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Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc.

Winning years: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Location: Nutley, NJ
URL: www.rocheusa.com

Winning Strategies 2006

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. offers a dependent daycare flexible spending account in which employees can pay for child and elder daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars. The company sponsors an Intergenerational Care program which pays grandparents to come to the on-site child care center weekly and play nostalgic games with the children.

Other Benefits:

• Recruiting: The company uses senior placement agencies to target mature workers.
• Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: The company offers tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, on-line training, and certification classes to full- and part-time employees. Part-time employees must work 16 hrs/week to be eligible for these learning and development programs. Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, awards, and a choice of a gift or service award pin. Upon reaching the 25 year service level, employees become members of the "25 Year Club." The club sponsors an employee luncheon for 12 people, or the employee may choose to have a donation given to charity of choice. Additionally, they receive a check, as well as a wall plaque. 'Roche Management University,' an innovative developmental program for the tenured Division Sales Managers, was recently launched to build organizational credibility and agility, as well as enhance manager's engagement.
• Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees (working 16 hrs/week), receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision insurance, as well as individual and family dental insurance. Full- and part-time employees (working 20 hrs/week) receive individual long-term care insurance. Short-term disability is offered to full- and part- time employees while long-term disability is only offered to full-time employees working 40 hrs/week. Thirty-three percent of employees are enrolled in the individual medical and prescription drug coverage plan, while 22% are enrolled in the individual vision plan and 32% in the individual dental insurance program. Sixty-one percent of employees are enrolled in employee and family medical insurance, and employee and family prescription drug coverage plans, while 33% are enrolled in the employee and family vision insurance programs and 64% are enrolled in the employee and family dental insurance program. One hundred percent of employees are enrolled in the short- and long-term disability programs. Health benefits for both retirees pre-65 and 65+ include individual as well as spouse medical insurance, drug coverage, individual long-term care insurance, EAP services, individual and spouse life insurance or other death benefit. New hires are eligible for these benefits. The company offers a health flexible spending account.
• Benefits/Financial: The company offers a defined benefit as well as a 401(k) plan to its full- and part-time employees. For the first three years of service, company match is 50% of the first 6% of pay the employee contributes. After three years of service, match is 75% for a maximum of 4% of pay. All new hires are automatically enrolled into the plan. Employees may choose to invest in lifecycle funds, and those age 50+ can make 'catch-up' contributions. The company offers on-site child care (used by 8% of employees in past 12 months), referral services to assist with child care (used by 5% of employees in past 12 months), back-up child care (used by 2% of employees in past 12 months), and back-up elder care (used by 4% of employees in past 12 months). All child care benefits are additionally offered to employees to use for their grandchildren.
• Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The company offers the following alternative work arrangements to its full and part-time employees: flex time, compressed work schedules, job sharing, telecommuting, and a formal phased retirement program. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis. The phased retirement plan allows the retiree to work for the company through an on-site employment agency or via private contracts which in turn allows the retiree to continue collecting pension benefits while working. The company offers paid time off that is specifically designated for care giving.
• Opportunities for Retirees: The company currently has 3,679 retirees. There is an individual who has a direct responsibility for retiree relations. The company stays connected with its retirees via communicating regularly, inviting retirees to organization events/celebrations, providing retirees with ongoing access to retirement planning workshops/information and formally acknowledging retirees on the occasion of their retirement. Retirees are offered the following work arrangements: temporary work assignments, consulting/contract work, telecommuting, as well as part- and full-time work.
• Age of Workforce: Proprietary