Coronavirus Layoffs

Really the COVID19 hype!? Please - how disrespectful to those who have lost their life and scientists that are relentlessly working on a vaccine to save lives. Hope you are not in the industry - you lack empathy.
This post makes literally no sense, and was likely written by the same Karen who had the earlier drunken tirade about AOC and future rep job prospects being at Walmart.

You lack critical thinking skills, Karen.
 






Not the “Covid hype” poster but they do have a point. Heart disease will have 10 times as many deaths this year. Add to that it’s been killing that many every year for all of our lifetimes. Same Rates for cancer. These will kill just as many, every year, for years if not decades. Higher rates for other preventable diseases as well. Yet McDonald’s, liquor and weed stores, and tobacco are “essential services”. Also, my state has less than 100 deaths, most were in nursing homes and aged 80+ with multiple comorbities. Closing the school year, shutting down thousands of family owned businesses, stopping medical visits and procedures, shutting down mental health and drug treatment facilities (should I keep going?) has consequences and do kill people as well.
 






Not the “Covid hype” poster but they do have a point. Heart disease will have 10 times as many deaths this year. Add to that it’s been killing that many every year for all of our lifetimes. Same Rates for cancer. These will kill just as many, every year, for years if not decades. Higher rates for other preventable diseases as well. Yet McDonald’s, liquor and weed stores, and tobacco are “essential services”. Also, my state has less than 100 deaths, most were in nursing homes and aged 80+ with multiple comorbities. Closing the school year, shutting down thousands of family owned businesses, stopping medical visits and procedures, shutting down mental health and drug treatment facilities (should I keep going?) has consequences and do kill people as well.
Heart disease and cancer are not contagious.
 












Not the “Covid hype” poster but they do have a point. Heart disease will have 10 times as many deaths this year. Add to that it’s been killing that many every year for all of our lifetimes. Same Rates for cancer. These will kill just as many, every year, for years if not decades. Higher rates for other preventable diseases as well. Yet McDonald’s, liquor and weed stores, and tobacco are “essential services”. Also, my state has less than 100 deaths, most were in nursing homes and aged 80+ with multiple comorbities. Closing the school year, shutting down thousands of family owned businesses, stopping medical visits and procedures, shutting down mental health and drug treatment facilities (should I keep going?) has consequences and do kill people as well.
Ok. Let's accept all of that.

The only consequences of pharma reps being denied in-person marketing access to medical facilities during an active pandemic until after an effective treatment exists is fewer distractions, better patient care, and less unnecessary risk to everyone - including a large percentage of high risk patients who will die from this virus.

In-person marketing in this scenario is counter to everything our industry is supposed to be about on its best day.

There's no justifying it in its current format and footprint especially when virtual and DTC marketing is available, and works.
 






Ok. Let's accept all of that.

The only consequences of pharma reps being denied in-person marketing access to medical facilities during an active pandemic until after an effective treatment exists is fewer distractions, better patient care, and less unnecessary risk to everyone - including a large percentage of high risk patients who will die from this virus.

In-person marketing in this scenario is counter to everything our industry is supposed to be about on its best day.

There's no justifying it in its current format and footprint especially when virtual and DTC marketing is available, and works.
What and where is your proof that “virtual and DTC marketing” , “works”.
 






What and where is your proof that “virtual and DTC marketing” , “works”.
Um, the enormous budgets already spent on these campaigns? Let me Google that for you:

In 2018 alone, pharma companies invested 6.46 billion U.S. dollars in direct-to-consumer advertising. Since 2012, it invested 33 billion.

Come on man. Do better than that.

Wishful thinking that this gravy train is somehow going to continue just like it was isn't going to change the reality of what's coming over the next six to eighteen months. Every one of us needs to get honest about things and prepare for a brand new world. The good news is that there's time to do so.
 






Um, the enormous budgets already spent on these campaigns? Let me Google that for you:

In 2018 alone, pharma companies invested 6.46 billion U.S. dollars in direct-to-consumer advertising. Since 2012, it invested 33 billion.

Come on man. Do better than that.

Wishful thinking that this gravy train is somehow going to continue just like it was isn't going to change the reality of what's coming over the next six to eighteen months. Every one of us needs to get honest about things and prepare for a brand new world. The good news is that there's time to do so.

It is awfully quiet around here, anyone got news?
 






