yeah its a shame what it has become

I agree this place sucks it's a shame it used to be a great place. Now it's a paycheck until I get something better. Hopefully my interview next week goes well then I can say goodbye

Really, the only thing you can do is decide if you can handle the crummy working conditions (because they are NOT going to get better any time in the foreseeable future, if ever) or find something else to do.

Baltimore baby

The last three posts say it all it's too bad so many of us see this, don't like it and yet we can do nothing to change it.

At this point the mgt will be looking to bribe us all (as cheap as possible) to try to raise morale. We need to rid ourselves of all the lazy people here and we need New leadership a big change none of these leaders can be trusted to do what is right

The last poster couldn't have said it any better. Management made sure to 'equalize' Portsmouth benefits to match the crummy benefits that other places got, but they sure didn't equalize the salaries. And to be paid less than a Hopkinton person for the same job, when we are expected to 'save' them is particularly insulting. Sorry, Hopkinton, I know you think a lot of yourself, but your business was failing long before Lonza took over. Lonza certainly has not helped the situation, unfortunately. Being in the right manufacturing sector only helps if you can manufacture something--and safely. That facility could be shut down immediately the first time an FDA inspector walks in with eyes open. I can only assume the inspectors that went there before were bribed by Fat Tony, just like the water guy apparently was.

Lonza used to be a great place to work, if a bit unusual. Now it is miserable and management still has the attitude that you ought to be thankful to have your job.

For years Lonza Portsmouth has paid less than other biotech companies in the Boston/Cambridge area. Most of us accepted this compromise for the quality of life NH has to offer over Mass. At one time our benefits were fantastic, the work challenging and exciting, the sense of teamwork made it a good place to work. But that was a long time ago.
Since acquiring Cambrex, along with people moving around in the industry and sharing info., it has become more and more apparent just how large the disparity really is between salaries in Mass. and Portsmouth. Add to that the fact that we have been understaffed for some time in Portsmouth, with people doing their job and then-some, and the fact that Hopkinton is bleeding us dry while we pay them 20%-30% more and you can start to see why 'morale' is a bit low. No raises in 2009, crap raises in 2010. But the company has plenty of cash on hand to acquire other companies. But not to worry, management is having meetings on how to 'improve morale'

this mass exodus has been going on for years. Mgt has no clue what they are doing or how to retain talent..only drive then crazy to the point of leaving. I worked in Portsmouth 10 years ago and it seems that the lonza way is still in effect, over worked and under appreciated... not to mention underpaid to the point you could make more on unemployment. Way to go you empty suits in managment!!!

Well, I'm not quite sure what the previous poster was going about, but Hopkinton and Portsmouth are both a mess now. Lonza is hiring like crazy but all they want to hire is temps, which doesn't help at all. Hopkinton just needs to be shut down. Genzyme next door is hiring, go work there. All the people from Portsmouth forced to go down to Hopkinton would be then able to do the jobs they had back in Portsmouth, rather than dump work on their already overloaded coworkers. People are dropping like flies. Most are leaving for much better paying jobs, in some cases around 50% more. It's worth the commute for that. And all management can think to do is have meeting and think about why they have the morale problem that they caused.

LONZA SUCKS BIG TIME>>>>> MARTIN CLOSES HIS DOOR AND JERKS OFF>>>>>>DONT TOUCH ANYTHING IN J+HIS OFFICE.....HOWS THE WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!! HE NEEDS TO DO THIS SINCE HIS WIFE LEFT HIM!!!!!!!!!!!! LONZA IS DOOMED WITHMANAGEMENT LIKW+E HIM>?>>>>>>
HEY GW WHERE"S YOUR BALLS GROW SOME WILL YA!!!!!!!!!!!

Well said, and at least your getting a lunch token, my mang doesn't give us a damn thing except a headache.

