Manager Layoffs?

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not so fast-we have one in the west who could definitley be gone if he continues on in his arrogant ways. he doesnt know it but his future lies in his districts hands. he better get it right or he will be gone
 












Watch for merger of Port 1 and Port 2 teams in many areas such as the NE and MidWest areas. No need for 2 CTL's as merger of teams with the portfolios is already underway. 1 CTL for approx 12-14 reps. Stay tuned!
 




































Anonymous said:
never happen. almost as protected as union. if it was up to me every one of them would be re-interviewing for thier jobs.
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We will see a wide range of layoffs. All groups will get hit. I am sure they would like to hit the Indians but the cuts will be deep enough to hit a lot of the chiefs also. Are they considering the people who take the packages as layoffs or will they spin it as people left on their own? So much is coming off patent and nothing is in the pipeline in the near future. Merck will not slash their dividend so the cost savings will need to come from cutting people. That is why Merck does not give guidence to investors right now. It is better to say nothing than the truth sometimes.
 






Managers are going to be hit worse than the reps. Some managers in our region only have 6 or 7 reps. In the real world (non Merck), most managers have 10-15. Why would Merck continue to pay for managers to cover so few reps? The managers are already running out of things to do, riding along with reps for two days a month. Managers could easily cover 10-12 reps like they used to. If not, they need to be gone.
 






Anonymous said:
Managers are going to be hit worse than the reps. Some managers in our region only have 6 or 7 reps. In the real world (non Merck), most managers have 10-15. Why would Merck continue to pay for managers to cover so few reps? The managers are already running out of things to do, riding along with reps for two days a month. Managers could easily cover 10-12 reps like they used to. If not, they need to be gone.
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10-12 is small now. Most companies have 18-25 because things are tight. The dynamics of managing have changed drastically over the last 10 years.
 


















Anonymous said:
Your 18-25 number sounds very reasonable. We can only hope that Merck follows this lead.
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The less managers usually the better things run. You need supervisors out there. They should be the best in the field splitting time between working in the trenches and helping people out. Managers now need to look at the forest where the supervisor focus on the trees. The worst thing that can happen is when a manager thinks he knows too much and forgets where he came from. When you have too many managers they get bored and feel like they need to do something. They make stupid procedures because they just need to do, not because it will make things better. I am a manager and sometimes I will smile and say "How the f would you know, you have been in your office all day" when other managers will come up with knucklehead ideas. I can tell you the direction the team will be going but I am not steering the boat. I just don't have the time.
 






That was my last post. One of the best things I have ever heard was from General George S. Patton

Never tell people how to do things.
Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity
 






Anonymous said:
That was my last post. One of the best things I have ever heard was from General George S. Patton

Never tell people how to do things.
Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity
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If only Merck took heed....then we wouldn't be bogged down with wasteful, useless busy work (excessive number of cluster meetings, district meetings, teleconferences). Then again, all of that is a reaction to no-win situations brought on by generic competition and "me-too" products. The bottom line, which no one openly admits, is that sales can no longer make an impact. No amount of "NCM" will make the customer feel like they need us. Cost drives everything...i.e., formularies, pharmacy switches. Even when a sale is made (the doc writes the script), it is snatched away for a cheaper alternative. With failed R&D, our days are truly numbered...both reps and managers. Time to concentrate on "Plan B", which won't be pharma.
 






Anonymous said:
If only Merck took heed....then we wouldn't be bogged down with wasteful, useless busy work (excessive number of cluster meetings, district meetings, teleconferences). Then again, all of that is a reaction to no-win situations brought on by generic competition and "me-too" products. The bottom line, which no one openly admits, is that sales can no longer make an impact. No amount of "NCM" will make the customer feel like they need us. Cost drives everything...i.e., formularies, pharmacy switches. Even when a sale is made (the doc writes the script), it is snatched away for a cheaper alternative. With failed R&D, our days are truly numbered...both reps and managers. Time to concentrate on "Plan B", which won't be pharma.
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you make some good points, although any managers that lose their jobs at Merck, will be offered other gigs at the company...(Maybe some field stuff which sucks) but they will always have a job at Merck for a high salary and benefits...they are protected at Merck...reps are not...when u sell your soul to the company, that is the reward!
 






Anonymous said:
you make some good points, although any managers that lose their jobs at Merck, will be offered other gigs at the company...(Maybe some field stuff which sucks) but they will always have a job at Merck for a high salary and benefits...they are protected at Merck...reps are not...when u sell your soul to the company, that is the reward!
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Not true anymore. Another lesson why selling your soul does not amount to much when Merck decides you are no longer needed. I know managers that have been laid off (usually less tenure), laterally moved to sales positions (keeping the same pay), or get promoted into more obscure jobs that help us reps to move the rock in intangible ways that can not be measured.
 






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