Women need not waste their time at Allergan

[Anonymous]

I worked for Allergan for 15 years (proven performer, was on a management track, won 3 Leadership Trips, lots of stock, etc). I loved working for Allergan but left when I got remarried as I didn't want my family to be second in my life anymore. The posts are correct - there is no work/personal life balance. It is a boys club, it is still very tough for a woman to make it at Allergan (yes,I am still in contact with many people men and women who are still there). Sure, Lynn Salo is a great example but for the last 10 years she has been the only example! I am happy to report there is life after Allergan!!!!! First year out I doubled my salary and won two awards! I got great training to succeed at Allergan - if you can cut it there with all the stress, constant focus on last months numbers, micromanagement, and sexual harrassment you can make it anywhere. Good Luck.

 

[Anonymous]

I worked for Allergan for 15 years (proven performer, was on a management track, won 3 Leadership Trips, lots of stock, etc). I loved working for Allergan but left when I got remarried as I didn't want my family to be second in my life anymore. The posts are correct - there is no work/personal life balance. It is a boys club, it is still very tough for a woman to make it at Allergan (yes,I am still in contact with many people men and women who are still there). Sure, Lynn Salo is a great example but for the last 10 years she has been the only example! I am happy to report there is life after Allergan!!!!! First year out I doubled my salary and won two awards! I got great training to succeed at Allergan - if you can cut it there with all the stress, constant focus on last months numbers, micromanagement, and sexual harrassment you can make it anywhere. Good Luck.

Lynn seems to have given up her life for the company. No husband, partner or kids. That's what it takes for a lot of women to make it to the top. Not the men, though!

 

[Anonymous]

Allergan is NOT big pharma and is a small company, relatively speaking.

I think they have only maybe 6 executives, so that makes up about 50% not bad. You should see them on the list of top companies for women:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/full_list/

Oh wait, sorry...that was Alcon, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Genzyme...my bad!

I'm not w/ Allergan but enjoyed reading this thread. I do have to say that I worked for Lilly and am a woman. I don't know what the answer is really because Lilly almost over-compensates to promote women and non-white males and they make poor decisions as a result of it. I am not racist but it was a joke as to our training and management when I was with their newly formed Hospital division in 2001. No one knew their head from a hole in the ground. Lilly always makes that list. I got out fast.

 

[Sassywon]

I am an early 50 something woman that has applied to the derm/botox divisions and I agree, experienced reps like me that use these products would be the best fit. I have years of successful derm. experience and great contacts in my area with a top performance record, and I have not heard anything from them. Maybe this boy's club attitude is the reason. I applied directly to Lynn Salo, but no response so far. I would do fantastic in this division with true belief and conviction in the products, but I am not as hopeful about landing a position with Allergan after reading this thread. Any suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

Lynn Salo is now in the Urology Division of Botox. Try making contact with Tood Wood, Director Sales, Medical Division...last name_first name @Allergan.com...his wife used to work as a Director of Marketing for AGN so perhaps he is not of the old boys club...good luck...it's not all as bad.

 

[Anonymous]

Lynn Salo is now in the Urology Division of Botox. Try making contact with Tood Wood, Director Sales, Medical Division...last name_first name @Allergan.com...his wife used to work as a Director of Marketing for AGN so perhaps he is not of the old boys club...good luck...it's not all as bad.

Lynn was with Neuro, so she was never a great contact for cosmetic, anyway. Todd is a nice guy, but it really is a boys club, and he is proof: he lost the biggest headache policy for Botox Ther. there ever was--Anthem. Was late in getting into the game, didn't really know what he was doing cuz he was put into his MC position as a CAM without much (if any) experience...and after all that, got a promotion!

 

[Anonymous]

I am an early 50 something woman that has applied to the derm/botox divisions and I agree, experienced reps like me that use these products would be the best fit. I have years of successful derm. experience and great contacts in my area with a top performance record, and I have not heard anything from them. Maybe this boy's club attitude is the reason. I applied directly to Lynn Salo, but no response so far. I would do fantastic in this division with true belief and conviction in the products, but I am not as hopeful about landing a position with Allergan after reading this thread. Any suggestions?

barry_tracie@allergan.com - she is always willing to help people - a real saint.

 

[Anonymous]

does Allergan not hire gay people? why should anyone care if they are?

 

[Anonymous]

does Allergan not hire gay people? why should anyone care if they are?

They do hire gay people. Doesn't make any difference, but be aware that it's a macho environment and there are a lot of jokes and slurs. HR doesn't do anything specifically to address this or any other kind of harrassment and discrimination.

 

[Anonymous]

Female--- Gay-- these are now a plus in getting hired and promoted here. With the current leadership, there is now a suggested quota for all non-white-male groups, and each one is now seen as a 'minority candidate'. Hearing the buzz around this from upper management, it almost seems like there is a kicker bonus for hiring or promoting within this group.

