Roche initiates secondment scheme

Roche has announced the launch of a secondment scheme that will provide its employees with the opportunity to work in a developing country.

The company states that the policy has been designed to allow Roche workers to boost their personal and professional development as well as contribute their skills and abilities to health-related projects in the world’s poorest countries.

Franz B Humer, Roche chairman and chief executive officer, confirmed that the pharmaceutical firm wanted to share the expertise and skills of its workforce with those who need it most.

“We hope that through this policy, we can demonstrate not only our interest in developing innovative solutions to increase access to healthcare in resource-poor countries, but also the immense value we place in our people,” he illustrated.

The secondment scheme follows on from other activities developed by Roche to improve the health in the developing world – which include ways in which the company’s employees and resources can be used to make a positive difference.

Any full time employee who has been with Roche for five years or more is eligible to apply for secondment, which is expected to last between three and 18 months.

Roche staged its fifth Global Roche Employee Aids Walk on December 1st with over 12,000 employees from over 90 Roche sites taking to the streets.