An MSK FDE Question...

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Anonymous

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Hi all, so I am not trying to beat a dead horse here or debate the pros and cons of FDE. I took it with eyes wide open and I understand what it is and what it is not. With that said, would someone with tenure here give me their experience about when (historically) layoffs happen? I've got Cymbalta, Cialis and Evista...two go off patent at the end of 2013 and the other has everyone and their cousin selling it. My contract runs through April 2014. Do you think we make it to the end of 2013? The end of the selling year we just started? Sooner? I appreciate anyone taking the time to share their perspective on how Lilly has operated previously. I know at some point I need to find a new gig, but let's say one comes now at dramatically less pay...wondering if I should consider it or wait for something like that when I'm closer to D-Day ya know?
 




Anonymous said:
Hi all, so I am not trying to beat a dead horse here or debate the pros and cons of FDE. I took it with eyes wide open and I understand what it is and what it is not. With that said, would someone with tenure here give me their experience about when (historically) layoffs happen? I've got Cymbalta, Cialis and Evista...two go off patent at the end of 2013 and the other has everyone and their cousin selling it. My contract runs through April 2014. Do you think we make it to the end of 2013? The end of the selling year we just started? Sooner? I appreciate anyone taking the time to share their perspective on how Lilly has operated previously. I know at some point I need to find a new gig, but let's say one comes now at dramatically less pay...wondering if I should consider it or wait for something like that when I'm closer to D-Day ya know?
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Get out as soon as you can or you have a big chance of being unemployed. You should be able to find similar or better income. Lilly pays low for the pharma industry. Do not wait til D day. There is no severence.
 




The when will this happen question is one we'd all like to know, FDE or FTE. I don't think anyone really knows yet. Bottom line is whatever time you/we have left, it will go fast. I'd be curious to know how many reps are applying for jobs. I'm looking, but haven't started applying, although am thinking I should be putting forth the effort to submit and start the process. I figure, AT BEST, I have a 50/50 chance of maintaining employment with Lilly---and I'm not even FDE. I'm confident that whatever notice they give us, be it a month, or severance for those who may receive it, it's difficult to get jobs, and no amount of notice will ge enough for plenty of us. In all reality, we probably won't get a month's notice. They won't want reps out in the field for any period of time knowing they're done for the risk of damage at the customer level. My guess is they'll let you know on a Friday and check out the next week. Or possibly even have the manager already know, make the phone call, and visit each rep within a day or two. Once notified, they won't want reps talking with customers.
 




Not to shock you, but the only way to intelligently prepare for this is to know.....you probably aren't going to be without a job today or tomorrow... Anytime after that, the call could be there. I'd really think FDEs should be applying for new jobs. Only inkling of hope would be if all sales reps in your state/district/area are more FDEs than not, and possibly you live in an undesireable territory nobody would want to take.
 




In the past they would let us know about a realignment via company wide conference call. Then there would be a district conference call followed by a one off conversation with the dsm about who stays and who goes. The reps who stayed usually got a realigned territory. The reps who were cut had 3 months to find another territory. If a territory could not be found in that 3 month period then they got a severence payout. In the case of a FDE you would not get a severence.
 




Thanks for all the responses...it really helps. With the new selling year starting, I was optimistic that the inevitable downsizing would occur for 10/1/2013 or possibly I'd be notified 12/2013 since that is when patents expire and that's when the 90 day window on my contract expiration begins. What's the feeling about the 10/30 conference call? Is AA the person cuts would be communicated through? Is it odd that cuts would happen just into the selling year instead of in preparation for 10/1?

Thanks again for the great advice. I am looking/applying. I had an interview for a laboratory selling job, but the offer was 20K less on base with about the same bonus with a company just expanding here and a track record of churn and burn. I didn't take it thinking I could do better. The big issue is when to jump for something less vs. when to roll the dice that we have more time. Very little available here, but looking everyday. Good luck all!
 




