Diversity In Action

Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline improves the quality of life

The company has openings at manufacturing locations across the U.S. “If your background is technical we’d like to talk with you,” says a VP

GSK global talent solutions VP Lou Manzi: scientists, engineers, IT pros.

Manzi adds that GSK is also interested in engineers for its manufacturing environments and IT positions. “We have numerous IT initiatives, mentoring programs, networks and alliances,” he says.

GSK employs over 100,000 people in 117 countries. More than 15,000 of them are in R&D. The company produces almost four billion packs of medicines and healthcare products each year.

Currently GSK has positions available at a number of manufacturing locations across the U.S. “We also have sales positions available for candidates with science or technology backgrounds. We are interested in both new grads and experienced candidates with transferable skills.

“We are not just scientists. We cut across many areas of engineering and IT as well,” Manzi declares.

GSK’s mission is to improve the quality of life by helping people do more, feel better and live longer. The company’s history stretches back over 200 years; in the past seventy years, five of its scientists have won the Nobel prize for medicine.

Diversity in the workplace plays a key role in recruiting and retaining talented GSK employees, Manzi notes. “In the U.S. we have affinity groups like the African American alliance, the Asian employee support group, the gay and lesbian support network and the Hispanic network. The groups provide support and development possibilities and help us recruit and retain the best people.”

One noteworthy example of GSK’s diversity recruiting was its recent “by invitation only” (BIO) networking event held at three company locations. “We invited female and minority candidates to come in and meet our senior management team and hiring managers.”

BIO was very successful, Manzi reports. “Of 150 people who came in, we hired seventeen. It was our most successful diversity recruiting event ever, and you bet we plan to repeat it!”

Community outreach is important, Manzi notes. “We sponsor a traveling science lab program that reaches 4,000 students at underserved secondary schools.” The aim is, of course, to encourage students to pursue science careers.

Manzi says flexible work options are important to the company’s success at hiring and retaining good people. The initiatives, managed on a local basis, include part-time and reduced hours, working from home and job sharing.

“Flexibility isn’t easy for a company our size to manage,” Manzi says. “But we realize that employees who are flourishing and happy at home will transfer that success into their work life. That’s why we’re willing to commit to a flexible work environment.

“Fortunately,” he adds with a smile, “today’s technology lets us do it without sacrificing any of our commitment to our mission, the advancement of human health.”

D/C