Manager Layoffs?

[Anonymous]

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.

When times are good and the money is flowing managers can hide in the cracks and do anything. When money gets tight a strange thing happens. It called being accountable for what you do. It’s like the stock market. When it is going well no one get caught because no one cares and everyone is making money. When it is down, the SEC starts to investigate people and companies because people are complaining.

 

[Anonymous]

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.

How about this...I don't need a manager at all. Give me a market share to obtain and some sales incentives and the DCO can read my results for himself. That would save a lot of direct sales jobs which lead to actual revenue for the company.

 

[Anonymous]

In situations like these first line managers are treated almost exactly like Reps from a corporate standpoint. And the industry average for reps / manager is 8-12.

 

[Anonymous]

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!

...and the reps are stuck in the job that sucks until they are cut free and drift away to never, never land....no high salary and benefits for them.

 

[Anonymous]

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.

Agree...and we see another reason why the rep job is crappy. Lets not forget when some of our scripts are written to mail order, reporting can be off.

 

[Anonymous]

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!

No one who is bad should be protected, manager or not. Ask reps who were destroyed by swine managers about who are the ones who should be protected.

 

[Anonymous]

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.

WHEN???

 

[Anonymous]

There are way too many chiefs and not enough indians on the payroll.

 

[Anonymous]

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.

Sounds like winning a prize. Hmmmm great pay, no measurments again. Wow they should all take it.

 

[Anonymous]

No one who is bad should be protected, manager or not. Ask reps who were destroyed by swine managers about who are the ones who should be protected.

There are actually managers in Animal Health with the title Swine Manager...