That's pretty optimistic for sure. I'd like to believe we have that long also, but I have zero, nada, zip, zilch, 0% faith they'll wait until the very last possible time of employment to keep us. I'd be really pleased, but really shocked if your hopes and guess is right. I just can't count on that.
 








Anonymous said:
Far too optimistic to believe they'll wait until the very last possible time to let us go. It'd be nice, but I don't think that will happen.
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I totally respect your opinion. Let me ask, why do you feel this way? Why would they not promote Cymbalta and Evista to the last possible day? Aren't we cost effective to go right to that day and then be let go?
 




The company may promote it's products until the very last day, or rather "support" it's products until the very last day, ie: you're not really selling anything during the last month or so, right? However, that doesn't mean we won't go through a reorganization prior to that for the sake of fiscal reductions in prep for inevitable reduction in income. Plus, out of respect for people, they may give some sort of notice or reorg ahead of time to allow for employees cut from their territory to find a new, viable one and move. I'm no insider and won't ever claim to have an inside scoop. Just an inkling that I certainly wouldn't just be such a simpleton to assume I'll have a job until the last day of patent.
 




Anonymous said:
The company may promote it's products until the very last day, or rather "support" it's products until the very last day, ie: you're not really selling anything during the last month or so, right? However, that doesn't mean we won't go through a reorganization prior to that for the sake of fiscal reductions in prep for inevitable reduction in income. Plus, out of respect for people, they may give some sort of notice or reorg ahead of time to allow for employees cut from their territory to find a new, viable one and move. I'm no insider and won't ever claim to have an inside scoop. Just an inkling that I certainly wouldn't just be such a simpleton to assume I'll have a job until the last day of patent.
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"Out of respect for people?" Really? You said that about Lilly? Unbelieveable!

Historically, Lilly respected employees. But that ended a long time ago.
 




Anonymous said:
The company may promote it's products until the very last day, or rather "support" it's products until the very last day, ie: you're not really selling anything during the last month or so, right? However, that doesn't mean we won't go through a reorganization prior to that for the sake of fiscal reductions in prep for inevitable reduction in income. Plus, out of respect for people, they may give some sort of notice or reorg ahead of time to allow for employees cut from their territory to find a new, viable one and move. I'm no insider and won't ever claim to have an inside scoop. Just an inkling that I certainly wouldn't just be such a simpleton to assume I'll have a job until the last day of patent.
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That makes lots of sense. I was thinking we (MSK FDE) would prob be ok until Aug/Sept and be cut prior to next selling year.
 




The existing FDE contracts in bio meds will be ending. The announcement will be coming soon- Why would anyone think these positions would be necessary given the current state of the company? Within five month we lose patent on two products and have a major gap in the pipeline... The FDEs serve the purpose of being needed when we have products to promote/ terminating contracting when we don't. It's that black and white- be smart and start looking for FTE elsewhere. You will never have that status with this company and if someone told u otherwise, well that was just misinformation or dishonest. Good luck.
 




Anonymous said:
The existing FDE contracts in bio meds will be ending. The announcement will be coming soon- Why would anyone think these positions would be necessary given the current state of the company? Within five month we lose patent on two products and have a major gap in the pipeline... The FDEs serve the purpose of being needed when we have products to promote/ terminating contracting when we don't. It's that black and white- be smart and start looking for FTE elsewhere. You will never have that status with this company and if someone told u otherwise, well that was just misinformation or dishonest. Good luck.
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IDIOT. Cymb. and Evist will be gone in 15-20 months. NOT 5 months. That being said, FDE are gone by April 2013. Then the FTE's will get teh table scraps. This is in biomedicines. Do not know about Diabetes.
 




I'm not the IDIOT- are you so literal?!?! What a fool!!! The products will be gone within five months of each other- Dec 013 for Cym, March 014 for Evista. You have no idea of restructuring, or the language in the FDE contracts! You should try educating yourself on six sigma or reading the annual reports... Maybe you can do this while you are in the unemoyment line.
 




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