Medidata Solutions - HR Department of the Year

Company: Medidata Solutions, a Dassault Systemes company, New York, NY
Company Description: Medidata is leading the digital transformation of life sciences, creating hope for millions of patients. Medidata helps generate the evidence and insights to help pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostics companies, and academic researchers accelerate value, minimize risk, and optimize outcomes. More than one million registered users across 1,400 customers and global partners.
Nomination Category: Human Resources Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Human Resources Department of the Year

Nomination Title: Medidata Solutions, a Dassault Systemes company - Human Resources Department of the Year

When 2020 began, Medidata’s Human Resources department already had a packed agenda supporting a growing organization while navigating an integration with Dassault Systèmes. Despite this, as events unfolded, the team responded to address the stress employees were facing, and ensured that they were engaged and provided with the tools, resources, and support they needed to continue to deliver on the company’s mission. And given that Medidata was involved in the COVID-19 megatrials it was essential that all employees stayed focused on the mission to power smarter treatments and healthier people. Here are a few ways the team responded to the many challenges they encountered throughout 2020:

Supporting and guiding employees during the evolving pandemic situation. The Workplace Solutions & Global Security team, which is a part of the HR department within Medidata, worked endlessly to manage and communicate about office closures, and a staggered “optionality” approach to re-opening, keeping employee safety as a primary goal while also ensuring that each location stays within the local government’s capacity guidelines. Despite the challenges of managing this situation, the Workplace Solutions also opened a new office in Shanghai during the pandemic

Providing new tools, information, and support amid a global pandemic. The People Team launched several initiatives to support employees during the pandemic. Right as the pandemic started, the team launched a comprehensive online Working from Home Resource Hub that included resources, updated policies to support remote work such as a reimbursement policy for home office equipment, virtual exercise classes, and an area for employees to ask questions. The team also created Medidata C.A.R.E.S. (COVID-Actioned Resources Enabling Support), a wellness and engagement program that provided additional tools and resources such as employee and family care programs, and engagement and educational programs with a focus on wellness. As part of this program, the team created virtual engagement activities around the world such as a virtual Cinco de Mayo celebration for U.S. employees The team also leveraged technology solutions such as TaskHuman, a cutting-edge app that connects employees 1:1 over a video call with life coaches, yoga instructors, physical fitness trainers, etc., on 1000s of topics related to wellbeing. To support managers during this time, the team launched a manager survey to better understand the challenges they faced and what resources and support they needed. This led to the launch of periodic manager drop-in calls when they could further discuss their concerns and get guidance, as well as weekly emails with additional tools and resources.

Virtually recruiting, hiring, and onboarding around 800 employees in 2020, increasing headcount by 20% compared to 2019. To help support the company’s growth, the People Team had to reinvent recruitment, hiring and onboarding processes for a virtual world. As part of this, the team Increased communication throughout the hiring process, and continued to provide the personal touch that is an important element of Medidata’s culture by hosting a half-day virtual New Hire Orientation that provides an interactive "face-to-face" onboarding experience and allows new joiners to hear directly from the co-CEOs and other stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of Medidata.

Enhanced Diversity, Belonging and Social Justice Strategy: Diversity and Belonging has always been a core part of Medidata’s DNA, and given the events of 2020, the team recognized that they needed to enhance this strategy. These efforts included rolling out social justice and allyship resources; reshaping core talent attraction, branding and management processes; and expanding recruitment and development initiatives to focus on hiring and promoting racially diverse talent.

Managed integration efforts and supporting employees throughout the process. Despite the many challenges brought on by the events of 2020, the team had to continue with the integration efforts including co-locating with Dassault Systemes teams in Beijing, Singapore, and San Francisco office and the convergence of our U.S. benefits with Dassault Systemes for year 2021.

In bullet-list form, a brief summary (up to 150 words) of up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of the nominee since the beginning of 2019.

1. Launched Medidata’s first-ever virtual internship program with 40 interns.
2. Created a new program to support employees through a challenging year that TaskHuman, an app that connects employees 1:1 over a video call with life coaches, yoga instructors, physical fitness trainers, etc.
3. Total annual attrition was well below the industry benchmark
4. Trained 70 managers and our Senior Leader Team members on RACE -- which is a Framework for Leading Race Conversations -- and LEAP -- which is a Framework for Becoming a Better Ally to Black Employees.
5. Continued to obtain high employee engagement scores -- 85% in 2020 in our annual MediMic survey and 87% in the Dassault Systemes Great Place to Work survey.

Received several external recognitions, including: 2019 Best Workplaces in the UK, A Bronze Stevie Award and Halo Award Finalist for the Social Innovation Lab, and a 100% score on the Human Rights Corporate Equality Index for the third consecutive year