Are these rumors true?

[anonymous]

I have an opportunity with OPH which would be a jump from the contact lens world. So far it sounds like benefits, salary and car is all better. BUT one of my closest Drs told me not to do it. He says every rep he’s known at NVS has been miserable. GPS tracking (weird), crazy expectations on call attainment, not much investment going into the sales team etc. He said it’s toxic and unstable. Is this true???

 

[anonymous]

I have an opportunity with OPH which would be a jump from the contact lens world. So far it sounds like benefits, salary and car is all better. BUT one of my closest Drs told me not to do it. He says every rep he’s known at NVS has been miserable. GPS tracking (weird), crazy expectations on call attainment, not much investment going into the sales team etc. He said it’s toxic and unstable. Is this true???

Listen to the doctor. Do not come here! It’s toxic and most likely optha will
Have some kind of sales force downsizing in the future as there are too many of us reps

 

[anonymous]

I have an opportunity with OPH which would be a jump from the contact lens world. So far it sounds like benefits, salary and car is all better. BUT one of my closest Drs told me not to do it. He says every rep he’s known at NVS has been miserable. GPS tracking (weird), crazy expectations on call attainment, not much investment going into the sales team etc. He said it’s toxic and unstable. Is this true???

Not sure about that GPS being true.
Expectation and call attainment is out of primary care world.
They give plenty of money for activities and marketing but the division is not a focus area.
As far as if the division will be around in 6 months to a year is anyones guess. It probably will be downsized or sold off. Like any company the manager you have will determine how life is until then. It is a step Up from contact lenses though.

 

[anonymous]

I have an opportunity with OPH which would be a jump from the contact lens world. So far it sounds like benefits, salary and car is all better. BUT one of my closest Drs told me not to do it. He says every rep he’s known at NVS has been miserable. GPS tracking (weird), crazy expectations on call attainment, not much investment going into the sales team etc. He said it’s toxic and unstable. Is this true???

This company is a disaster right now. Micromanagement to the T. Constant reorganizations. Constant restructuring.

Salary may seem better on paper. That said, just know that if they bring you in a bit higher, they will make up for it over a several year window by giving you dead raises. Also because IC plans are always changing, it won't be as great of salary as what you think. Novartis always screws employees when it comes to $.

 

[anonymous]

If you need a job, then come over. BUT, as others have pointed out its a shite show!
Management sucks and seems to always suck, embracing metrics galore.

Your manager might shield you from some of the crap metrics, BUT he/she too will cave to the metrics.

ONLY if you need a job NOW, then come over. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Poster who said this division will liley be spun off/sold, will most likely be the inevitable future. Novartis has a history of spinning off/selling odd ball divisions.

 

[anonymous]

If you have thick skin and don’t mind playing a spotless metrics game, come on over. I have an extensive career and I have never seen such a widespread miserable company culture. I’m out.

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for all the honest feedback!

 

[anonymous]

If you have thick skin and don’t mind playing a spotless metrics game, come on over. I have an extensive career and I have never seen such a widespread miserable company culture. I’m out.

Totally agree with all the above. In the last 18 months there has been complete eliminations or downsizing of sales forces across the board with CV and OPH coming in the weeks ahead. Metrics is like primary care and depending who your ABL is will determine the autonomy you have —unless he/she has a micromanager RD that will force you to hit these objectives for investors. No division is stable. I’m on my way out and won’t ever look back at this organization and culture again. It has been the worst career move I’ve made since I joined the industry.

 

[anonymous]

Why do you think OPH in the weeks ahead?

 

[anonymous]

Totally agree with all the above. In the last 18 months there has been complete eliminations or downsizing of sales forces across the board with CV and OPH coming in the weeks ahead. Metrics is like primary care and depending who your ABL is will determine the autonomy you have —unless he/she has a micromanager RD that will force you to hit these objectives for investors. No division is stable. I’m on my way out and won’t ever look back at this organization and culture again. It has been the worst career move I’ve made since I joined the industry.

I almost took a job in OPH a few months ago and thankfully a former teammate got wind of it and filled me in. It sounds even worse now. So glad i passed. I’m used to a few metrics but this sounds ridiculous. And how in good conscience are they hiring when they know their days are numbered?!

 

[anonymous]

Novartis culture went to shit when the new CE head took over. It wasn’t that bad until a year ago. It’s so sad that every division feels the same. Novartis used to be a great
Company that truly cared about their employees but that’s gone

 

[anonymous]

Novartis culture went to shit when the new CE head took over. It wasn’t that bad until a year ago. It’s so sad that every division feels the same. Novartis used to be a great
Company that truly cared about their employees but that’s gone

The true ugliness almost perfectly aligns with the launch of Leqvio.
Everything associated with it (senior management, leqvio locater, national meeting, 2 for 1 debacle, no data to the field) has been a circus, and they think they can metric their way out if it.
Everyone is panicked, they aren't smart enough to come up with modern, innovative solutions and they reflexively resort to call averages and reductions in headcount.
It is the senior management security blanket, even though it hasn't worked since the days of Vioxx and Celebrex.
The depressing part, other than people losing their jobs/benefits, is knowing they'll fuck up the Lp-A just as badly. There is no reason to believe any of these vapid idiots are learning anything from their mistakes.
The only way to rebuild trust with the field is to fire Duane, Vicky, Jeff and Sandeep, but they inexplicably refuse to do it.
The people who get let go will all be in a better place in six months, watching this brutal shit-show unfold from a safe distance.