 

[Anonymous]

I didn't mention in my earlier post that I am a gay male who doesn't ever bring my personal life @ work as it is not the place and I am paid to do a job. But if AGN was really against this type of "diversity", then I would stay away.

 

[Anonymous]

In addition to the low percent of upper management women....but if you havent noticed, THERE IS LITTLE COLOR HERE AT ALLERGAN.
And it seems that management is pushing hiring and advancing the minorities.

 

[Anonymous]

They do hire gay people. Doesn't make any difference, but be aware that it's a macho environment and there are a lot of jokes and slurs. HR doesn't do anything specifically to address this or any other kind of harrassment and discrimination.

As long as HR has TB as the VP, don't expect anything to change. How he keeps his job is a mystery....

 

[Anonymous]

I think allergan hires anyone who wants a job

 

[Anonymous]

Lovely, just lovely. Folks, this country has sadly seen its better days. There is an absolute dearth of leadership everywhere. We're too damn worried about keeping minorites content, animal rights and [non-existent] global warming while the country is going to hell in a handbasket. So sad.

 

[Anonymous]

Please when a woman does not get her why they start to cry!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Please when a woman does not get her why they start to cry!!!!!

That's the stupidest f****ng thing I've heard today. What a crybaby you are. Feeling threatened, little man?

 

[Anonymous]

Looking at this blog makes me realize that most of the folks on here have no idea how ruthlessly unethical Allergan can be about its employment practices and women.

I recently got let go a week after filing a harassment complaint with HR. Has anyone reading this had a similar experience? In my case I recieved an email from HR that they were conducting a random expense audit on me 4 days after my complaint. during the audit they found some "innocent mistakes" mostly clerical and ABSOLUTELY nothing more. After the actual audit I felt relieved but a little nervous as to why they even bothered. They waited a few days and then called me to tell me to say I was terminated due to the expenses in question. If anyone has had a similar experience please respond, I heard that Allergan has been doing this to other women over 40 across the board form all different divisons.

 

[Anonymous]

Reading this post. Wow. I used to work for Allergan, while I understand it is a bit of a good ole boys network, it's just like this at a lot of companies so really it's not that big of a deal. If it is not a good ole boy network, it is just going to be full of femenazi's, then you will gripe about that, right? It is NEVER perfect.

I worked for Allergan, Eli Lilly, and Novartis and I worked for some scary women and jerky men in my career. No company is perfect but I took the paycheck and worked hard. It is so sick to see the griping about how much you all hate Allergan because you all are lucky to still have jobs in this industry, yet all you can do is search for things to gripe about? Petty. No wonder pharmaceutical reps have this horrible reputation.

At the end of the day don't you want your job? Don't you value it? If so, quit the complaining about all this stupid nonsense. If you want a company to be perfect go start your own business. Be gracious and happy you have jobs and try to do your best to get promoted-that's all you can do. Nothing is perfect, but my gosh at least you are getting paid, have free cars and free gas. Thousands of reps are getting laid off across the nation, they need rep jobs and would be so happy for a paycheck from any pharma company- you never know, one day you may be in their shoes.

 

[Anonymous]

Looking at this blog makes me realize that most of the folks on here have no idea how ruthlessly unethical Allergan can be about its employment practices and women.

I recently got let go a week after filing a harassment complaint with HR. Has anyone reading this had a similar experience? In my case I recieved an email from HR that they were conducting a random expense audit on me 4 days after my complaint. during the audit they found some "innocent mistakes" mostly clerical and ABSOLUTELY nothing more. After the actual audit I felt relieved but a little nervous as to why they even bothered. They waited a few days and then called me to tell me to say I was terminated due to the expenses in question. If anyone has had a similar experience please respond, I heard that Allergan has been doing this to other women over 40 across the board form all different divisons.

WHen you filed the harrassment complaint with HR, did you do it in writing? Hopefully so. Did you receive or retain a copy of the compalint and/or response from HR. If so, you have documentation that you have engaged in protected activity under Title VII. Hopefully , when they contacted you about this Er, they did do in writing - preferably email. That should establish a legal timeframe for you, especially if the expenses were some time ago wherein they would have had ample opportunity to review and question discrapancies. My advic e- take all printed documentation with you to an attorney who specializes in employment law - or you can go ahead and file with the EEOC as you will need to do so either way in order to get your right to sue letter in the event the EEOC does not take your complaint and pursue it on your behalf. Be patient, however, - the process takes a long time.
Approx 18 month turnaround time - could be 3-4 years before oyou reach a settlement. So a lawyer might be your best bet. go to www.nela.org to learn more. Your claim would be retaliation for engaing in a protected activity ( sexual harrassment...and are you 40 or over?)