I have started networking a little, it's obvious to me also that this is just the first cut. I need to get my s--t together, this is a wake up call. If I make it through this round!
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DBMs are scared shitless. Or they should be! We need to move their sphere of influence to 12-15 reps apiece. That way, they easily could be in the field with each DCS once a month. That will leave them with another few days a month to "do paperwork" or "log on to that conference call with the RBD or Double AA
". I know a few DBMs and RBDs that absolutely will have a conniption if they have to find a job without the person one level above them bringing them in to a new company. I have been in this industry since the early 2000s. I have friends and relatives in this industry that can't believe some of the gifts we had, salaries, car choices, bonuses, etc. Tenured managers (if they ever get hired) had better be prepared for a whole new world with a significant cut in pay and benefits. I predict some spouses are going to need medication when they find out how much COBRA costs or how little many employers pay for coverage. And don't get me started on that 15-25% cut in salary!
The term "right-sized" was invented by my former company, and it's a company that has gone through more than 20 consecutive years of layoffs. After I had been "downsized", I learned that HR had instructed middle managers to reassure their teams by using the term "right-sized" in an attempt to stem the tide of top talent voluntarily leaving the company.
I can sum up the above rant's point in one word; BLOAT.
Novo isn't the first company to fall into that trap. Other company's have made the same mistake of thinking the good times are going to last forever and over-hire. Why is it that execs think that prosperous times will continue on indefinitely?
If The DE's do have 28% more access than DCS's as Patricia Bradley has claimed they do, and Jacob truly believes that statistic, then it's the DCS's that have something to worry about, not The DE's.
DEs are non-branded and don't speak about products. They may have access, but do they really drive sales? I don't think talking about carb counting sells more insulin.
Man I'm glad I left when I did!DBMs are scared shitless. Or they should be! We need to move their sphere of influence to 12-15 reps apiece. That way, they easily could be in the field with each DCS once a month. That will leave them with another few days a month to "do paperwork" or "log on to that conference call with the RBD or Double AA
I know a few DBMs and RBDs that absolutely will have a conniption if they have to find a job without the person one level above them bringing them in to a new company. I have been in this industry since the early 2000s. I have friends and relatives in this industry that can't believe some of the gifts we had, salaries, car choices, bonuses, etc. Tenured managers (if they ever get hired) had better be prepared for a whole new world with a significant cut in pay and benefits. I predict some spouses are going to need medication when they find out how much COBRA costs or how little many employers pay for coverage. And don't get me started on that 15-25% cut in salary!
And come on let's be honest, in my territory, access or no access, the DE's have had little to no interaction with the actual physician!!! They didn't need to until recently when their roles changed once again!
The DE's actually came to us wanting introduced to the drs whose offices they've been calling on for years. They haven't been in front of the actual physician at all.
I do think they bring value as apart of the team - for example for offices that are writers and supporters of our products they can be a great resource but Our jobs are completely different. I will say for my territory any office that our DE's call on that we have no access are our biggest lantus writers out there! It's not the DE's job to change writing habits and educate them on product - that's our job. Just because they have access and can do pen demos on our products isn't going to make the dr write our products! I will finish by saying this (and it does sound completely arrogant but sorry it's true) the only reason our DE's are getting anywhere in these offices in the first place is because my team opened the door for them, made introductions, and convinced offices to try the service and we were glad to do it. It was another way Novo was set apart from our competition - it does bring value to the offices that want it.
It's not DCS vs DE, it's not we are better than they are. I know when livelihoods are on the line everyone on here anyway seems to turn on one another. It will all boil down to what our ET decides is most valuable for the company at this moment. Remember we are seeing everything from our level not the birds eye view!
Good luck everyone - it's been very disappointing to see Novo end up like this after all the years I've been with them.
ME TOO. The last few years have been great without the stress of not knowing when or if your job is eliminated. Best of luck to all over the next few days.
