MRL

[Anonymous]

Darkness covers the land.
And blood flows deep and wide.

 

[Anonymous]

What about GCTO folks in UG? Is the thought to consolidate all GCTO to UG?

 

[Anonymous]

What about GCTO folks in UG? Is the thought to consolidate all GCTO to UG?

Nope-all will be in SP's location in NJ. GCTO in UG and RY will be gone, gone. Also if you don't have a scientific degree and are in GCTO you will be the first one to go-experience doesn't count. If you don't have experience writing protocol you will be the second to go. Higher salaried folks will also be making a quick exit so will anyone with a Ph. D. or MD. Please be sure to have an updated resume handy. If you have about 5 years experience managing clinical trials you may be ok. Experience managing CROs is a plus.

 

[Anonymous]

Poster #44 is right on.
Wait and see.

 

[Anonymous]

Poster #44 is right on.
Wait and see.

So what is the latest on the job loss?

 

[Anonymous]

So what is the latest on the job loss?

Well, some in MRL get to retain their jobs, even though Mother Merck wanted to close their site (Oss):
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/07/merck-organon-idUSLDE7360PI20110407

Not sure what that means for others. If Merck has to make up the loss in other ways, my guess is there may be closures in the US research sites instead...

Maybe we'll know by the next EBB, 3 weeks away...?
Or maybe KF will just videotape another one of those cryptic, ominous, random videos for us instead of letting us know the REAL deal.

 

[Anonymous]

MRL, former S-P scientist here. Morale is low - performance ratings sucked for those of us who were former S-P. Also, very difficult to move projects forward because so many legacy Merck folks get in the way. Presentation from Rich Tillyer the other day was useless. Have no idea if layoffs are coming. Rumor is May, but no idea if that is true, or if it will affect MRL.

 

[Anonymous]

MRL, former S-P scientist here. Morale is low - performance ratings sucked for those of us who were former S-P. Also, very difficult to move projects forward because so many legacy Merck folks get in the way. Presentation from Rich Tillyer the other day was useless. Have no idea if layoffs are coming. Rumor is May, but no idea if that is true, or if it will affect MRL.

Yeah. Performance Ratings sucked all around. So did "merit" increases--most at less than 2%. What a joke. As for morale, going into the hell hole voluntarily each day is really really hard to do... Not sure what sort of panic decision the head honcho's are going to slam us with next is getting really old. And the waiting in between the times of panic implementation is just unbearable. How many times can we hear "keep delivering on your objectives" without any real substance of whether these objectives really will mean anything in the end. We delivered DAMN GOOD on our objectives last year, and what did we get? Sheit.

My thought is that they are using some sort of merckin twisted psychology to get us in such an unhappy state that we'll each leave before they can pay out our severence. So much easier for them that way. I mean, what else could they be doing? They can't really be that effed up that they think we're *happy* with the way we've been fed teaspoonfuls of information, and get slammed with new "assessment and placements" and layoffs every single year for the last 3 years? We're losing good scientists due to this lack of leadership, and they are not getting replaced. When asked "what about attrition?" at a town hall recently, the head cheese stated "Attrition selects for resiliency and adaptibility. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." And that was the end of the answer. All attrition selects for are really really unhappy workers who are doing 2-3x the normal workload to cover the loss of co-workers. Unfortunately, hiring is at a standstill elsewhere. And I think the management knows that, and are using it to their best advantage. They want a lean and mean workforce... well they got MEAN, at least. Those of us who are remaining behind walk around the halls, going through the motions, alternating between paranoid gossip fests and hollow eyed numbness.

It really sucks.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Performance Ratings sucked all around. So did "merit" increases--most at less than 2%. What a joke. As for morale, going into the hell hole voluntarily each day is really really hard to do... Not sure what sort of panic decision the head honcho's are going to slam us with next is getting really old. And the waiting in between the times of panic implementation is just unbearable. How many times can we hear "keep delivering on your objectives" without any real substance of whether these objectives really will mean anything in the end. We delivered DAMN GOOD on our objectives last year, and what did we get? Sheit.

