Behind the Scenes at Novartis: How a Pharma Giant Manages Annual Leave
Introduction
Large companies face complex challenges when tracking staff time off. For leading pharmaceutical company Novartis, a smooth annual leave process is vital to keep operations running and employees happy. This article looks at how Novartis manages HR data and staff leave, referencing current sources and shedding light on the systems in use.
Key Findings
- HRCore (FirstPort) is Novartis’ core HR system for storing employee and HR data across the company^2.
- Newly acquired businesses may input HR data manually until integration with HRCore is complete^2.
- Annual leave tracking is not explicitly named, but HRCore likely has a leave-management function.
- Novartis employs roles such as "Time Services Specialist," suggesting a clear focus on organised time and leave management within HR operations^1.
Analysis
Novartis uses HRCore (also called FirstPort) as the backbone for human resources data worldwide. This system collects and stores the essential details needed for HR reporting, such as headcount and FTE positions. When Novartis acquires a new business, data from these smaller companies is added manually until they are fully merged into HRCore.
While public documents do not directly name a separate annual leave platform, it is common for enterprise HR systems to include modules for absence and leave tracking. The presence of "Time Services Specialist" roles at Novartis suggests that employee leave, holidays, and time-off requests are tracked by dedicated staff using HRCore or a related tool^1. Their job is likely to oversee accurate time and leave records.
Companies of this size must rely on systematic, software-supported processes to prevent errors and manage leave entitlements. Without a central platform like HRCore, tracking holidays for a global workforce would be nearly impossible.
For organisations seeking similar effectiveness, using staff holiday software can streamline leave tracking and ensure compliance—though each business must choose tools that fit its size and needs.
Conclusion
Novartis relies on its HRCore (FirstPort) system to handle employee data and likely tracks annual leave through built-in or integrated modules. While direct details on their leave-management technology are limited, all signs point to a carefully managed process supported by technology and skilled HR staff. This approach helps the company balance compliance, reporting, and employee satisfaction on a large scale.