1 in 5 Employees Struggle to Adapt to Workplace Change Across Pharma, Biotech, and Healthcare shows Great Place To Work Report

Mumbai, Jan 13: – Great Place To Work® India, a global authority on workplace culture, has released its latest report revealing key workforce trends across the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and biotech sectors. As India’s pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and biotech sectors scale rapidly amid global pressures, organisations that prioritise trust, adaptability, and care are witnessing stronger employee commitment, greater readiness for innovation, and improved work–life balance.
The report reveals that trust-led workplace cultures are a key measurable driver of businesses. In pharmaceutical organisations where employees perceive management as honest and ethical, intent to stay rises sharply by 37%. These outcomes are especially significant in a sector grappling with talent shortages, regulatory intensity, and pricing pressures.
The report also highlights a noticeable improvement; nearly 81% of employees believe management’s actions match its words, while 89% view leadership as honest and ethical, reinforcing the role of consistency in building organisational trust.
“India’s pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotech sectors are scaling significantly, with workplace culture emerging as a key driver of trust, innovation, and performance. Our recent study reveals that in the Biotechnology industry, employees with access to training and development report 33% higher innovation opportunities at work, strengthening the link between learning and innovation success. Confidence in leadership has a measurable impact on workforce stability in the pharmaceutical sector. Our research indicates that one in two employees tends to stay longer when they have confidence in their leadership. In the healthcare sector, teams that experience psychological safety have 58% more employees who report a healthy work-life balance, keeping employees engaged. Collectively, the findings prove that a highly trusted culture elevates employee performance and business outcomes. To sustain future growth, leaders need to ensure continuous training and development, encourage meaningful collaboration, and demonstrate agility to sustain growth in high-pressure environments.”, said Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place To Work® India.
In India’s biotechnology sector, the pace of scientific advancement has created a different set of challenges. While organisations are investing in learning, adaptation remains uneven. Employee perception of access to training and development opportunities has improved by 6% compared to last year, with 85% of employees in 2025 stating they are offered training, up from 79% in 2024. Yet, one in five employees continues to report difficulty adapting to workplace change, highlighting the need for learning cultures that go beyond formal programmes.
Significantly, the data establishes a strong link between learning, adaptability, and innovation. Employees with access to training report 33% higher innovation opportunities at work, while teams that adapt quickly to change see 54% greater positivity toward career growth. Employees who believe their organisations adapt well are also significantly more likely to look forward to coming to work and feel optimistic about long-term career prospects.
The report underscores that capability alone is insufficient without care. Nearly one in five healthcare employees report that their workplace does not adequately support emotional well-being, increasing burnout risk in an already high-pressure environment. In contrast, teams that experience psychological safety have 58% more employees who report a positive work-life balance, directly influencing retention and patient care quality.
Across all three sectors, the findings point to a shared conclusion: when trust, adaptability, and care are embedded into everyday work practices, organisations are better positioned to manage risk, sustain performance, and deliver long-term value. Leadership behaviour, continuous learning, and employee well-being are emerging as interconnected levers rather than isolated initiatives.
Here are all India’s Best Workplaces in Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, and Biotech 2025, recognized for their exceptional culture and employee satisfaction, listed in alphabetical order: 
  1. Alcon Laboratories India Private Limited
  2. Apitoria Pharma Private Limited,
  3. Aragen Life Sciences Limited,
  4. Biogen,
  5. Brinton Pharmaceuticals Limited,
  6. Cipla Limited,
  7. CK Birla Healthcare – A CKA Birla Group Company,
  8. Dr. B. Lal Clinical Laboratory Private Limited,
  9. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited,
  10. Fermenta Biotech Limited,
  11. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited,
  12. HCL Healthcare,
  13. INTAS PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.,
  14. Kids Clinic India Limited (Cloudnine),
  15. Laurus Labs Limited,
  16. Max Healthcare Institute Limited,
  17. Medtronic Engineering And Innovation Center Private Limited,
  18. Novartis Healthcare Private Limited,
  19. R1 RCM Global Private Limited,
  20. Rukmani Birla Hospital – A Part of CK Birla Hospitals,
  21. Sagility India Limited,
  22. Sentiss Pharma Private Limited,
  23. Sigachi Industries Limited,
  24. Stryker India,
  25. Thermo Fisher Scientific India