My thought is that they are using some sort of merckin twisted psychology to get us in such an unhappy state that we'll each leave before they can pay out our severence. So much easier for them that way. I mean, what else could they be doing? They can't really be that effed up that they think we're *happy* with the way we've been fed teaspoonfuls of information, and get slammed with new "assessment and placements" and layoffs every single year for the last 3 years? We're losing good scientists due to this lack of leadership, and they are not getting replaced. When asked "what about attrition?" at a town hall recently, the head cheese stated "Attrition selects for resiliency and adaptibility. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." And that was the end of the answer. All attrition selects for are really really unhappy workers who are doing 2-3x the normal workload to cover the loss of co-workers. Unfortunately, hiring is at a standstill elsewhere. And I think the management knows that, and are using it to their best advantage. They want a lean and mean workforce... well they got MEAN, at least. Those of us who are remaining behind walk around the halls, going through the motions, alternating between paranoid gossip fests and hollow eyed numbness.

It really sucks.

So true...and folks wonder why the Labs aren't delivering ! Really??????????

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Performance Ratings sucked all around. So did "merit" increases--most at less than 2%. What a joke. As for morale, going into the hell hole voluntarily each day is really really hard to do... Not sure what sort of panic decision the head honcho's are going to slam us with next is getting really old. And the waiting in between the times of panic implementation is just unbearable. How many times can we hear "keep delivering on your objectives" without any real substance of whether these objectives really will mean anything in the end. We delivered DAMN GOOD on our objectives last year, and what did we get? Sheit.

My thought is that they are using some sort of merckin twisted psychology to get us in such an unhappy state that we'll each leave before they can pay out our severence. So much easier for them that way. I mean, what else could they be doing? They can't really be that effed up that they think we're *happy* with the way we've been fed teaspoonfuls of information, and get slammed with new "assessment and placements" and layoffs every single year for the last 3 years? We're losing good scientists due to this lack of leadership, and they are not getting replaced. When asked "what about attrition?" at a town hall recently, the head cheese stated "Attrition selects for resiliency and adaptibility. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." And that was the end of the answer. All attrition selects for are really really unhappy workers who are doing 2-3x the normal workload to cover the loss of co-workers. Unfortunately, hiring is at a standstill elsewhere. And I think the management knows that, and are using it to their best advantage. They want a lean and mean workforce... well they got MEAN, at least. Those of us who are remaining behind walk around the halls, going through the motions, alternating between paranoid gossip fests and hollow eyed numbness.

It really sucks.

Wah, wah, wah...it really sucks.

Quit your whining and do your job!

Welcome to the real world, no one promised you it would be easy. The company isn't your parents. This is Capitalism. Do your job and you will get what you're owed. If not...well, good bye!

I can't wait until Christie, Ryan and Walker turn this country around and get rid of whiners that are always looking for a handout.

 

[Anonymous]

Wah, wah, wah...it really sucks.

Quit your whining and do your job!

Welcome to the real world, no one promised you it would be easy. The company isn't your parents. This is Capitalism. Do your job and you will get what you're owed. If not...well, good bye!

I can't wait until Christie, Ryan and Walker turn this country around and get rid of whiners that are always looking for a handout.

Thanks for the intelligent and thought provoking response.
If only I had looked at things from your prospective.
My life makes sense and has new meaning.
THANKS. Oh thanks. I've seen the way. Dear lord. I've seen the way.
You should be sainted, dear sweet honorable person, you.
Golly gee. What else, what other sweet wonderful pearls of wisdom can you spew my way. I sit here with baited breath just to see what wonderful, glowing, fantastic, meaningful things you can say to make my day just that much closer to perfect.

 

[Anonymous]

Wah, wah, wah...it really sucks.

Quit your whining and do your job!

