Stakeholder engagement - Bristol Myers Squibb

At Bristol Myers Squibb, stakeholder engagement is an integral part of our efforts to achieve our Mission. We recognize that discovery, development and delivery of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs are improved by partnership and understanding of stakeholder needs and expectations. Our stakeholders include patients and the broader healthcare community, our employees, business associates, government, non-governmental organizations, investors and communities.

Engagement with our stakeholders provides opportunity for greater understanding of emerging issues, trends and expectations, fosters increased trust and support, and provides synergies. Addressing stakeholder expectations and emerging issues as part of business strategy facilitates the sustainability and success of our company.

The stakeholders with whom we actively engage are identified based on factors such as:

their ability to help us better define areas of unmet medical need, particularly in our disease areas of focus,
their relative importance to our business operations,
the knowledge and insight they can bring to the discussion,
the benefits of enhanced interaction and
the opportunity for critical and informed feedback.

We also have systems in place to allow all stakeholders to communicate with us regarding specific issues or concerns. For example, we engage with patients and healthcare providers seeking information on our products; we engage with multi-lateral organizations, investors and analysts seeking information about the company’s financial performance, business strategy or governance programs, and we engage with communities furthering collaboration/support.

Engagement with our employees plays an important role in the conduct of our business, and is conducted across numerous venues. Communications from the top down, from the bottom up and across functional areas, are facilitated, including through the following types of initiatives:

Functional and cross-functional committees,
State-of-the-business addresses and written communications
Functional area “Town Hall” meetings including international broadcasts on Bristol Myers Squibb TV with opportunity for employees to ask questions
Extensive intranet communications including an employee newsletter with opportunity for employee feedback
Intranet communication sites and social media
“Lunch & Learn” events
Employee surveys
Supporting employee resource groups
Maintaining employee health and safety committees
Communicating business updates, with opportunity to submit questions/comments or contact the Corporate Ombudsman
Collective bargaining with unionized employees
Bristol Myers Squibb helpline
Annual performance assessments, including the opportunity to secure 360 and multisource feedback
Array of Employee Reward and Recognition Programs
Leadership and learning programs, including support of continuing education

Examples of stakeholder groups

The table below provides additional examples of stakeholder groups with whom we typically engage in any given year, and the means of engagement.

Patients and healthcare providers

Investment community

Suppliers/partners

Government

Civil society

Academics

BioPharma and broader industry organizations

Employees

Examples of engagement

Engagement on access

Melanoma exposed

Investor communications

Internet communications

Other contact opportunities

Examples of business association memberships

Bristol Myers Squibb employees around the globe serve in the following:

Biotechnology industry organization

Business for social responsibility

European federation of pharmaceutical industries and associations

National safety council

Pharmaceutical research and manufacturers of america

ORCHSE strategies

TransCelerate BioPharma, Inc

Wildlife habitat council

World environment center

Our response to stakeholder engagement

Feedback from stakeholder engagement conducted by employees across our business operations and functional areas helps to:

inform and support our business decision-making and strategy
shape our communications
assess opportunities to improve our policies and programs

Stakeholder input is used by cross-functional groups, such as our Senior Management Team, Sustainability Council and Environment, Health and Safety Steering Committee, in developing strategy. Results of internal employee surveys are benchmarked with other companies, and feedback is provided to site and functional area management on opportunities for improvement.

Policies and position statements have been developed or strengthened and shared externally as a result of stakeholder input and engagement.

Examples of policies developed and shared include:

Standards of business conduct and ethics for third parties

Human rights policy

California transparency in supply chains act disclosure

Others can be referenced under Key issues

We also have increased transparency on initiatives related to Access to medicines. Policies shared on our website include key policies referenced in our Principles of integrity, standards of business conduct and ethics.