 

[anonymous]

The true ugliness almost perfectly aligns with the launch of Leqvio.
Everything associated with it (senior management, leqvio locater, national meeting, 2 for 1 debacle, no data to the field) has been a circus, and they think they can metric their way out if it.
Everyone is panicked, they aren't smart enough to come up with modern, innovative solutions and they reflexively resort to call averages and reductions in headcount.
It is the senior management security blanket, even though it hasn't worked since the days of Vioxx and Celebrex.
The depressing part, other than people losing their jobs/benefits, is knowing they'll fuck up the Lp-A just as badly. There is no reason to believe any of these vapid idiots are learning anything from their mistakes.
The only way to rebuild trust with the field is to fire Duane, Vicky, Jeff and Sandeep, but they inexplicably refuse to do it.
The people who get let go will all be in a better place in six months, watching this brutal shit-show unfold from a safe distance.

Agree with everything stated above. Except V is gone. She’s been promoted and moved to another division, not fired of course.

 

[anonymous]

The true ugliness almost perfectly aligns with the launch of Leqvio.
Everything associated with it (senior management, leqvio locater, national meeting, 2 for 1 debacle, no data to the field) has been a circus, and they think they can metric their way out if it.
Everyone is panicked, they aren't smart enough to come up with modern, innovative solutions and they reflexively resort to call averages and reductions in headcount.
It is the senior management security blanket, even though it hasn't worked since the days of Vioxx and Celebrex.
The depressing part, other than people losing their jobs/benefits, is knowing they'll fuck up the Lp-A just as badly. There is no reason to believe any of these vapid idiots are learning anything from their mistakes.
The only way to rebuild trust with the field is to fire Duane, Vicky, Jeff and Sandeep, but they inexplicably refuse to do it.
The people who get let go will all be in a better place in six months, watching this brutal shit-show unfold from a safe distance.

Well Said!

 

[anonymous]

Novartis culture went to shit when the new CE head took over. It wasn’t that bad until a year ago. It’s so sad that every division feels the same. Novartis used to be a great
Company that truly cared about their employees but that’s gone

Care about its people? That’s a laugh. Novartis hasn’t cared about its people for many, many years, if ever. Also, not every division has felt any kind of change in culture - rheumatology hasn’t. Not saying it’s great, but it’s not different.

 

[anonymous]

Agree with everything stated above. Except V is gone. She’s been promoted and moved to another division, not fired of course.

Novartis - Fuck things up = get a promotion

 

[anonymous]

So I’m a rep. Not and abl or Duane or whoever else you would think would troll on here. Look this last few months with the news of “changes” which I find hard to believe won’t affect many lives, maybe mine…yes this sucks. However, let’s not forget during Covid many reps from other companies got laid off…we still kept jobs. Might they have played the numbers, messed around with territories which meant you had no chance to do well because how can you cultivate relationships during a pandemic effectively…sure I’m just as pissed about all this and the fact that I’d like to be put out of my misery three weeks ago. However cmon, they don’t not care at all about you, they are just running a corporation and the pipeline is what it is. Leqvio albeit a pretty great option for certain patients, the pre planning didn’t allow for a smooth launch whoever’s fault you wanna put that on. Wednesday all will be figured out and I hope it’s minimal but to all those, myself included who may or may not lose their gig or have to remap or may even get stuck with a micromanager or whatever…the package seems very manageable for us to be able to find another job. Remember what’s important, family, friends, health, keep it in perspective and I really hope minimal lives are affected.

 

[anonymous]

So I’m a rep. Not and abl or Duane or whoever else you would think would troll on here. Look this last few months with the news of “changes” which I find hard to believe won’t affect many lives, maybe mine…yes this sucks. However, let’s not forget during Covid many reps from other companies got laid off…we still kept jobs. Might they have played the numbers, messed around with territories which meant you had no chance to do well because how can you cultivate relationships during a pandemic effectively…sure I’m just as pissed about all this and the fact that I’d like to be put out of my misery three weeks ago. However cmon, they don’t not care at all about you, they are just running a corporation and the pipeline is what it is. Leqvio albeit a pretty great option for certain patients, the pre planning didn’t allow for a smooth launch whoever’s fault you wanna put that on. Wednesday all will be figured out and I hope it’s minimal but to all those, myself included who may or may not lose their gig or have to remap or may even get stuck with a micromanager or whatever…the package seems very manageable for us to be able to find another job. Remember what’s important, family, friends, health, keep it in perspective and I really hope minimal lives are affected.

There is an obvious reason why they didn't offer a voluntary separation package. They knew we would be knocking each other out to get to the front of the line. I am not inclined to give them any credit for COVID; after all, they couldn't kick the contract sales-force to the curb fast enough.
I am betting there will be an avalanche of resignations on Thursday and Friday next week from people who were hoping for the severance, didn't get it, and still have no desire to stay. By the end of May anyone unfortunate enough to make the cut will be in complete hell.

 

[anonymous]

Novartis leadership could take credit for no layoffs during covid if they had not made the completely insane decision to expand the sales force during that time. All they are doing now is going back to the same structure as pre pandemic. It’s idiotic.

 

[anonymous]

THIS.

We all knew it. How could upper management NOT see it? And then to double the PC sales force one year later? So incredibly reckless.

Novartis leadership could take credit for no layoffs during covid if they had not made the completely insane decision to expand the sales force during that time. All they are doing now is going back to the same structure as pre pandemic. It’s idiotic.