This is true. Many of the DEs don't have much interaction with the physician until it was required this last POA. Although the program is unbranded, this POA the program wanted the DEs to influence the HCPs prescription habits thru MI and speaking to them about drug classifications. This is difficult when there hasn't been a relationship w/the HCP like the DCSs have established. I used to let the DCSs focus on changing prescription habits while I spoke to the staff about diabetes management beyond carb cting. I believe the DE program was good until those in management decided to expand the focus to population health and the use of EHR in management of population health. This is one of the reasons why I left Novo.
Yes I did. No other job worth taking, so I call it "retirement". Toughest part is deciding what to have for breakfast. Take it from me, if you are over 50 and still in pharma sales, pay off everything and start saving big time. Believe me, if you can wait until 70 to take SS, you will be way ahead of the game. If you are married and your spouse made about what you did over your pharma career, your monthly income should be sufficient to see you well into retirement. Best of luck to all tomorrow. I just hope the good people I worked with years ago make the cut.
The DEs as a whole don't know the PIs, don't know office politics, don't have any business sense. Look at them as a whole at meetings!!!
Their messaging is 'pull the EHR for high a1c and then figure it out yourself.' With pay for performance and ACOs, most offices are fully aware and don't need some fat dietician to tell them that they aren't or are meeting goal.
I just hope at least SOME of them are cut. They are not worth their cost. PB has all kinds of data to prove their worth and I have swamp land in Florida to sell you.
Their messaging is 'pull the EHR for high a1c and then figure it out yourself.' With pay for performance and ACOs, most offices are fully aware and don't need some fat dietician to tell them that they aren't or are meeting goal.
I just hope at least SOME of them are cut. They are not worth their cost. PB has all kinds of data to prove their worth and I have swamp land in Florida to sell you.
Thanks. I'm right around that age and I know I'm not retiring from this industry. Just live in a small area and opportunities are slim to none.
she was this northeast b that thought she knew it all when she came to this co. She had a strong persona, & I don't know who took her up the ladder. She did'nt have the background- like a lot of them - perhaps they will fall.
She would't speak to u at meetings if u weren't somebody, or someone to help her- that type. I was with the co. 20 yrs. (when she came on board) when I met her, she realized I was a Rep. -she had nothing to do with me at that point. Someone let me know if she gets axed. Karma's a bitch-sometimes! LOL
I think part of the problem is that the DEP program started out to help pts and help staff teach pts about diabetes since many are unable or unwilling to attend formal DM Management classes. I know when I was hired that the role was not very clear and they asked us to be flexible. Speaking for myself, I joined to help pts but because of industry regulations I'm not allowed to practice as a clinician so I guess what's left is the Hocking of medications which I don't feel comfortable.
Don't be so hateful to the DEs and judgemental about some of their appearances. That's just juvenile. It's not their fault they chose to work for Novo. Many joined Novo because we thought the role would be different then that of a DCS. If anyone is to blame, it's really the industry. I worked with some great DCSs, EDCs, ML and AES I am grateful for what I learned from them and what i did learn from Novo. I left because it's not really where I wanted my career to go.
Listen, there are some PEOPLE in sales that are overweight. Should they be shunned too? That is just an ignorant comment about the DEs. Everyone at NNI has a role. DEs are marketing. Yes, they arent always able to meet with the providers but once they do get in, the time is increased. DEs meet the providers needs and are skilled to seek to understand and get the providers to see the state of their clinical inertia. This is the reason for the EHR and population health initiatives. If doctors and staff are not prescribing injectables, it doesn't matter how many 60 second "show up and throw" up sessions sales has with the providers to sell Tresiba. The doctor needs to see how poorly he manages diabetes and move to make a change. DEs can assess a need and then make a way for sales to meet the need with product. It will be hell today to either be let go or to see our colleagues and friends get let go. No one will be without change in their role somehow. If you have any business sense, you would understand the rationale behind these layoffs. The layoffs are business so it is no one's fault if they are let go. Just like people shouldn't be penalized if they are allowed to stay. Who are you and what kind of character do you represent? It may be "anonymous" on CP but God knows your heart. Prayers for ALL today.