Hot Seat?

Classic misguided IT viewpoint. We need new sales. Not the company that employs all of us. Get ready for a change and get ready to jump when I snap my fingers.

This is a sales viewpoint and reality forged through the undeniable collaboration of the departments which compose the service sales people sell. Old school, lone cowboy sales reps like yourself have long since been obviated by sophisticated connectivity solutions, genetic testing platforms and an acute understanding of business economics (to name of few).

My apologies in advance to the Village Idiot for my over-intellectualizing.
 






This is a sales viewpoint and reality forged through the undeniable collaboration of the departments which compose the service sales people sell. Old school, lone cowboy sales reps like yourself have long since been obviated by sophisticated connectivity solutions, genetic testing platforms and an acute understanding of business economics (to name of few).

My apologies in advance to the Village Idiot for my over-intellectualizing.

If you owe anyone an apology, it is to your employer for failing to own your performance and dragging down the team's performance. Maybe your new assignment will help you decide whether you really belong in this business, or if you will live the rest of your life as an estrogen-filled little manlet.
 






This is a sales viewpoint and reality forged through the undeniable collaboration of the departments which compose the service sales people sell. Old school, lone cowboy sales reps like yourself have long since been obviated by sophisticated connectivity solutions, genetic testing platforms and an acute understanding of business economics (to name of few).

My apologies in advance to the Village Idiot for my over-intellectualizing.

We are all very impressed by your intellect.
 






It is a process. First assign territories that many SLP reps will decline, limiting the expense of terminating employees without cause. Those that stay will then have a paper trail started on them documenting their "misconduct". Those that stay through that humiliating process can then be terminated for cause.

The best part is that during this process you will be working hard to demonstrate your worth by helping us retain your clients. By the end, you will no longer have any value and we will have a high retention rate without your labor expense.

It is painful to watch and sorry to say that you have no good options. If you really need a check coming in ride it out. But know that they will damage your work history in this process.

This may be the most brutally honest but most helpful post I've seen in a long time. Thank you. What type of misconduct is documented if the reps are sincerely trying to help retain business?
 






This may be the most brutally honest but most helpful post I've seen in a long time. Thank you. What type of misconduct is documented if the reps are sincerely trying to help retain business?

Im very surprised this is news to you. Do you really think Quest is going to keep all the extra reps? They have reps. They are not adding that much to their books. They are playing you. Get out while can. Don't sign a non compete
 






This may be the most brutally honest but most helpful post I've seen in a long time. Thank you. What type of misconduct is documented if the reps are sincerely trying to help retain business?

The 1st thing you need to know is that Quest doesn't care about "sincerely trying". You will be measured on hard numbers and a scorecard based on retention and organic account growth. Total attainment is what you will live and die for with Quest.

You'll be doing that with a book of business from 2 different companies that most will be new to you. You may be a great rep but there will be a learning curve.

There will be attrition. Accounts will leave during the turmoil, you may slow it down but you won't stop it.

There have been revenue cuts since last year. The same testing volume is worth less money.

And you're going to try to overcome the losses by upselling? Good luck with that.

On the bright side, you're probably safe because it sounds like you're willing to gut it out. You'll actually get to pickup the crappy books of business left behind by all the reps bailing ship. Oh, and they've neglected those accounts while they've been job hunting and interviewing.

See the vicious cycle here?

Quest is hell. April 1st you enter!
 






As the pretenders continue to scurry away like cockroaches exposed to light, my team of superstars...those who own their performance and add value at every turn...will simply shoulder more of the workload. This can-do attitude that my team of go-getters displays on a daily basis is why we carry such special status in our great new organization.
 






This may be the most brutally honest but most helpful post I've seen in a long time. Thank you. What type of misconduct is documented if the reps are sincerely trying to help retain business?

