Pfizer’s HQ Cafeteria Flunked Health Inspection
11 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // April 11th, 2008 // 8:57 am
Want to grab a quick bite with Jeff Kindler? You may not want to meet him at the drugmaker’s 42nd Street cafeteria. During a recent series of surprise inspections at some of Manhattan’s biggest corporate lunchrooms, New York City health inspectors found rats, mice and flying insects, which yielded a failing grade of 42, NewsMax reports. Under New York statutes, a score of 28 health violation points could result in a facility being fined and/or shut down.
This week, however, the health inspectors returned after Pfizer promised to “address the situation,” and the cafeteria received the stellar grade of 27, which means the drugmaker avoided serious trouble by just one point. But even with the improved performance, Newsmax notes, Pfizer still ranks among the bottom of the city’s lunchrooms. Brown bag, anyone?
A Pfizer spokesman writes to say that “we were disturbed by the information contained in the city’s reports - the results of which were unacceptable - and we worked to address them immediately. This resulted in the re-inspection, which found that Pfizer did indeed address these issues, and the new rating. We are taking all necessary steps to prevent such issues in the future. These steps will include increased monitoring of the 235 cafeteria and all of our cafeteria facilities on the New York campus. Nothing is more important to us at Pfizer than the health and well being of Pfizer colleagues.”
How it got this way in the first place is puzzling. We know New York is full of rats (we are originally from Brooklyn, after all), but this is a company that supposedly devotes itself to improving health. Of course, this is no reflection on the executive dining room. But since Jeff is on a cost-cutting binge, perhaps he wants to send a signal to the employees who are now sickened to their stomachs and start eating with the rest of the Pfizer team.
Adonis Stavros
Could Pfizer cafeterias do something about the continual presentation of recycled leftovers which cannot be conducive to employee health now that what goes on behind the scenes is public record?
anonymous
cafeteria remarks; This place is like a pig sty.
Insider
http://pharmagossip.blogspot.com/2008/04/joke-of-week.html
Hope you like it!!!
Chris
Ronald McDonald shouldn’t stand for it.
Farmanux News
[...] Ed has the story. [...]
Dr. Sal Giorgianni
This is very sad.
When I started with Pfizer in 1979 the cafeteria was always the place to meet and talk with anyone. Yes anyone. From the Chairman of the Board, to the President and of course all level and sort of V-Ps and Directors;you just never knew who would sit down next to you and strike up a conversation about family, world events, the stock price, baseball and the very important “how are things going in your area?”. It was a supreme example of MBWA. We the-rank-and-file would often kid that the quality control for the food and service and, yes, condition of the cafeteria was the fact that people with clout went there on a regular basis. It was the epitome of an Egalitarian culture that was the hallmark of The Pfizer Family and an important cultual element that was an important element in how we and others defined the character of the company. This continued on all through the 1990’s and you would frequently see Bill Steer, John Niblack, Lou Clamente and others from the A-Suite eating there. And rather approachable even during the very heady days of the Go-Go ‘90s. The hallmark of these days was The Pfizer Family – knowing folks, and caring about them as much as about the business.
Over time, beginning in the late 1990’s, fewer and fewer senior executives and even directors began to go to the caffeteria for lunch; or even go there on purpose to meet and talk with folks and engage in some MBWA. They became rather isolated – by choice or by circumstances I cannot tell but probably a mixture of both. The hours between 11 and 2 became just another time-slot to have a meeting and working lunches became the norm.
I am sure, knowing some of the folks who are there that the cafeteria will be cleaned up and meet specs. And this techincal matter will be settled. But what bout the orgnizational culture? Call me Pollyannaish if you will, but while this corporate-culture sour note is unfortunate and sad, particularly for this old-timer, I hope that it will be The Tipping Point for a return to some of the organizational and cultural traditions that I believe helped this company, and others, excel. Such traditions and internal cultural norms are as important to the character of a business as they are to a family.
Justice in Michigan
Dr. Sal - Just in case you didn’t see it, there is a thread above (re: the F-off message) precisely about your good last paragraph.
Although only as a guest, I have also enjoyed some good lunches in a Pfizer cafeteria. Heck, I even bought the hat. That may surprise some people here!
Dr. Sal Giorgianni
Justice In MI
Thanks for the note on “that” blog. Will give it a look see.
As to your comment about the caf. all I can say is “then you know”.
a PFE rep
Dr. Sal,
I read your post with sadness. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Kindler administration will make any substantive changes, despite his assertions of openness and the “Jeff” forum. Pfizer is enmeshed in the “next quarter profit” mindset and no one has the vision to get us out of it.
I am due to go to headquarters for training in May….I hope we don’t have to eat at the cafeteria. Could be I’ll lose some weight while I’m there!
Farmanux News
[...] Joke of the Week Ed has the story. [...]
Insider
I wonder how long it will be before an MD tries to sue a Big Pharma company because their “free lunch” gives them the sh*ts!
Oh and Sal - you live waaaay in the past!