Merck Joins ‘The Valuable 500’ Initiative, Reinforcing Commitment to Disability Inclusion

Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, is proud to announce its membership in The Valuable 500, an international initiative striving to put disability on the leadership agenda. The company supports the campaign which is dedicated to unlocking the business, social and economic value of people living with disabilities around the world.

“At Merck, we are committed to cultivating a disability-confident workplace where everyone can participate,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “When people feel included and valued, we all succeed.” 

The campaign calls on 500 global businesses to commit to placing disability inclusion on their business leadership agendas, making a firm commitment to eradicating the exclusion of disabled people in business.  

According to The World Bank, more than 1.3 billion people around the world live with some form of disability. To address this, The Valuable 500 was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2019. Their goal has been to sign 500 national and multinational, private sector corporations and unite them to serve as role models for change on this vital issue. To date, more than 200 global businesses have signed up.

“It is extremely promising to see global companies like MSD, from all four corners of the globe and across a vast array of sectors, continuing to pledge to join our disability inclusion movement nearly twelve months on from its launch.  As The Valuable 500’s historic return to Davos fast approaches, it throws into sharp relief our progress in tackling ‘diversish’ attitudes in the workplace over the past year. We gladly welcome these new members – I am certain they will be instrumental in ensuring disability inclusion becomes the norm in working life globally, ” said Caroline Casey, Founder, The Valuable 500.

Learn more about or commitment to diversity and inclusion in our Corporate Responsibility Report.