Haleon Sri Lanka Championing Women-Friendly Workplaces with Purpose and Impact

From its origins in the 1930s as Glaxo Laboratories (Cey) Ltd to its evolution into Haleon (formerly GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), the company has undergone a remarkable transformation anchored by a deep commitment to health and humanity. With trusted household names like Panadol tablets, Panadol for Children syrup, Panadeine, Iodex, ENO, Piriton syrup, Sensodyne, and Corsodyl mouthwash, Haleon has become a staple in homes across generations, especially among women, who often play the role of primary health decision-makers within families.

Guided by its global purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity, Haleon is more than a consumer health company. It’s building a workplace culture rooted in inclusivity, where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to bring their best selves to work.

At the heart of any healthy organisation lies the belief that great teams create great work and a thriving environment. And within this culture, women are not just employees or consumers, they are collaborators, leaders, and changemakers, helping shape the future of everyday health from the inside out.

A legacy rooted in inclusivity, driven by healthy outcomes

At Haleon Sri Lanka, women make up 40% of the overall workforce. These numbers reflect more than just hiring goals; they are the result of thoughtful, inclusive policies that support women at every stage of their careers. Some of the standout benefits include:

• 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave for both parents, including adoptive ones
• Flexible and hybrid work options
• Special types of leave such as caregiver leave, birthday leave, and short leave
• On-site medical care with a full-time doctor and nurse
• Access to sanitary products, cloakrooms, and safe night-shift transport
• Mental health support from a female counsellor
• Regular visits from a nutritionist and wellness experts

These initiatives create a safe, respectful, and empowering environment where women can grow both professionally and personally.

Building a Culture of Leadership and Opportunity

It’s one thing to recruit women and another to nurture them into leaders where they excel in both. By prioritizing internal job mobility, mentorship, and succession planning, Haleon has ensured that women are not only a part of the workforce but are also present in strategic and technical leadership roles. At Haleon Sri Lanka, many departments such as Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and Technical Services are led by women. On top of that, 50% of all accelerated development roles at Haleon are intentionally filled by women reflecting the company’s focus on real, measurable leadership growth.

Fostering a continuous Learning Culture

Creating a workplace where learning never stops means giving people the tools and freedom to grow, no matter their role or experience level. Haleon Sri Lanka offers multiple periodical learning platforms (both internal and external), such as Keep Growing Campus for job role related/behavior/skill upgrades, machine learning curriculum, and free external platforms like LinkedIn, getaabstract, Aaperian, Article Galaxy, i4cp, and insight.

IGNITE HER: Promoting exchange of cross-border wisdom

One of Haleon’s most impactful programs is IGNITE HER, a regional leadership initiative that offers Sri Lankan women access to international mentorship, training, and career development. It’s a powerful example of how local talent can shine on a global stage.

Celebrating Women Year-Round

Haleon believes in continuous recognition and engagement. Every woman at Haleon from corporate executive to sanitation worker is acknowledged and appreciated. Signature events and initiatives include:

● Annual get-togethers celebrating team achievements

● Family days with inclusive activities

● Health and wellness workshops for employees and their families

Prioritizing Health, Always

As a healthcare company, Haleon takes employee wellbeing seriously. Its Partnership for Prevention program offers preventive health services for employees and their families. For women employees, these services are particularly impactful, including:

● Cancer screenings (breast, cervical, ovarian, endometrial)

● Reproductive health awareness

● Pre- and post-natal support

By integrating health, equity, and care, Haleon ensures women are supported throughout every phase of their lives and careers.

Recognition for a Job Well Done

Haleon’s women-led initiatives have contributed to major wins across the board. In 2025 alone, the company earned:

● Gold and Merit Awards from the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers

● Presidential Export Award for Pharmaceuticals

● Best Corporate Citizen Award by the National Chamber of Commerce

● effie Bronze Award in the Healthcare category for ENO

● Supply Chain Excellence Award from the Ministry of Industries

These achievements not only showcase business success, but they also reflect inclusive leadership and collective growth, driven in large part by Haleon’s empowered female workforce.

Recreational Activities

Haleon Sri Lanka is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of its employees. Within the premises, it offers a fully equipped gym for everyone to use, promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, there is a dedicated badminton facility where employees can either hire a coach or book the venue, making it easy to stay active and engaged in sports. To ensure comprehensive health support, there is a professional doctor available on all working days, providing medical consultations.

Why It Matters –

Haleon’s story is a timely reminder that gender inclusivity and business success go hand-in-hand. It offers a model for companies to move from intent to real, visible impact.

Whether it’s through policy innovation, career development, or wellness support, Haleon’s practices are scalable, actionable, and deeply human-centred.

A Proud Participant of the Satynmag Women Friendly Workplace Awards 2025

At Satynmag, we’re proud to recognize organizations that are building a more equitable

future. Haleon’s participation in the Women Friendly Workplace Awards 2025 is not just a celebration it’s a benchmark for others to follow.

By proving that diversity, care, and opportunity can exist in perfect harmony, Haleon Sri Lanka stands as a beacon of what’s possible when you put women at the centre of workplace transformation.

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