Comments on: Pfizer To Layoff More Scientists In The Fall? http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:22:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: INSIDER http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-378957 INSIDER Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:37:17 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-378957 I have learned to that Pfizer will be laying off all 30,000 Contractors as of 12.31.08. All will be offered permanant positions at below market rate! Just finished a con-call with Procurement and it is 100% true. It has not hit the wire yet ! I have learned to that Pfizer will be laying off all 30,000 Contractors as of 12.31.08. All will be offered permanant positions at below market rate!

Just finished a con-call with Procurement and it is 100% true. It has not hit the wire yet !

]]> By: Christopher http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-370799 Christopher Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:11:47 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-370799 I don't know the specifics of this case but the implication is that foreign workers are 'taking jobs away' from Americans in America somehow unjustly. The H-1B visa isn't easily obtained. It is for talented and skilled workers with relevant experience that are newly employed by a company, rather than an internal transferee. They are possibly lower paid than the ones they replace - presumably that's RobS's theme - but will be on a local package. New 'H-1B' workers are always going to be trained by the staff in the US, the majority of whom are Americans, unless of course there are only other H-1B staff left. So I'm saying there's nothing new in this process which has been going on for years. I don’t know the specifics of this case but the implication is that foreign workers are ‘taking jobs away’ from Americans in America somehow unjustly. The H-1B visa isn’t easily obtained. It is for talented and skilled workers with relevant experience that are newly employed by a company, rather than an internal transferee. They are possibly lower paid than the ones they replace - presumably that’s RobS’s theme - but will be on a local package. New ‘H-1B’ workers are always going to be trained by the staff in the US, the majority of whom are Americans, unless of course there are only other H-1B staff left.
So I’m saying there’s nothing new in this process which has been going on for years.

]]> By: RobS http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-370796 RobS Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:28:21 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-370796 Are Pfizer employees being forced to train their H-1B replacements? There are rumors that Pfizer employers are being required to train foreign workers on H-1B visas. These foreign workers will replace the Americans who trained them. Sadly this isn't an uncommon practice, and unfortunately it's not illegal, despite the myths that have been propagated by shills and paid lobbyists that Americans have protections against this global labor arbitrage. Does anyone associated with Pfizer know what is going on there? Are qualified American workers training their foreign replacements? If you have credible information to confirm or deny this please go to my website to find out how to contact me, or leave a comment on this thread. Are Pfizer employees being forced to train their H-1B replacements?

There are rumors that Pfizer employers are being required to train foreign workers on H-1B visas. These foreign workers will replace the Americans who trained them.

Sadly this isn’t an uncommon practice, and unfortunately it’s not illegal, despite the myths that have been propagated by shills and paid lobbyists that Americans have protections against this global labor arbitrage.

Does anyone associated with Pfizer know what is going on there? Are qualified American workers training their foreign replacements? If you have credible information to confirm or deny this please go to my website to find out how to contact me, or leave a comment on this thread.

]]> By: Mr. PFE http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365619 Mr. PFE Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:23:42 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365619 The funny bit is that Pfizer at least replied to your request. When we the employees ask these kinds of questions - stony silence is the only thing we get. Utmost respect for people must go hand in hand with reduced severance packages and indiscriminate layoffs. Pfizer has long lost the ability do judge which R&D areas are 'hot' and which could be reduced, which is why it is relying on 3-year-old data to make these kinds of decisions. All I know is that a lot of good scientists (and probably a handful of lame ones) will lose their jobs, again. Some of them will lose jobs for the second time in less than two years (Ann Arbor expatriates). There is no hope for employment in pharma any more. The funny bit is that Pfizer at least replied to your request. When we the employees ask these kinds of questions - stony silence is the only thing we get.

Utmost respect for people must go hand in hand with reduced severance packages and indiscriminate layoffs. Pfizer has long lost the ability do judge which R&D areas are ‘hot’ and which could be reduced, which is why it is relying on 3-year-old data to make these kinds of decisions.

All I know is that a lot of good scientists (and probably a handful of lame ones) will lose their jobs, again. Some of them will lose jobs for the second time in less than two years (Ann Arbor expatriates). There is no hope for employment in pharma any more.