So true So true. If you are not one of the Clowns in the Management circle or know how to blow one you are screwed. If you are believing the whole bunch of crap they are laying on you then I feel bad for you. Not sure how management can keep a straight face while they smile and lie to you all at the same time? Wonder what's it like to have no conscience. Just hope some day some manager is blowing smoke up their butts and they know what it feels like to worry abot how to support their families like the rest of us. Geez let me see they are gonna boost our morales. What with another $3.00 lunch token. What a JOKE !!!!!!!

Hiring like mad because everybody's leaving. Writing is on the wall only the lazy and unwanted will stay here

Yeah what are you talking about lonza doesn't layoff, they re-org

We are hiring like mad. Layoff in Hopkinton is ludacris.

Layoff? Things are going great, what you don't believe Sissy-O and his cronies??

Is there a hoshin board for answering why we have so many temps here? or why we are filling the poisitions of the people we got rid of? The SLT seems to be telling us one thing while doing another, just when is the next layoff going to be?

Need to solve a morale problem? We've got a hoshin board for that!

I think that person is referring to Portsmouth site. Yeah down at the hop you have other industry choices. This shows how narrow minded you are, so you must be from there or you are SLT.

They are alluding to the point that the Portsmouth leadership knows there isn't much in the area so you would need to travel 1+ hours to stay in the industry or at least something comparable and most people here don't want to travel for work and relocating is tough with the real estate market, and once people are comfortable they are reluctant to change.

I believe that is their "over a barrel" reference.

The SLT knows unless you're willing to make big changes, they don't have to worry about you leaving, so they'll treat you how they wish....that's how I read it anyways.

So many of us have to travel to the hop we might as well travel to get to work anyways.

"have us over a barrel", what on earth are your smoking?, you make it sound like its prison, unless you are as I have previously implied unemployable elsewhere

Genzyme

Who is GZ?

No other real competition in the area? you work in the biotech hotspot of North America, unless you mean within a 5 mile radius of course......GZ is about 6 miles away, so maybe thats too far for you to travel :)

The last poster is clearly in mgt and has no idea how to turn anything around, running into the ground is more like it.

I have one more day to enjoy before returning to hell, to all the people griping. Does this place suck, yes. Is the leadership here a bunch of self centered jerks? also yes BUT they have us over a barrel and they know it.

Fear of change will prevent most people from leaving and they have no other reall competition in the area to worry about so they can treat us how they wish, hey its a job right. just go in do what you have to, grin and bear it OR make the decision. There are companies that will treat us better for comparable pay which is why I am interviewing, there are jobs out there.

successful projects, high morale....and no profit thats why it was sold, your country club days of the past are over, accept it and move on so the rest of us can continue to turn this site around.

So true, if you aren't in the "inner circle" or the UNH click you have little hope of progressing here. The problems are now at all levels here but it did originate with the SLT and their mindset. Its going to be a long time to recover (if ever) from the damage that has been done here. The SLT will never believe they could be the source of the problem, it is going to get worse and some of them will be asked to go, hopefully them it can get better and it will be like it used to be here, good morale, successful projects, high energy and output and people caring about their jobs and feeling respected.

What a waste then.. see what happens when UNH grads run the place into the ground...they should ferment beer then they don't have to run over to the bar..they can drink on site..oh they do that anyway.

More like the other way around. Portsmouth has an empty shell of a building that could easily be built to do microbial manufacturing.

really? the Portsmouth site is 10x bigger than the hop..are things that bad?

Best thing heard lately is that Ports site is slated for closure, moving to the Hop.

Exactly the point that needed to be made. Thank you.

The leaders here are lacking in professionalism. Have you heard how they talk when they think no one is listening? Especially about us (workers)? Then they have the gall to judge us during our reviews, who reviews these folks? Some of the worst are promoted up the ladder. I cannot believe it and the HR group here is ridiculous probably the worst in the industry.

JS is the most insincere one of the bunch. MM hasn't a clue about her job and cannot do a thing without consulting somone else, clearly they put her there so the leadership could have absolute control. TM what a joke does she have a thought of her own in that empty head? Amazing she has stayed around so long. The other on seems like shes just along for the ride...what a farce that team is.

