Novo Nordisk Named to FORTUNE'S '100 Best Companies to Work For' List for Fourth Consecutive Year

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Jan 19, 2012, 09:15 ET

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), the world leader in diabetes care, has been ranked 43rd in FORTUNE magazine's 2012 "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. Reflecting the passion of Novo Nordisk's employees, the company has been highlighted on the list for four consecutive years.

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"I'm convinced that it is our people who set us apart. Each and every person at Novo Nordisk wants to make a difference," said Jeff Frazier, corporate vice president of human resources for Novo Nordisk, Inc. "As we continue to actively recruit high-quality talent in the United States, our goal is to identify and instill the same spirit in every new team member."

The annual ranking, now in its 15th year, is a prestigious recognition of the best in workplace culture and talent initiatives. Novo Nordisk, headquartered in Denmark with US operations based in Princeton, NJ, has nearly 4,000 employees across the U.S.

"Working at Novo Nordisk provides a meaningful experience because of our intense focus on improving care for those living with diabetes," said Kate Owen, clinical trials executive director at Novo Nordisk's U.S. headquarters in Princeton, N.J. "Every employee understands this disease on a personal level – simply as we all know someone affected by it. We bring thoughts of those people to work each day and that makes us work harder and smarter."

Novo Nordisk has been producing industry-leading diabetes treatments for nearly 90 years. Guided by a set of values known as the Novo Nordisk Way, the company applies a holistic approach to diabetes management: from supporting prevention programs to pursuing an ultimate cure for the disease. The company also develops therapies for hemophilia and growth disorders.

"Novo Nordisk encourages its employees to go out and make a difference in patients' lives every day," said Natalka Cap, a Novo Nordisk diabetes sales representative from Detroit, Mich. "Our job is to inspire and motivate, so our customers can better help their patients. I teach dance to prevent and manage diabetes in my spare time; this is the kind of place where my professional expertise and personal interests go hand in hand."

Community engagement is embedded in Novo Nordisk's history. The company actively supports employees in translating Novo Nordisk's principles into practice in local communities in the U.S. and abroad, while contributing to a variety of regional, national and global organizations. From partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the National Hemophilia Foundation, to offering innovative treatments and education to patients, to matching employee donations to nonprofit agencies related to the business and mission of the company, Novo Nordisk employees thrive on finding solutions where the need is greatest.

"I love working at Novo Nordisk because there is a sense of empowerment at every level. Everyone gets credit for what they do, not just leadership," said Bobby Hunt, a technician on line 52 at Novo Nordisk's Clayton, N.C. insulin pen manufacturing facility. "The entrepreneurial spirit of the company translates into success for patients. That really makes me proud to work here."

Employees play a significant role in FORTUNE's rankings with two-thirds of a company's score based on the results of a confidential survey sent to a random sample of employees. Employees cited the company's continued growth in an industry experiencing layoffs as a key reason they enjoy working at Novo Nordisk.

At Novo Nordisk, our passion for people begins with meeting the needs of our own diverse team. We offer exceptional compensation and an array of benefits programs, including:

Pay-for-performance plans;
Generous paid time off; and
Robust 401k and retirement plans.

In the past four years, Novo Nordisk has earned the following rankings on the list:

2012 – No. 43
2011 – No. 47
2010 – No. 25
2009 – No. 57

Various countries within Novo Nordisk's network of local affiliates have been listed as a "Best Company" at least once since 2002. Those affiliates winning top honors in the past have included Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., Novo Nordisk has been recognized as a top employer in New Jersey since 2005 in addition to appearing on the annual FORTUNE list. Other organizations recognizing Novo Nordisk's corporate practices and culture include Conceive Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, and the Dave Thomas Foundation's Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces.

The full list and related stories will appear in the February 6, 2012 issue of FORTUNE, and are available now at www.fortune.com/bestcompanies.

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. For more information, visit www.novonordisk-us.com.

About FORTUNE'S '100 Best Companies to Work For'

To pick the 100 Best Companies to Work For, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America; 280 firms participated in this year's survey. More than 246,000 employees at those companies responded to a survey created by the institute, a global research and consulting firm operating in 45 countries around the world. Two-thirds of a company's score is based on the results of the institute's Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about management's credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the institute's Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts. After evaluations are completed, if news about a company comes to light that may significantly damage employees' faith in management, we may exclude it from the list. Any company that is at least five years old and has more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible. For information on how to apply, visit www.greatplacetowork.com.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk