Personnel expenses comprised the following:
| XLS |
|
|
|
|
|
€ million |
2013 |
2012 |
|
Wages and salaries |
2,611.8 |
3,007.2 |
|
Compulsory social security contributions and special financial assistance |
368.0 |
398.3 |
|
Pension expenses |
146.6 |
159.0 |
|
|
3,126.4 |
3,564.5 |
The decrease in personnel expenses compared to the prior year was primarily due to the reduction of one-time effects in connection with “Fit for 2018” transformation and growth program. In 2012, € 381.6 million related to expenses for severance pay.
As of December 31, 2013, the Merck Group had 38,154 employees (2012: 38,847). The average number of employees during the year was 38,282 (2012: 39,939).
The breakdown of personnel by function was as follows:
| XLS |
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of employees |
2013 |
2012 |
|
Production |
9,985 |
9,486 |
|
Logistics |
1,779 |
1,665 |
|
Marketing and Sales |
12,214 |
12,353 |
|
Administration |
5,106 |
4,416 |
|
Research & Development |
4,433 |
4,558 |
|
Infrastructure and Other |
4,765 |
7,461 |
|
|
38,282 |
39,939 |
In 2013, Merck substantially increased transparency by assigning all positions to a standardized job profile. In this way, positions that were previously not assigned to specific functional areas were assigned according to function.