Diversity in Action

Solvay Pharmaceuticals makes life-enhancing products

The company looks at diversity from many angles and through many programs. Mentoring and work/life are important parts of the package

Cyndy Gay, human resources consultant: looking at diversity from many angles.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals has been in the U.S. since 1986. Its prescription products are designed to relieve complex problems like bipolar disorder, menopausal symptoms, hypertension, ulcerative colitis and more. The company is part of Solvay S.A., a Belgium-based chemical and pharmaceutical group.

Diversity programs at Solvay Pharmaceuticals have a number of purposes, says Cyndy Gay, human resources consultant. They enhance recruitment, and they make employees aware of the importance of cultural inclusion. "What I like about our approach is that while our training covers race, ethnicity and gender, we also look at diversity from other angles," Gay says.

"Our company employs R&D professionals, scientists, IT pros, field representatives and people from many other disciplines. So it's important to look at the diversity of our manufacturing plant or field organization compared with our corporate office, or scientists compared with non-scientists."

The imposing Marietta, GA headquarters of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The tech people at Solvay Pharmaceuticals' Marietta, GA HQ work in R&D, marketing and other areas connected to new and existing pharmaceutical products. Employees in Beaudette, MN handle product manufacturing.

"We have a very diverse workforce," Gay says. "Here in Marietta, we have a pretty equal ratio of men and women. We've met our affirmative action placement goals for the past three years because we reflect the population."

Recently, a diversity awareness program, "Managing diversity," became part of the required training for all managers. Everyone else has the option to participate in a program called "Valuing diversity," Gay says. There's also training in civil treatment, which means taking a fair, consistent, professional approach to everyone. Sexual harassment prevention training is a separate program.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals' workforce is stable, so hiring in technical areas will be minimal this year, Gay reports. But interested job candidates are welcome to e-mail careers@solvay.com to find out about any appropriate openings.

The company has a mentor program especially for women and minorities. Mentors and mentees, selected from different parts of the company, pair up for a year. The Marietta location also participates in another mentoring program, "Georgia 100," which is strictly geared to women. This year, twenty women in the company were part of the program.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com Headquarters: Marietta, GA and Beaudette, MN for pharmaceutical sector; Brussels, Belgium for corporation Employees: 500 in Marietta, GA; about 200 in Beaudette, MN; 1,000 in U.S. field sales Revenues: $71.8 billion Business: Prescription pharmaceutical products

The company has an intern program, and this past summer twenty-six students were brought in to work in IT, R&D and other areas. Solvay Pharmaceuticals is also part of the Inroads program for talented minority interns, and usually has about three participants.

The company has programs to help its employees with their quality of life - Gay mentions a lactation room and summer flex hours. There's even a concierge service for which employees pay a nominal fee.

Family life is important at Solvay. An annual "Take your child to work" day is offered for kids aged eight and up.

"One of the fun events for them is videoconferencing," Gay reports. "Last year they got to videoconference with people in our Brussels, Belgium office." There are also scientific activities, like "teaching them about molecules to tie their day to the world of pharmaceutical research."

Employees are encouraged to get involved with their communities through Solvay Pharmaceuticals' community action team program. Employees and their families can sign up to help at everything from the Georgia Special Olympics to the March of Dimes Miracle Walk.

"We're here to do our jobs," Gay says. "But the company wants us to enjoy our work, and to enjoy a life outside of work as well." .

D/C