Sanofi to dismiss 3 sales reps breaching compliance

Internal investigation accuses employees for violating compliance code, convening disciplinary committee for review

The labor union reproaches “Bureaucratic management inconsiderate of sales scene”

Accused of false reporting client visits, three sales reps from Sanofi-Aventis Korea may be dismissed as recommended by the headquarters.

 

The sales department seems to be stirred by the management and commented, “The management has made a harsh decision disregarding the possibility of system error.” The sign of internal dispute is apparent as the labor union pointed out the Korean branch proceeding the headquarters’ disciplinary decision straight.

 

According to the industry sources on June 25, Sanofi-Aventis Korea has referred two sales reps to its disciplinary committee on June 18.

 

The committee review was conducted to verify the accusation of the sales reps falsely reporting the number of client visitation, which the headquarters said to ‘recommend dismissal.’ Another disciplinary committee review session is scheduled on June 29 for the same accusation on a different sales rep.

 

The committee is deferring the decision on the first two for now.

 

The level of disciplinary action would be finalized after accepting and reviewing additional explanatory evidence for a week since the disciplinary committee review.

 

The incident began back in late last year.

 

An insider from Sanofi says Ethics and Business Integrity (EBI) department at Korean branch, in charge of compliance affairs, received a report and called in a number of sales reps affiliated under Daejeon, Jeonju, Busan and Daegu offices to Seoul headquarters for further investigation.

 

The reason for investigation was the unmatched information among call records (number of healthcare provider visitation by sales rep) in Centrix, highway toll payment system Hi-pass, parking receipt, and corporate card history documented from February to May of 2019.

 

The EBI department reported three of the investigated sales reps for making ‘false calls’ as some of their Centrix call records, time and location were not matching and did not follow the initial plan.

 

The headquarters assessed the report and officially ‘recommended dismissal’ on the three reps, which now convened the disciplinary committee.

 

Sanofi sales department is reportedly shaken by the management’s decision.

 

Sanofi has ordered dismissal on some sales reps for breaching the compliance code.

 

The employees are complaining the management’s disciplinary actions are extreme and unfair as they are solely dependent on electronic records and overlooking troubles in the sales scene.

 

An insider from Sanofi sales department noted, “Changes in planned call is always occurring depending on the paper work, team meeting, corporate training and client situation.

 

Inputting calls into Centrix within three days causes error or inevitably mixed up time input due to limitations in the system.” The sales department explains the employees’ performance is reviewed focusing more on the frequency of product detailing, meal with client, monthly seminar and other indicators than on call records in Centrix.

 

The insider complained, “The sales department directors do not even pay attention to the Centrix call records.

 

Without sufficient explanatory evidence, making a harsh disciplinary decision like dismissal only based on electronic data is unjust.” The labor union in Sanofi-Aventis Korea expressed concern about the disciplinary committee and their effectiveness.

 

Appealing to the disciplinary committee in Korean branch is merely a formality, and the headquarters’ decision is most likely to become the final decision.

 

The head of Sanofi-Aventis Korea Labor Union, Park Young stated, “Stressing on the principle of ‘Zero Defect Zero Tolerance,’ the French headquarters has been making disciplinary decisions without fully considering the Korean employees’ circumstances.

 

The employees are growing increasingly frustrated with the bureaucratic management by the Korean branch management and CP department, and superficial procedure taken by the disciplinary committee,” and “if their past conduct is repeated, the labor union would fight with everything to protect the union member.” In 2016, Sanofi has dismissed two sales reps for paying their team dinner with corporate card as ordered by the team manager.

 

In 2019, a sales rep, affiliated under consumer healthcare sector handling OTC, was dismissed after being accused of deliberately returning the product late to keep incentives.

 

Two cases fired up the criticism of unjust dismissal as the employees’ appeals were not accepted according to the French headquarters’ principle of ‘zero tolerance on breaching compliance.’ The corporate management says a detailed answer cannot be given at this point with the internal review still ongoing.

 

A Sanofi-Aventis Korea official stated, “We are aware of the responsibility in credibility the patients, families and healthcare providers have on the company.

 

To fully serve the social responsibility, the company would always strive to strictly follow the business ethics and compliance code.”