

27,947

thereof women

 

10,175

 

11,255

 

12,473

 

12,490

thereof women (%)

 

44

 

44

 

45

 

45

Healthcare employees

 

17,463

 

17,269

 

17,339

 

17,765

thereof women

 

8,788

 

8,717

 

8,805

 

8,997

thereof women (%)

 

50

 

50

 

51

 

51

Electronics employees

 

7,228

 

7,432

 

8,262

 

8,276

thereof women

 

1,666

 

1,704

 

1,870

 

2,000

thereof women (%)

 

23

 

23

 

23

 

24

Employees by contract type

Employees by contract type

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Total employees

 

58,127

 

60,348

 

64,243

 

62,908

Number of employees with permanent contracts

 

53,034

 

55,514

 

59,587

 

58,972

% of employees with permanent contracts

 

91

 

92

 

93

 

94

thereof women

 

22,500

 

23,640

 

25,418

 

25,388

thereof women (%)

 

42

 

43

 

43

 

43

Number of employees with temporary contracts

 

5,093

 

4,834

 

4,656

 

3,936

% of employees with temporary contracts

 

9

 

8

 

7

 

6

thereof women

 

2,423

 

2,434

 

2,373

 

2,021

thereof women (%)

 

48

 

50

 

51

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

full-time employees

 

55,220

 

57,091

 

60,127

 

59,074

% full-time

 

95

 

95

 

94

 

94

thereof women

 

22,572

 

23,585

 

24,872

 

24,576

thereof women (%)

 

41

 

41

 

41

 

42

part-time employees

 

2,907

 

3,257

 

4,116

 

3,834

% part-time

 

5

 

5

 

6

 

6

thereof women

 

2,351

 

2,489

 

2,919

 

2,833

thereof women (%)

 

81

 

76

 

71

 

74

New employees

New employees

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Total number of new employee hires

 

6,669

 

8,960

 

10,682

 

5,490

 

220

by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up to 29 years old

 

2,889

 

3,679

 

4,314

 

2,156

 

170

30 to 49 years old

 

3,347

 

4,610

 

5,397

 

2,944

 

45

50 or older

 

433

 

671

 

971

 

390

 

5

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

3,016

 

4,101

 

4,569

 

2,493

 

89

Men

 

3,653

 

4,859

 

6,113

 

2,997

 

131

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2,160

 

2,567

 

3,015

 

2,028

 

220

North America

 

1,789

 

2,855

 

3,971

 

1,181

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

2,206

 

2,803

 

3,071

 

1,710

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

396

 

579

 

460

 

445

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

118

 

156

 

165

 

126

 

not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate of new employee hires1 (%)

 

11

 

15

 

17

 

9

 

6

by age group2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up to 29 years old

 

43

 

41

 

40

 

39

 

77

30 to 49 years old

 

50

 

51

 

51

 

54

 

21

50 or older

 

7

 

8

 

9

 

7

 

2

by gender2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

45

 

46

 

43

 

45

 

40

Men

 

55

 

54

 

57

 

55

 

60

by region2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

32

 

29

 

28

 

37

 

100

North America

 

27

 

32

 

37

 

22

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

33

 

31

 

29

 

31

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

6

 

6

 

4

 

8

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

not applicable

1

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.

2

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

 

 

20203

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Total turnover rate

 

8.22

 

10.82

 

10.16

 

9.96

 

3.48

Turnover rate by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men

 

8.22

 

10.69

 

10.40

 

10.11

 

3.24

Women

 

8.22

 

11.00

 

9.93

 

9.76

 

3.87

Turnover rate by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

11.30

 

16.64

 

15.91

 

14.39

 

5.79

30 to 49 years old

 

7.74

 

10.05

 

9.55

 

9.48

 

3.41

50 or older

 

7.52

 

9.22

 

8.05

 

8.49

 

2.62

Turnover rate by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

5.64

 

6.00

 

5.91

 

5.52

 

3.48

North America

 

9.79

 

