When a new employee joins Charles River, he or she is welcomed to the company with an Orientation Program. This includes the
Introduction to Charles River training module.
A central message to new employees is our commitment to animal welfare. The new employee is asked to embrace humane care as a critical element of how Charles River supports accelerating drug development.
Employees learn about the 3Rs of animal welfare: Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement. They also learn of their obligation to report any animal welfare concerns and then sign a Humane Care Commitment after completing their orientation.
Formal training in animal welfare recurs at least annually. Employees re-sign their Humane Care Commitment after each annual update.
To ensure consistency of information and message, Charles River also provides species-specific training on husbandry, techniques, and behavior. The message of humane care and ensuring animal welfare is woven throughout these training modules.
A network of trainers helps to ensure that the diverse sites within Charles River are working together to raise the bar for the humane care and welfare of our animals. These groups meet regularly for advanced training, networking, discussion, case studies, and other activities related to advancing humane care. The networks reinforce the objectives of the Humane Care Initiative and gives our employees a local outlet for ideas, questions, or concerns.