Agree! Instead of living in denial, start thinking of how you can reinvent yourself in a career that is more rewarding. I really do not know how any man in pharmaceuticals could maintain self worth being a caterer - this would be demeaning. Consider utilizing your college degree in a career where impact is truly reliant on a specific skill set. Your industry is getting ready for a long overdue overhaul. Perhaps, this will help drive down drug costs to patients. Doctors really do not need or have time to meet with you people. I’m sure you already are aware. Good luck hope all of you have a backup plan.
 






Agree! Instead of living in denial, start thinking of how you can reinvent yourself in a career that is more rewarding. I really do not know how any man in pharmaceuticals could maintain self worth being a caterer - this would be demeaning. Consider utilizing your college degree in a career where impact is truly reliant on a specific skill set. Your industry is getting ready for a long overdue overhaul. Perhaps, this will help drive down drug costs to patients. Doctors really do not need or have time to meet with you people. I’m sure you already are aware. Good luck hope all of you have a backup plan.
My backup plan is to continue to make a quarter mil a year...
 












Agree! Instead of living in denial, start thinking of how you can reinvent yourself in a career that is more rewarding. I really do not know how any man in pharmaceuticals could maintain self worth being a caterer - this would be demeaning. Consider utilizing your college degree in a career where impact is truly reliant on a specific skill set. Your industry is getting ready for a long overdue overhaul. Perhaps, this will help drive down drug costs to patients. Doctors really do not need or have time to meet with you people. I’m sure you already are aware. Good luck hope all of you have a backup plan.



The business is done, they will not need so many reps. They can hire people in India on phone banks and call our doctors and they can even detail over the phone. Samples can be sent "corona virus " free through UPSs.

Many doctors will lose their practice and will work for big organizations that wont allow reps. And the few independent docs will be forced to buy all equipment and adhere to ridiculous rules that no one will be able to afford except the big practices. Expect more intrusion from Amazon and even Walmart.
 






The business is done, they will not need so many reps. They can hire people in India on phone banks and call our doctors and they can even detail over the phone. Samples can be sent "corona virus " free through UPSs.

Many doctors will lose their practice and will work for big organizations that wont allow reps. And the few independent docs will be forced to buy all equipment and adhere to ridiculous rules that no one will be able to afford except the big practices. Expect more intrusion from Amazon and even Walmart.


But does anyone have an ACTUAL news about this place and the future?
 


















So I guess no industry will employ reps of any kind?
I'm not sure what's so hard to grasp about it being a particularly bad idea to have thousands of sales reps visit medical offices 40 hours a week, sitting in waiting rooms for extended periods of time alongside a concentration of high-risk/sick people, just to get the chance to unnecessarily "personally interact" with front-line HCPs for 3 minutes, if that.

This is kind of a unique gig with an enormous public footprint in high risk areas. Stop comparing it to every other job.
 






In my area offices have said they are not going back to the old model of patients sitting in waiting rooms. They will be doing all telemedicine with the exception of limited office visits when they actually need to see someone. Patients will continue to wait in their cars until their appointment time and be escorted in. They will be sent out of the office immediately when finished. This is expected until there is a vaccine, and even after that all appointments that can be will be telemedicine. It doesn't matter if our companies would send us, our customers won't be there. I know it is difficult to imagine our old world not coming back, but it isn't.

Where do we fit in this? I don't know.
 






In my area offices have said they are not going back to the old model of patients sitting in waiting rooms. They will be doing all telemedicine with the exception of limited office visits when they actually need to see someone. Patients will continue to wait in their cars until their appointment time and be escorted in. They will be sent out of the office immediately when finished. This is expected until there is a vaccine, and even after that all appointments that can be will be telemedicine. It doesn't matter if our companies would send us, our customers won't be there. I know it is difficult to imagine our old world not coming back, but it isn't.

Where do we fit in this? I don't know.

Very reasonable assessment.
 






I'm not sure what's so hard to grasp about it being a particularly bad idea to have thousands of sales reps visit medical offices 40 hours a week, sitting in waiting rooms for extended periods of time alongside a concentration of high-risk/sick people, just to get the chance to unnecessarily "personally interact" with front-line HCPs for 3 minutes, if that.

This is kind of a unique gig with an enormous public footprint in high risk areas. Stop comparing it to every other job.
 






Great insight! Finally, maybe corporate will finally address the “Pink Elephant” in the room and legitimize our access issues. Hopefully, home office will put together a real plan - even if there is a significantly reduction in overall headcount. Inside sales and remote detail might be the right approach moving forward. Two territories for each rep - no time wasted with senseless driving.
 







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