15.44

 

14.33

 

15.02

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

10.60

 

14.66

 

12.84

 

11.90

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

11.40

 

12.95

 

13.38

 

13.19

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

11.80

 

16.57

 

13.04

 

15.63

 

not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of leavers

 

4,721

 

6,354

 

6,358

 

6,336

 

152

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men

 

2,697

 

3,575

 

3,673

 

3,639

 

87

Women

 

2,024

 

2,779

 

2,685

 

2,697

 

65

by age group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to 29 years old

 

974

 

1,451

 

1,542

 

1,358

 

32

30 to 49 years old

 

2,677

 

3,545

 

3,569

 

3,624

 

82

50 or older

 

1,070

 

1,358

 

1,247

 

1,354

 

38

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

1,490

 

1,601

 

1,640

 

1,560

 

152

North America

 

1,281

 

2,078

 

2,182

 

2,305

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

1,394

 

2,015

 

1,905

 

1,824

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

398

 

449

 

467

 

460

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

158

 

211

 

164

 

187

 

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 2023, the average length of service for employees Group-wide was 9.7 years (2022: 9.2 years), with 15.2 years (2022: 15.4 years) for Merck KGaA employees.

Work-related accidents

Work-related accidents1

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

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

 

1.3

 

1.2

 

1.2

 

1.3

 

1.6

by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2.4

 

2.1

 

1.7

 

2.2

 

1.6

North America

 

0.8

 

1.2

 

1.7

 

1.4

 

not applicable

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

0.3

 

0.1

 

not applicable

Latin America

 

0.8

 

0.4

 

0.6

 

0.6

 

not applicable

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

0.4

 

0.0

 

1.1

 

0.4

 

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

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 Merck 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 (about 6% of the employees of the Merck Group), we only report work-related illnesses if these have been certified as an occupational illness by the employers' liability insurance association. In 2023 period, one case of work-induced illness were verified.

Employees who regularly receive a performance and development evaluation

Employees who regularly receive a performance and development evaluation1

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

% of employees who receive a performance and development evaluation

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

98

 

100

by gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

98

 

98

 

99

 

99

 

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

Employees whose role level had not yet been recorded in our database by December 31 of the reporting year 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 Merck. Our globally uniform Performance 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 Management Process since 2013. In 2023, a total of 61,863 employees worldwide were involved in the process. The Performance Management Process is coordinated via our online platform HR4You.

Internationality of employees

Internationality of employees

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

Number of nationalities

 

141

 

142

 

139

 

141

 

70

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

 

75

 

79

 

78

 

77

 

30

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

 

66

 

66

 

66

 

66

 

12

Employee age by region

Employee age by region

As of Dec. 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of employees

 

Worldwide

 

North America

 

Europe

 

Merck KGaA

 

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

Latin America

 

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

Up to 29 years old

 

9,926

 

2,753

 

3,530

 

1,181

 

2,999

 

476

 

168

thereof women

 

4,637

 

1,178

 

1,655

 

441

 

1,441

 

264

 

99

30 to 49 years old

 

38,423

 

7,811

 

16,216

 

4,549

 

11,174

 

2,333

 

890

thereof women

 

16,909

 

3,278

 

7,528

 

1,664

 

4,498

 

1,196

 

409

50 or older

 

15,894

 

5,283

 

8,498

 

2,755

 

1,239

 

681

 

192

thereof women

 

6,245

 

2,045

 

3,437

 

870

 

412

 

255

 

96

Average age

 

41.6

 

43.3

 

43.1

 

43.1

 

37.3

 

41.1

 

40.3

Total employees

 

64,243

 

15,847

 

28,244

 

8,485

 

15,412

 

3,490

 

1,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023

Up to 29 years old

 

8,743

 

2,233

 

3,294

 

535

 

2,634

 

440

 

142

thereof women

 

4,150

 

995

 

1,521

 

213

 

1,323

 

224

 

87

30 to 49 years old

 

38,006

 

7,352

 

16,304

 