I laugh (cry) when I see these stupid results from the surveys around here and the teams that they create. Oh and those teams are just ful of the "top performers" to so everything should get fixed real quick

Isn't that the truth. I'm a little tired of all the treatment around here. This place is being run into the ground and no one sees it.

Good people are leaving or have left or have been shown the door because of small minded, big ego morons. I hope SLT's days are numbered, the majority of them should not be allowed into a position of authority because they only view it as a position of power, they be good government employees.

Lonza hasn't cared about their employees since we were preparing for Y2K.

How much money is being wasted on those goons?

People are leaving and Lonza is too stupid or uncaring to retain their experience. Hopkington has killed the Portsmouth site. Oh yeah lets train a few more people from Singapore and build them their own company so they can sell to the competion as well. Waste of my time and energy I say. I for one know I worked my butt off for that crappy 2% raise that was given. (Well that is if you were a top performer). Work loads are out of control. Running on skelton crews (Because everyone is in Hopkinton or Singapore)Lonza keeps expecting more and more but not willing to compensate
Portsmouth site is always asking how to retain their employees. Really they don't care. People are leaving like crazy to work at companies that still care about their employees as Lonza USE to do. So that being said I too am off the another a place of employment where I am appreciated for what I contribute. Wish Lonza would wake up.

The inner circle still keeps this place going. These passionate dedicated people have brought Hopkinton to success again. There are great new dedicated additions who keep this place running. It is the people with the passion that drive this place. It is not the SLT.

Kidding? Not really After what's gone on the past month it's safe to say this whole place sucks. Leadership here is a total farce. The inner circle is alive and well..

You have got to be kidding.

The Balitimore facility was better than the Hop, maybe we should bring it back...

Bring back the Baltimore Facility!!!!

Sadly this place won't get any better with the leaders we have in place. They are too wrapped up in themselves and controlling their own little kingdom and this isn't good for any of us, Lonza needs a real change to be successful and that mean changing out the leadership not just employ new mgt techniques to try to "get US in line". Face facts these guys (as a team) just don't have what it takes, time to rotate a couple of people out like we did a few years back....

yeah the SLT would better do their _own_ home work instead of posting in here

Sounds like theres a few people drinking the Kool Aid that SLT is offering. oh wait people can't be that stupid, obviously some SLT making the posts.

I agree why do you want to deal with people who treat you like crap. Everyone from Ptown has an attitude and an ego the size of an elephant, that little man attitude must be contaigious.

This is not a game of portsmouth versus hopkinton. We are Lonza. A lot of Portsmouth staff have committed half or all of their time to the site. These are quality people just like those in Hopkinton. We are a team, a business. Put the pettiness aside and focus on your own job, making yourself successful and making needed medicine for people. That's it, plain and simple bottom line. Success to all.

well i love to work with experienced people which _most_ portsmouth guys seem to be but i was actually talking about the narcissistic attitude you just showed...just read your last post and you'll know what i'm talking about...

would you listen to someone who treats you like shit? just sayin'...at the end of the day everyone is a human being...

"concerning the portsmouth people...their attitude isn't really helping anyone down here..."

You mean by 'attitude' being competent? Successful? Knowing how to do the job they are paid to do? (And actually doing it) Yeah, I can see why you Cambrex losers would be put off by that. You have a culture of failure. I guess losing $40 million in 2 years is OK for you morons. In fact, how about 25% bonuses and double-digit raises for all of you! You earned it!

before it is ready? what the hell do you think is your salary for? "ooooh, i'm soooo sorry, we aren't ready yet..." is not really the way to make money. that would work in socialism though... concerning the portsmouth people...their attitude isn't really helping anyone down here...

you must be the loser that wipes Ds's butt.. why you so angry? you mist be the only one who got more than 2percent an everyones mad at you!

Why do you feel like you deserve more than 2? The freaking site lost 40 million and you expect a great raise. You people are thick to think you deserve anything more than that. Just be happy you still have a job after the performance of the site last year. What a bunch of ungrateful useless ass clowns.