Thanks. Wish I had better news, but this is how management handles the process. As the transition progresses expect a badger for a manager soon after that will nit pick everything you do all the time. I have literally seen people in this situation written up for not being a "team player". I have also seen acquisition supervisors reprimanded for counseling employees for valid reasons because the employee complained that they were insensitive during the process. Expect to be told "perception is reality" when you ask what you specifically did wrong. Expect horrible drawn out and humiliating performance reviews that in no way reflect what you have done for the company. Expect no gratitude or acknowledgement for any of your achievements. This is how things are done here after an acquisition and it is by design. Most leave on their own. The rest are fired for "cause". Have fun explaining that when your next prospective employer wants to check your work history.

It is wrong, but it is actual reality. The most serious problem lies in the fact that they now control your employment files and they do not want you to work for a competitor, regardless of their opinion of you at the time because they do not and never have trusted you. Any verification of employment now goes through Quest HR with the information that Quest management puts in your file. Not good.

Way your options carefully and best of luck.
 






As the pretenders continue to scurry away like cockroaches exposed to light, my team of superstars...those who own their performance and add value at every turn...will simply shoulder more of the workload. This can-do attitude that my team of go-getters displays on a daily basis is why we carry such special status in our great new organization.

You are not funny and you clearly do not work for Quest Diagnostics. I have seen your posts and you should find another hobby.
 






If you leave at any time and your new employer calls Quest, they are only allowed to verify employment. The notes and comments are for internal use for re-hire or black list only.
 






If you leave at any time and your new employer calls Quest, they are only allowed to verify employment. The notes and comments are for internal use for re-hire or black list only.

Thanks for quoting policy, but that is not how it actually works. There is the written portion of the VOE that requires a release and then the verbal part that in most cases not only includes HR, but also your previous supervisor. The second part is all off the record and the only thing that matters to a potential employer that is concerned enough to ask.
 






Thanks for quoting policy, but that is not how it actually works. There is the written portion of the VOE that requires a release and then the verbal part that in most cases not only includes HR, but also your previous supervisor. The second part is all off the record and the only thing that matters to a potential employer that is concerned enough to ask.

They can ask if you are eligible for re-hire.

It's a yes or no question. No explanation.
 






Off the record... Like HR is going to do that. Seriously... You dumb a$$ rep.

It's just a yes or no answer. It's not a please elaborate and then HR pulls out notes scenario.

They can write anything in there file that they want but it's all internal for re-hire in the event
 


















I was not rehirable by Solstas and I told my future employer I wasn't. Just tell them the truth. If they want you they hire you. Non compete and all. Period

Any employer worth working for will not hire a rep and put them in a position to violate their non-compete. It's not worth the financial risk to the employee and you will have to hire a lawyer to defend yourself if it happens. The company would then pull you out of the field or let you go.

Non-competes are real and are binding contracts. If you don't want to abide by one then don't sign it.
 






They can ask if you are eligible for re-hire.

It's a yes or no question. No explanation.

You are a fool if you think that is how things work. I have given countless VOEs for Quest. When I don't care I quote policy. When it matters, I say whatever I want followed by "don't quote me". Everyone does that.
 












True. Sometimes it will not matter to a perspective employer. But in some cases it is a deal breaker. Especially if they do not know you.

It really depends on how much they want to hire you and what type of company it is. A larger company will have more rigid hiring guidelines and a poor background review may knock you out of an opportunity. These are going to be much more competitive positions and the company believes there are several candidates that can be successful in the position.

A smaller company or reference lab might overlook something like that if they think you can walk in the door and bring them business. In this situation, you are more likely to have directly repeatable history of success doing the exact same thing in the same market. Example: AEL/CPL/Sunrise might go after some of the Solstas reps because they believe they can walk in the door with contacts and can immediately close accounts. They're going to throw you into open territories and let you duke it out.
 






Making Hay while the sun shines

You guys are whinning that you cant make 300k at QD. You need to get over that because it is a RARE sales job that pays that. Surgical, IT, and few others have folks at the level so if in the lab business it is rare. I am in diagnostics now and no reps break 200 (at the high end) but that is the normal lifecycle. Find a reasonable job and the next lab is just around the corner and maybe you can hit 300 again but very few regular jobs hit that.