For the second year in a row, Amgen has been named one of the “Best Employers for Women” by Forbes, a leading business publication. This is the fourth Forbes list that Amgen has appeared on this year, having already been named one of “America’s Best Large Employers,” one of the “Best Employers for Diversity,” and one of the “Best Employers for New Grads.”
In compiling its latest list, Forbes partnered with the market research firm Statista to survey 50,000 Americans—30,000 women and 20,000 men—working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. All respondents were asked to rate their organizations on criteria such as working conditions, diversity, and how likely they’d be to recommend their employer to others. Female respondents were also asked to rate their employers on factors such as parental leave, discrimination and pay equity. Representation at the executive and board levels were also factored into the final score.
Amgen ranked #144 out of the 500 companies that made the list, up 100 spots from last year.
While the pandemic has led many women to downshift their careers or leave the workforce entirely, the percentage of females in Amgen’s global workforce has held steady for the past several years at 52%. Furthermore, the company’s efforts to increase the percentage of women in leadership roles is yielding positive results, with an 8% increase in representation at the executive director level and above in the past year and a 4% increase in representation at the senior manager/director levels. Women make up nearly 40% of Amgen’s Operating Team, which is comprised of the company’s senior-most leaders.
“We’re delighted to be ranked as one of the best employers for women,” says Tamika Jean-Baptiste, Amgen’s Chief Diversity Officer. “We continue to look for new ways to support our female staff, both professionally and in their personal lives.”
One tremendous source of ongoing support is Amgen’s “Women Empowered to Be Exceptional” employee resource group, better known as WE2, which now has 25 chapters in 20 countries and more than 4,300 members, up over 10% from last year as more staff join from outside the U.S.
“As a working mother myself, I’m not surprised to see Amgen make this list,” says Nada Obeid, an executive director on the company’s U.S. Value and Access team and the Global Chair of WE2. “The past few years haven’t been easy and the company has made a concerted effort to do whatever it can to support staff so they maximize their impact at work. It’s much appreciated.”
Click here for a full list of the many awards and accolades that Amgen has earned this year.
Amgen Recognized as Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion
Amgen is deeply committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where all staff feel a sense of belonging and purpose, and recent national recognition reaffirms that our efforts are making a difference. In addition to being named on the Forbes list of "Best Employers for Women," Amgen was also recognized as a Diversity Equality Index (DEI) "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion" by Disability: IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities.
“Amgen earning a top score in every DEI category is a testament to how much we truly value the contributions of all of our employees and the impact ERGs like Ability Bettered Through Leadership and Education (ABLE) can have on ensuring employees feel supported and safe in the workplace,” said Noemi Romero, vice president of Supply Chain and Global Chair of ABLE.
With more than 700 global ABLE members, support comes from all levels, including leadership and staff without disabilities. “ABLE is a tremendous resource for any employee seeking to understand, accept and overcome adversity,” said Peter Griffith, executive vice president, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Sponsor of ABLE. “The pandemic magnified the need for companies to invest in the physical, emotional and mental well-being of employees, and Amgen is proud to be recognized for our work in these areas.”
