Our responsibility for the wellness of our employees is a natural extension of our core commitment to improving the state of human health. Genentech is committed to helping employees and their families lead healthy and balanced lives.
Health and Fitness In 2007, Genentech continued the success of Club Genentech, its state-of-the-art onsite fitness center in South San Francisco, which offers free membership to all employees, and has steadily increased its membership to nearly 5,200 employees.
Genentech's commitment to employee fitness extends beyond South San Francisco. The Oceanside facility also has an onsite fitness center and holds regular exercise classes. In addition, the company provides free membership to a local sports club for its Vacaville and Oceanside employees. Any Genentech employee not located at one of the company's three main facilities can receive reimbursement for the cost of participating in fitness activities.
In 2007, Genentech Vacaville's African Americans in Biotechnology employee group proposed a Health and Fitness Challenge to management, where teams of four to six employees compete to win prizes for losing the most weight. The program was rolled out in October 2007 at a company health fair, and over 20 percent of Vacaville employees signed up for the challenge. The contest will run through the first half of 2008, with monthly weigh-ins.
Illness Prevention and Response Promoting healthy lifestyles is an important objective of Genentech. The company has an active program of offering free flu shots to employees, and in 2007, an increased number of vaccinations were provided through health fairs, onsite clinics, sales meetings and coupons for employees not near a main campus. The total number of vaccinations increased from nearly 3,800 in 2006 to more than 5,000 in 2007 due to awareness campaigns and more convenient options. Annual flu vaccinations help keep employees healthy and active during the flu season.
Over 100 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were installed in locations throughout our campuses in 2007. AEDs can prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest if available for immediate use.
Community Wellness Genentech holds quarterly blood drives at our main sites, and enjoys active participation by its employees. The blood is donated to local blood banks, where it provides a much needed resource to people in the community. In 2007, the program was expanded in South San Francisco to set up collection sites at three locations on campus. Employees who donate blood receive a gift certificate to a local sports equipment store.
Genentech and our employees support a number of health-related causes through charity bicycle races, walks and runs. Teams from Genentech regularly participate in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure, the San Francisco AIDS Walk, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and several other charitable events. To support its employees' efforts, Genentech provides matching funds for employees' charitable contributions.