2,085

 

11,218

 

2,301

 

831

thereof women

 

16,798

 

3,084

 

7,565

 

857

 

4,562

 

1,203

 

384

50 or older

 

16,159

 

5,133

 

8,706

 

1,304

 

1,407

 

717

 

196

thereof women

 

6,461

 

2,034

 

3,595

 

467

 

472

 

266

 

94

Average age

 

41.5

 

43.5

 

42.9

 

43.0

 

37.4

 

40.8

 

40.5

Total employees

 

62,908

 

14,718

 

28,304

 

3,924

 

15,259

 

3,458

 

1,169

Age of youngest employee

Age of youngest employee

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Age of youngest employee, excluding apprentices

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

17

Voluntary insurance benefits

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

As of Dec. 31

 

20201

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023
Merck
Group

 

2023
thereof
Merck KGaA

% of employees with healthcare benefits2

 

63

 

64

 

62

 

73

 

0

% of employees with Group accident insurance3

 

41

 

41

 

37

 

48

 

13

% of employees with life insurance4

 

56

 

59

 

59

 

64

 

0

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

 

39

 

39

 

43

 

43

 

0

1

The figures exclude Versum Materials and Intermolecular since the integration process was still underway at this point of time.

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 where possible covered by either statutory or voluntary accident insurance and health benefits. Employees of Merck KGaA 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

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

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

 

6,352

 

5,995

 

4,287

 

4,787

Pension expenses

 

408

 

461

 

460

 

365

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. 291-297, No. 33) of our Annual Report 2023.

Flexible working hours in Germany

Flexible working hours in Germany

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

% of employees utilizing the “mywork@Merck” working model

 

48

 

51

 

55

 

58

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

Parental leave

Parental leave1

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

20232

Number of employees with a right to parental leave

 

351

 

414

 

423

 

127

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

 

225

 

255

 

287

 

87

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

 

126

 

159

 

136

 

40

Number of employees who took parental leave3

 

538

 

617

 

564

 

189

thereof women

 

265

 

278

 

237

 

95

thereof men

 

273

 

339

 

327

 

94

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

 

104

 

198

 

164

 

69

thereof women

 

73

 

172

 

137

 

49

thereof men

 

31

 

26

 

27

 

20

Number of employees who returned from parental leave3

 

529

 

597

 

581

 

182

thereof women

 

252

 

273

 

235

 

96

thereof men

 

277

 

324

 

346

 

86

Return to work rate (%)

 

98.3

 

96.8

 

103.0

 

96.3

thereof women

 

95.1

 

98.2

 

99.2

 

101.1

thereof men

 

101.5

 

95.6

 

105.8

 

91.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of employees still working for Merck one year after their return from parental leave

 

490

 

556

 

548

 

-4

thereof women

 

220

 

250

 

328

 

-4

thereof men

 

270

 

306

 

220

 

-4

Retention rate (%)

 

92.6

 

93.1

 

94.3

 

-4

thereof women

 

87.3

 

91.6

 

139.5

 

-4

thereof men

 

97.5

 

94.4

 

63.5

 

-4

1

Figures pertain only to Merck KGaA (which accounted for around 6% in 2023). 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

The sharp decline in comparison with the previous years is attributable to the fact that in addition to Healthcare KGaA, which was hived off in 2019, the two other business sectors, namely Life Science und Electronics, have now also been transferred to separate legal entities.

3

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”.

4

Figure will be available on December 31, 2024.

Employees with disabilities

Employees with disabilities1 (%)

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Employees with disabilities

 

4.7

 

4.8

 

4.9

 

4.8

1

Only pertains to the joint operation of Merck (which accounted for around 19% of Merck Group employees in 2023, calculations based on the German Social Code IX - SGB IX).

Apprentices in Germany

Apprentices in Germany

As of Dec. 31

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Number of apprentices

 

607

 

602

 

595

 

619

% of apprentices

 

4.6

 

4.1

 

4.0

 

4.6

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.

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