Common use of Promotional Opportunities Clause in Contracts

Promotional Opportunities. Novartis agrees to the following actions with respect to its Policies and Procedures for Promotional Opportunities: 7.34 Formalizing and Articulating Standards (i) Novartis has formalized and documented the qualifications necessary to be considered eligible for management, the processes followed for management development, the steps a representative must take to become a manager, and the role that the District Manager and second-line manager play in that process. In instances where employees are assigned to District Manager positions outside the process because the position is filled by external hiring, international hiring, or by a developmental rotation, Novartis will ensure this is done on a non-discriminatory basis. a) Novartis will provide written direction and training that specifies that District Managers and second-line managers are not allowed to modify or add any additional requirements, standards, or steps to the Management Development (“MD”) process. b) On an annual basis, Novartis will provide these policies in written form to the entire sales field force and will make them available year-round on the Novartis intranet. c) Novartis will also provide clear written materials regarding the pre-Management Development Program (“MDP”) checklist and the MD classes, how each stage progresses, what individuals need to do to move through each stage, and the frequency at which each of the MD classes are offered. d) Where possible, the calendared dates for each MD class, along with the eligibility requirements and the registration process, should be posted on the intranet well in advance of registration closing for each class. e) Employees will be notified of a Sales Training department employee who can answer questions regarding the MD classes and the MDP checklist. Novartis will ensure that this department is sufficiently staffed to answer questions in a timely manner. (ii) MDP Training a) Novartis will commit that the MDP will not require more than a three-night stay away from home per quarter for training on the MDP, and will not require training to occur over the weekend. 7.35 Enabling More Self-Guided Development (i) Novartis has created and will continue to maintain a system that allows interested employees to self-register their interest in management electronically. a) In response to a registration of interest for management, Novartis does, and will continue to, automatically provide to the eligible individual information regarding completion of the MDP checklist, along with eligibility requirements and the next steps in proceeding through the MDP process. These materials will also detail what changes in performance or other circumstances would lead to an employee being removed from the MDP process. b) Novartis will also provide a Sales Training contact who can answer questions about the process and can provide advice regarding concerns. c) The Sales Training contact will monitor candidates’ progress through the program and if concerns are identified either by a candidate or by the Sales Training contact himself/herself, will notify the appropriate Human Resources Business Partner. The Human Resources Business Partner will intervene as necessary and discuss with the District Manager and/or second-line manager any concerns regarding the support of the District Manager or second-line manager for management. d) Any concerns regarding discrimination will be handled pursuant to the Employee Relations complaint process. (ii) A second-line manager will be required to monitor the progress of employees who participate in the Management Development system. (iii) Novartis will maintain a distribution list of “ready” management candidates, updated after the close of each MD3 class, who have completed the MD process and so are eligible for a District Manager I position. Unless an available District Manager I position must be filled under exigent circumstances that require an immediate hiring decision or will be filled through external hiring, international hiring, or by a developmental rotation, Novartis will post available District Manager I positions on its internal system. Candidates may set up a profile which will have the system automatically notify them when such a posting appears.