Merck Introduces New Working Model

Merck's New Working Model Merck Global's "Future Ways of Working" project was implemented at Merck Turkey as of 1 January 2022. With the "Future Ways of Working" model, the aim is to prioritize work-life balance for employees and enable them to work as productively as possible, thereby achieving strong business results in a positive environment. The science and technology company Merck, which has approximately 200 employees in our country, has 60% of its workforce at the head office and 40% in field teams. Even before the pandemic, Merck Turkey had flexible working hours and remote work options. With the first case, the company transitioned to a fully remote working system. Speaking on "Future Ways of Working" at Merck, Merck Turkey Human Resources Director Gaye Mesçioğlu said: "Now we can easily do our work from anywhere we have a computer and internet connection. This model has brought competencies such as taking responsibility, ownership of work, agility, psychological resilience, time management and personal discipline to the forefront." She further emphasized the rapid developments in communication technologies and how these technologies quickly entered our lives with the pandemic, resulting in online platforms and virtual communication tools becoming prominent as internal communication channels.

"Merck Implemented a Project That Permanently Changed the Rules of the Game."

Mesçioğlu noted that Merck Global implemented the "Future Ways of Working" project at Merck Turkey as of 1 January 2022. She stated: "With the 'Future Ways of Working' model, we aim to offer our employees more flexibility by valuing their work-life balance, enable them to work as productively as possible, and achieve strong business results in a positive environment. With this new model, we are improving both our working methods and our ways of leading and learning."  

"We Will Shape Our Future Together With Our Employees"

At Merck Turkey, the "Future Ways of Working" model refers to a working arrangement in which the manager and employee jointly regulate working time, location, duration and distribution through mutual agreement. Noting that they developed this model to encompass and meet the needs of both employees and the employer, Mesçioğlu said: "We named our new model the 'Flexible and Remote/Hybrid Working Model' and offered our employees different alternatives such as 'Remote/Hybrid Work', 'Flexible (Variable) Working Hours', 'Part-time Work' and 'Job Sharing'. In this context, we organized 'Information Meetings' for our managers and colleagues. In these sessions, we provided tools to help our managers create the best possible working environment for their teams to realize their full potential."

"We Strengthened the 'Future Ways of Working' Project With a Wellbeing Campaign"

While implementing the "Future Ways of Working" project, Merck Turkey adopted a holistic approach and launched a "Wellbeing" campaign to support employees during the change and transformation process that began with the pandemic. Merck Turkey General Manager Şehram Zayer stated: "While change brings innovation, it can sometimes be a challenging process. On this journey of change and transformation, we continue to support our employees and make them feel that we are with them by offering different tools and resources. With the importance we place on a culture of development, our aim is to run together towards our objectives while also supporting and developing our overall health and wellbeing." The Merck Turkey Wellbeing Campaign, which was launched in December 2021, continues with development conversations, seminars and practices, tips on holistic health matters, online training recommendations on many different platforms, and sharing of books and videos. The topic of the first month, "Holistic Vitality," was covered in seminars conducted by expert trainers and coaches. Turkey Human Resources Director Gaye Mesçioğlu stated: "With our 'Wellbeing' campaign, which will continue in the coming months with different topics and guests, we aim to open the doors to a healthier and happier life together, and to raise our overall health and vitality that enhances our quality of life."