Novo Nordisk Annual Report 2021
Contents
Introducing Novo Nordisk
Strategic Aspirations
Key risks Management
Consolidated statements
Additional information
Novo Nordisk Annual Report 2021 89
The WHO-defined daily dosage for these products may not accurately
reflect the recommended or prescribed daily dose. Actual doses are based
on individual characteristics (e.g. age and weight) and pharmacokinetic
considerations. Despite this uncertainty, Novo Nordisk assesses this to be
the most consistent way of reporting.
The number of children reached with diabetes care treatment through
the Changing Diabetes® in Children programme is measured as the
total accumulated number of children enrolled since the initiation of the
partnership in 2009.
8.2 Employees
Employees
Number
North America Operations
International Operations
- EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa)
- of which in Denmark
- China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan)
- Rest of World (all other countries)
Total employees
Full-time employees
2021
2020 2019
6,106 6,213 6,190
42,372 39,110 37,068
26,680 24,600 23,540
19,150 17,538 16,747
5,833 5,548 5,263
9,859 8,962 8,265
48,478 45,323 43,258
47,792 44,723 42,703
The number of employees increased in most areas, with the highest growth in
Product Supply Quality & IT, partially countered by North America Operations.
The employee turnover rate increased from 7.9% in 2020 to 11.0% in 2021
which is comparable to turnover rates in years prior to COVID-19.
Accounting policies
The number of employees is recorded as all employees except externals,
employees on unpaid leave, interns, bachelor and master thesis employees
and substitutes at year-end.
Employees are attributed to geographical regions according to their
primary workplace across the commercial units, research and development,
production and support functions. Employees in corporate functions are
included in EMEA, and employees in Global Business Services in Bangalore,
India are included in Rest of World.
The rate of turnover is measured as the number of employees, excluding
temporary employees, who left the Group during the financial year divided
by the average number of employees, excluding temporary employees.
Employees working for Group companies that have been disposed of are not
counted as having left the Group.
8.3 Sustainable employer score
In 2021 the global employee survey was entirely redesigned to support
Novo Nordisk's ambition to be a Sustainable Employer, which underpins
the broader Sustainable Business agenda. The new 21-item survey, Evolve,
is sharply focused on the most vital elements of the Sustainable Employer
ambition, provides greater differentiation of results, and is more actionable
for leaders and their teams.
The inaugural Evolve survey revealed that overall engagement is high at
84% favourable, and that Novo Nordisk scores in the top decile against
external organisations when it comes to providing a Purpose-driven
workplace. Opportunities for improvement include greater equality of career
opportunities, better work-life balance and clearer performance evaluations.
Accounting policies
The Sustainable employer score measures the average percentage of
favourable answers to the 18 engagement items in the survey. Favourable
answers are defined as "Agree" and "Strongly agree" to positively framed
questions. The survey is distributed through an external vendor.
8.4 Frequency of occupational accidents
The average frequency rate of occupational accidents with absence was 1.3
accidents per million working hours in 2021, which is unchanged compared
to 2020. The increase of 6.5% in the number of occupational accidents with
absence (99 in 2021 compared to 93 in 2020) was counter-balanced by an
increase in the number of employees. In 2021, Novo Nordisk had zero (0)
work-related fatalities compared to one (1) in both 2019 and 2020. Novo
Nordisk works with a zero-injury mindset and has a long-term commitment
to continuously improving safety performance.
Accounting policies
The frequency of occupational accidents with absence is measured as the
internally reported number of accidents per million nominal working hours.
Contractors, visitors, employees on unpaid leave, interns, and bachelor and
master thesis students are not included. An occupational accident with
absence is any work-related accident causing at least one day of absence in
addition to the day of the accident.
8.5 Gender diversity
CVP, VP
Gender in leadership positions
Ratio men:women
CEO, EVP, SVP
2021
2020
2019
72:28
76:24 82:18
63:37
64:36 66:34
Director, Manager, Team Leader
Gender in leadership positions (overall)
Gender in senior leadership positions
Gender in the Board of Directors
57:43
58:42 59:41
57:43
59:41
60:40
64:36
65:35
67:33
67:33
62:38
62:38
The gender diversity in leadership positions overall at Novo Nordisk meets
the Danish gender diversity requirements. Gender diversity in leadership
positions overall increased from 41% in 2020 to 43% in 2021. Within senior
leadership positions, there was an increase from 35% in 2020 to 36% in
2021. Among employees as a whole, the gender split was 49% women and
51% men in 2021, the same as in 2020.
All management teams, from entry level upwards, are encouraged to focus
on enhanced diversity, with the aim of ensuring a robust pipeline of talent
for leadership positions. In 2021, a global aspirational target of achieving
a balanced gender representation across all managerial levels with a
minimum of 45% for both women and men in senior leadership positions by
the end of 2025 was introduced. Further information about the new target is
disclosed in 'Launching aspirational targets' on page 17.
As of 31 December 2021, two shareholder-elected Board members
were female and six were male. The 2024 target of having at least three
shareholder-elected Board members of each gender was thus not yet
met as a female Board member stepped down at the 2021 annual general
meeting, leaving the number of female Board members at two. Diversity
in the broadest sense remains a key focus area for the Board of Directors,
including in Board member searches. Further information about the Board
members is disclosed in the Corporate Governance Report.View entire presentation