]]> By: Bruce Grant http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365359 Bruce Grant Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:26:46 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365359 If, as Derek Lowe reported yesterday, the cuts extend beyond chem to biology as well -- and they go down to the PhD and Associate level, not just department heads -- this is not merely eliminating waste and focusing on high-priority projects. It's more like eating next season's seed corn. BTW, Pfizer's response to you is a fabulous example of what Woodward & Bernstein first dubbed "non-denial denials" while reporting Watergate. If, as Derek Lowe reported yesterday, the cuts extend beyond chem to biology as well — and they go down to the PhD and Associate level, not just department heads — this is not merely eliminating waste and focusing on high-priority projects. It’s more like eating next season’s seed corn.

BTW, Pfizer’s response to you is a fabulous example of what Woodward & Bernstein first dubbed “non-denial denials” while reporting Watergate.

]]> By: Salmon http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365325 Salmon Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:15:25 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365325 So what happens when scientists leave Pfizer? Why they can always join FDA under Andy's current hiring initiative. That is, if they have a good referral from Pfizer. In fact they may even wind up working for some of their old colleagues who 'serendipitously' left Pfizer for FDA a year or two ago and have now moved up into management, above all those pesky bureaucrats, who just annoy drug companies with their outdated way of doing things, that Peter Pitts has been complaining about recently. Why if they've got really good recomendations they may even wind up working directly with those ex-Industry VPs that Rosa DeLauro pointed out in her letter to Andy last November. Salmon So what happens when scientists leave Pfizer?

Why they can always join FDA under Andy’s current hiring initiative. That is, if they have a good referral from Pfizer.

In fact they may even wind up working for some of their old colleagues who ’serendipitously’ left Pfizer for FDA a year or two ago and have now moved up into management, above all those pesky bureaucrats, who just annoy drug companies with their outdated way of doing things, that Peter Pitts has been complaining about recently.

Why if they’ve got really good recomendations they may even wind up working directly with those ex-Industry VPs that Rosa DeLauro pointed out in her letter to Andy last November.

Salmon

]]> By: CMC guy http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365319 CMC guy Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:44:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365319 I concur with snug that Pfizer R&D people should be concerned. Atlex I think you are assuming a logical and critical evaluation approach to optimizing R&D. Based on what I have observed by Pfizer has not been a good judge in this area (PD/WL was a strong center prior to merger). Assume it will be internal politics and money (projections) that will rule the day that likely sacrifice short term for longer term potential. I concur with snug that Pfizer R&D people should be concerned.

Atlex I think you are assuming a logical and critical evaluation approach to optimizing R&D. Based on what I have observed by Pfizer has not been a good judge in this area (PD/WL was a strong center prior to merger). Assume it will be internal politics and money (projections) that will rule the day that likely sacrifice short term for longer term potential.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365315 Ed Silverman Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:24:05 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365315 Hi Atlex, Fair point. Setting priorities is the rationale for cutting most any department at any company, of course. And perhaps that will be proven true. But that's why I used the word 'may' in writing what I did. Regards ed Hi Atlex,

Fair point. Setting priorities is the rationale for cutting most any department at any company, of course. And perhaps that will be proven true. But that’s why I used the word ‘may’ in writing what I did.

Regards
ed

]]> By: snug http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365310 snug Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:13:51 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365310 Ed, a true appreciation of what the Pfizer spokesman said: R&D officially you are fired Ed, a true appreciation of what the Pfizer spokesman said: R&D officially you are fired

]]> By: Atlex http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/pfizer-to-layoff-more-scientists-in-the-fall/#comment-365306 Atlex Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:10:43 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14443#comment-365306 I'll challenge your statement that "by eliminating the employees who are chartered with finding and developing drugs, Pfizer may just lessen the chance that its own R&D team will find the next big thing and end its troubles." One could just as easily argue that by selectively eliminating research in the areas that have a low likelihood of payoff, Pfizer actually increases the chances that it will "find the next big thing." If this comes to pass, it could eliminate waste and allow greater resources (not just human, but other resources) to be put into the highest priority projects, thus speeding them to market. I’ll challenge your statement that “by eliminating the employees who are chartered with finding and developing drugs, Pfizer may just lessen the chance that its own R&D team will find the next big thing and end its troubles.” One could just as easily argue that by selectively eliminating research in the areas that have a low likelihood of payoff, Pfizer actually increases the chances that it will “find the next big thing.” If this comes to pass, it could eliminate waste and allow greater resources (not just human, but other resources) to be put into the highest priority projects, thus speeding them to market.

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