Welcome to the real world, no one promised you it would be easy. The company isn't your parents. This is Capitalism. Do your job and you will get what you're owed. If not...well, good bye!

I can't wait until Christie, Ryan and Walker turn this country around and get rid of whiners that are always looking for a handout.

Thanks for your simpleton response. Not much value there, but at least you took time out to share the limited wisdom you have.

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

Koblan will come and take over MRL. That will set things right.

 

[Anonymous]

Koblan will come and take over MRL. That will set things right.

But Ken that is inconsistent with what all the scientists at Rahway were singing (see below) when you 'left'. Could you please clarify how you have changed?

Rahway Theme Song

"So long sad times
Go long bad times
We are rid of you at last

"Howdy gay times
Cloudy gray times
You are now a thing of the past

"Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again

"Altogether shout it now
There's no one
Who can doubt it now
So let's tell the world about it now
Happy days are here again

"Your cares and troubles are gone
There'll be no more from now on
From now on ...

"Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So, Let's sing a song of cheer again

"Happy times
Happy nights
Happy days
Are here again!"

 

[Anonymous]

Dump Peter Kim, and bring back Ed Scolnick and Roy Vagelos. Then everything will be fine.

Why is Peter Kim still heading MRL. He has been holding his high paying job since before the Vioxx fall. He has continued to invest in research that has failed in the final phases again in again. Lets name a few: Pargluva, Arcoxia, some sort of sleeping drug, some sort of acute heart drug, some sort of HIV vacccine. If you make multi-millions at Merck, spend multi-millions, and dont produce new products.....you keep your job while hard working sales reps that are over 100% to plan get laid off because we are "heavy". Seems like we are top heavy to me.

 

[Anonymous]

Why is Peter Kim still heading MRL. He has been holding his high paying job since before the Vioxx fall. He has continued to invest in research that has failed in the final phases again in again. Lets name a few: Pargluva, Arcoxia, some sort of sleeping drug, some sort of acute heart drug, some sort of HIV vacccine. If you make multi-millions at Merck, spend multi-millions, and dont produce new products.....you keep your job while hard working sales reps that are over 100% to plan get laid off because we are "heavy". Seems like we are top heavy to me.

Arcoxia IS marketted outside of Canada and USA.

 

[Anonymous]

"We have to get leaner at MRL. We need to be thinking further into the future and banking on that. Research is critical to our success but we need to cut costs further. Outsourcing is a great way to cut costs but we do need subject matter experts guiding that research."

 

[Anonymous]

I wasn't so bad. Look how great Strader did. Did she do much better than me?

 

[Anonymous]

Merck is totally lost as to what to do. They thouht buying SP would extend their timeline for survival but it is a sinking ship. Neither company has a strong pipeline and they both have different ways of conducting business. For example, the clinical operations at SP has a different model to the one now at Merck-it used to be the same about 5 years ago. Merck people who have been there 10+ years think they have it made-some people who are employed in clinical operations like Anne Marie don't even have a degree however she still manages to keep her high paying job and is scientifically clueless. Where is all this going to lead to? Yes, more people getting the pink slip and then some company will eventually buy out Merck and lay off more people in the name of integration...........

 

[Anonymous]

Merck is totally lost as to what to do. They thouht buying SP would extend their timeline for survival but it is a sinking ship. Neither company has a strong pipeline and they both have different ways of conducting business. For example, the clinical operations at SP has a different model to the one now at Merck-it used to be the same about 5 years ago. Merck people who have been there 10+ years think they have it made-some people who are employed in clinical operations like Anne Marie don't even have a degree however she still manages to keep her high paying job and is scientifically clueless. Where is all this going to lead to? Yes, more people getting the pink slip and then some company will eventually buy out Merck and lay off more people in the name of integration...........

Merck has never seriously done proper cost cutting. They have only cut from the bottom. I work at an MRL site where everyone is a "manager" and no one is doing any lab work. It's going to be very difficult to discover any drugs with nobody doing any lab work.