Dear Roger

[Anonymous]

I read with great interest your interview with Reuters where you lamented about the lack of joie de vivre among MRL scientists. You blamed the current gloom in the research labs to rejected or failed drugs and other " unfortunate occurrences". I think as a world class scientist you can appreciate the importance of correcting assigning cause and effect. Morale is not low because of loss of productivity, productivity is low due to low morale.

So why is morale low? And what can you do to fix it?

Morale is low due to at least 10 years of mismanagement at the upper levels of MRL. I have never seen such a top down, timid,innovation squashing group of yes men. Leadership has come up with a never ending succession of new research plans (BRGOS et al) to continuously disrupt any continuity in research. Young PH.D.s are treated worst than post docs. Cubicle farms have made their way into the labs. Basic research labs are treated like GMP facilities so. That every pippete needs to be accounted for. Any creativity is beaten out of the staff.

And what have you done in the year since you knew you were taking over? Well at least you got rid of the franchises. But in general morale is just as bad, or worse since decisions like putting ME in a leadership position in KW indicates that you are not willing or able to institute real changes.

If you you are not willing or able to make real changes, why not go back to bucolic Santa Barbara and watch the sailboats

Good Luck

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry kid - I'm here for the Benjamins! Ken basically brought a few trucks of them down to where I watch the sailboats. How could I refuse?

Soon you'll see we don't need real change in MRL in the actual labs. We're all about bank rolling other people's discoveries now, son. The CFO is going to make it rain without being so in our grill. We'll have promising candidates found in other labs in no time.

Have you seen the free cash flow on our balance sheet? The Benjamins aren't only going to me! Get out into a small firm, come up with something novel and Ken might roll up in a few trucks for you one day. Then we can watch the sailboats together.

Don't be a hater!

 

[Anonymous]

I read with great interest your interview with Reuters where you lamented about the lack of joie de vivre among MRL scientists. You blamed the current gloom in the research labs to rejected or failed drugs and other " unfortunate occurrences". I think as a world class scientist you can appreciate the importance of correcting assigning cause and effect. Morale is not low because of loss of productivity, productivity is low due to low morale.

So why is morale low? And what can you do to fix it?

Morale is low due to at least 10 years of mismanagement at the upper levels of MRL. I have never seen such a top down, timid,innovation squashing group of yes men. Leadership has come up with a never ending succession of new research plans (BRGOS et al) to continuously disrupt any continuity in research. Young PH.D.s are treated worst than post docs. Cubicle farms have made their way into the labs. Basic research labs are treated like GMP facilities so. That every pippete needs to be accounted for. Any creativity is beaten out of the staff.

And what have you done in the year since you knew you were taking over? Well at least you got rid of the franchises. But in general morale is just as bad, or worse since decisions like putting ME in a leadership position in KW indicates that you are not willing or able to institute real changes.

If you you are not willing or able to make real changes, why not go back to bucolic Santa Barbara and watch the sailboats

Good Luck

Spot On

 

[Anonymous]

"Get out into a small firm, come up with something novel and Ken might roll up in a few trucks for you one day. Then we can watch the sailboats together."

Best advice ever to MRL scientists!! Benjamins and job satisfaction, Imagine that!
Feast on the teat of Mother Merck!

 

[Anonymous]

"Get out into a small firm, come up with something novel and Ken might roll up in a few trucks for you one day. Then we can watch the sailboats together."

Best advice ever to MRL scientists!! Benjamins and job satisfaction, Imagine that!
Feast on the teat of Mother Merck!

The Roger that visits CP is very motivational! Quite honest as well advising people to leave. Maybe he is here to help us after all!

 

[Anonymous]

The Roger that visits CP is very motivational! Quite honest as well advising people to leave. Maybe he is here to help us after all!

I am happy to help out. When you make it big by selling your new company to Ken we can meet for a few cocktails at El Encanto in Santa Barbara. The place is amazing, fabulous views of the sailboats and the Channel Islands. Then we can head over to Brophy Bros in the harbor to watch the sunset and the evening glow on the "Riviera", followed by a relaxed dinner at "Lucky's" in Montecito. Life will be good, very good, my friend. As you can imagine it was hard to return to New Jersey.

R

 

[Anonymous]

I read with great interest your interview with Reuters where you lamented about the lack of joie de vivre among MRL scientists. You blamed the current gloom in the research labs to rejected or failed drugs and other " unfortunate occurrences". I think as a world class scientist you can appreciate the importance of correcting assigning cause and effect. Morale is not low because of loss of productivity, productivity is low due to low morale.

So why is morale low? And what can you do to fix it?

Morale is low due to at least 10 years of mismanagement at the upper levels of MRL. I have never seen such a top down, timid,innovation squashing group of yes men. Leadership has come up with a never ending succession of new research plans (BRGOS et al) to continuously disrupt any continuity in research. Young PH.D.s are treated worst than post docs. Cubicle farms have made their way into the labs. Basic research labs are treated like GMP facilities so. That every pippete needs to be accounted for. Any creativity is beaten out of the staff.

And what have you done in the year since you knew you were taking over? Well at least you got rid of the franchises. But in general morale is just as bad, or worse since decisions like putting ME in a leadership position in KW indicates that you are not willing or able to institute real changes.

If you you are not willing or able to make real changes, why not go back to bucolic Santa Barbara and watch the sailboats

Good Luck

Admirable post. But do not get your hopes up. Nothing is going to change in this cess-pool. Why? Because it's the corporate equivalent of North Korea. Dissenters are squashed quicker than you can say "Kim Jong Un's uncle". He tried to "innovate" too. It cost him his head.

This is how it's been at MRL for at least 10 years, and it's getting exponentially worse every year. Misery index through the roof. Dysfunctional, highly punitive management style. All process, no substance in the labs. Senior management are completely disconnected from the obstacles they have force-instituted at the bench level. Hint: Corporate culture starts at the TOP. This is how the bigwigs want it. And it ain't going away. Any self-respecting scientists that have not already been axed in the annual execution event, have fled on their own. Those unfortunate souls left behind, still treading water...hoping for Roger to throw them a life preserver...well, let's not be naive, ok?