UK Pharmaceutical Employees: Selfless or Salary obsessed?

eMedCareers survey reveals:

- Top reasons for joining the pharmaceutical industry: To help people in need (57%), Career development (26%) and Workplace location (18%)

- 51% have never considered leaving the sector, while 32% have been in healthcare for more than 10 years

- Nearly a third of UK pharmaceutical employees believe media reporting on the industry is unfair, while 59% believe a more open and honest dialogue with the public would help improve the industryís image

- Reasons for continued loyalty to an employer: Ability to help others (40%), Career development (24%), Salary (21%), Benefits packages (13%)

A desire to help others is the number one reason employees are attracted to the UK pharmaceutical sector, according to research released today by eMedCareers.co.uk, the online job board for the pharmaceutical industry.

According to 1,000 employees from across the sector, the top three reasons for working in healthcare are helping people in need (57%), career development (26%) and location of workplace (18%).

Not just selfless, respondents also displayed great loyalty with 51% claiming to have never considered leaving the sector and 32% having served more than 10 years within the industry.

This loyalty may account for the fact that nearly a third of respondents believe media reporting on the industry is unfair and that 59% believe the industry needs to improve its image by adopting a more open and honest dialogue with the public.

And the reasons for such loyalty? Over 40% of respondents state the ongoing ability to help others as the reason they have stayed loyal to their employer once within the sector. Again selflessness outranked career development (24%), pay incentives (21%) and benefits packages (13%) as the reason to stay with their employer.

One respondent explained: ìBeing able to play a part in helping somebody to overcome illness is important to me. There is an immense satisfaction in knowing that my work is making a real difference to peopleís lives and Iím not sure how many other jobs there are out there where I could honestly feel this.î

Eric Potts, director of eMedCareers, commented: ìClearly there are some very strong advocates of the sector among those already working within it. Their passion and loyalty are key selling points when looking to recruit and retain the talent needed to encourage growth and innovation in the sector.

ìRegardless of whether the industry has an image problem as these respondents suggest, a greater openness can only help to attract potential, high calibre candidates from outside the industry.

ìAlthough bound by rules and regulations, pharma companies can, and should, become more transparent and highlight the attractive opportunities that exist within the sector ñ including high pay scales, great career development and good company structures.î