Top 10 pharmaceutical stories in 2017 ③
Some sexual harassment cases at multinational pharmaceuticals were on the lips of industry officials and watchers.
A managing employee from Pfizer Korea had sexually abused female employees for years, it was found. After the case was reported, the perpetrator, who groped female employees while drunk, received no other penalty aside from a division transfer. Victims were forced to take a leave of absence, reports said. In response to criticism of the measures taken, Pfizer Korea said it took corrective steps to punish the perpetrator and strengthen education and related regulations to prevent recurrence.
Novartis Korea also dealt with sexual harassment. A female employee at Novartis allegedly made inappropriate physical contact and sexual comments to her junior staff at a dinner after a company event. Other employees at the dinner said the female executive’s advances were out of line. After receiving the report, the company put the female executive’s position on hold and set up a committee to discuss punishment. Immediately after the panel was set up, the perpetrator voluntarily left the firm citing personal circumstances, reports showed. The company clarified it operates an internal reporting system so employees can report similar cases.