Take a day off on these days then. Legally, company can't terminate an employee in absence.

Just be prepared every other Thursday for the rest of the year. Get all the stuff you want out of your desk before then and any information off your computer.

June 4th or 18th is correct for the next round. It's always a day before a regular payroll cycle so that payroll can have the checks all ready to go.

June 4th or 18th will be the pink-slip day again then?

There is so much redundancy in division marketing and the selling groups, that any of them should be prepared for the axe to fall. This was a direct result of the way that DS let his buddies set up their little kingdoms in foreign countries. BC has been complaining about the cost of the marketing groups for years. Watch out if you're in any of the underperforming product groups. LSG is out of their collective minds to spend so much on the branding campaign, and GXD's marketing budget (videos, print and web) is so out of control it's ridiculous. Watch out seldi and proteon since there is little revenue to justify your jobs and no sign of a fantastic Q2 yet.

There were lists made up in the fall of 2008. Consolidation of sales is on the table. The division marketing may also be cut down to remove some of the bloat.

More layoffs coming at end of Q2. I've heard they are making up new lists already. This time sales might get hit.

"Is this your prediction for the year old Dave will no longer be around?"

Educated guess: 1) around 2011 or so, stock market will back to normal 2) there is no qualified / willing third generation to take over the business 3) DS is not that healthy, the family need to split the wealth sooner than later.

Actually before the recession, there are rumors that the family was considering sell off.

"So when VWR, Sigma, Thermofisher, etc. purchase LSG in 2011 or so; they might just keep some manufacturing facility and distribution functions, and let go most of BR employees."

Is this your prediction for the year old Dave will no longer be around?

"LSG is in deep doo-doo and management are a bunch of doo-doo heads."

The main value of LSG is market share, there are almost ZERO technical advantages for most of its products.
So when VWR, Sigma, Thermofisher, etc. purchase LSG in 2011 or so; they might just keep some manufacturing facility and distribution functions, and let go most of BR employees.

Sales are definitely slow but picking up I hope for the end of Q2.

You mention your customers so I assume you are a sales rep. How is the economy affecting your sales?

LSG is in deep doo-doo and management are a bunch of doo-doo heads.

Replaced the entire thermal cycler line and sales have not caught up to the old revenue amounts.
But did spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on music videos.

Bio-Plex sales are slowing down due to increased competition and no differences among partners. Plan of action from management, let's ask customers for more money. My customers aren't going for that.

Electrophoresis hasn't had any life for a while, just sat back and watched invitrogen take market share with innovative products like iblot. Ready gels suck.

Proteon sales are in the toilet. Most units have been replaced at least once. Major quality issues.

Branding campaign oversold and overpriced, customers don't really care.

"True, I am not a smart man, but I know how to look out for myself. The only reason I approved the lay off was to make sure that profit targets were met. I knew we were not going to make revenue targets and I wanted to make sure I got my bonus."

Signed,
(Insert division manager name or BC)

Which one fits best: AT, BK, SH, JS, or that food science guy from France?

Just noticed the google ad on top of this thread for WARN ACT lawyer. Folks at google are really smart at business!

http://www.girardgibbs.com/cawarnact.asp

True, I am not a smart man, but I know how to look out for myself. The only reason I approved the lay off was to make sure that profit targets were met. I knew we were not going to make revenue targets and I wanted to make sure I got my bonus.

"And the managers came up with the lay-off idea for cost saving will face the fact that the lay-off actually was a cost increasing measure instead."

Of course it costs more. Figure an average tenure of five years for all the people and Bio-Rad paying two weeks of salary per year, job search service at several thousand per person, paying out saved PTO and the cost of re-hiring personnel later when sales pick up and layoffs always cost more unless they are the result of a merger or acquisition where there is redundancy.

Everyone involved in the layoff decision is stupid. And the most stupid person is the person at the top who approved it.

"And the managers came up with the lay-off idea for cost saving will face the fact that the lay-off actually was a cost increasing measure instead."

Of course it costs more. Figure an average tenure of five years for all the people and Bio-Rad paying two weeks of salary per year, job search service at several thousand per person, paying out saved PTO and the cost of re-hiring personnel later when sales pick up and layoffs always cost more unless they are the result of a merger or acquisition where there is redundancy.

Everyone involved in the layoff decision is stupid. And the most stupid person is the person at the top who approved it.

"Even if the Rad violated the WARN act, big deal. They'd get slapped with a small fine and it doesn't make economic sense for the vast majority of the people laid off to initiate any kind of legal action against BR. "

Government fine might be small. But BR has to pay extra 60 days salary for the 60-300 people. Which means $1 to 5 million CASH out of BR pocket. Lawyers might like this business.

And the managers came up with the lay-off idea for cost saving will face the fact that the lay-off actually was a cost increasing measure instead.

Family values? What does that have to with running a business? If that were the case no one would get laif off!!!

"If NS was smart, he'd not let LSG fill any positions this year just to show LSG he means business about improving profitability"

I have my doubts that Daddy's boy is all that smart. Bio-Rad is a place where they promote family values and family members.

LV should have been the first to go!!! It was not a transfer she was re-asigned because she could not run QSD in Benicia.

"Is this a sure violation of california WARN ACT? Which requires company lay off over 50 employees to give 60 days advanced notice."

Even if the Rad violated the WARN act, big deal. They'd get slapped with a small fine and it doesn't make economic sense for the vast majority of the people laid off to initiate any kind of legal action against BR. Just goes to show what a bunch of slimy jerks they are.

If NS was smart, he'd not let LSG fill any positions this year just to show LSG he means business about improving profitability.

And no, LV was not one of the folks laid off. She will continue to work for PFD and JS as he has with LV another person who he can control. His whole management team are a bunch of spineless pu**ies who spend all their time trying to figure out what JS wants so they can brown nose him. About this time next year he'll have completely run that division (PFD) into disaster.

"Actual number laid off was over 300 people according to appendix D in the termination package. A large percentage were people in middle management who had been there for a number of years (high salary and easy to replace)."

Is this a sure violation of california WARN ACT? Which requires company lay off over 50 employees to give 60 days advanced notice.

Was LV (the person transfered from QSD) included in the layoff?

Actual number laid off was over 300 people according to appendix D in the termination package. A large percentage were people in middle management who had been there for a number of years (high salary and easy to replace).

I heard somewhere between 50 and 70 total. It was about 5% of the total LSG US workforce.

There was no mention of lay-off on the Q1 earning call. Is it legal to do so?
And how many people were laid off exactly?

I found out that for some of the people let go, they are planning on re-opening those positions as soon as they can, except legal told the division managers they couldn't do that since it was a reduction in force. The people who take those positions should realize that they are the beneficiaries of unethical and illegal conduct and other employees will not respect them. Things have certainly changed around here and I'm looking for another job.

My manager, who probably knows more than your girlfriend, told me more cuts would be coming in June depending on sales.

My manager, who probably knows more than your girlfriend, told me more cuts would be coming in June depending on sales.

I have a gf who works in R&D. She says everything is great, no layoffs in sight and business is great. Who to believe?

" Could cut some managers especially since some division manager just seem to make more of them to manage the same number of people as before."
These managers are in the position to decide who will be laid off. The easiest place to cut will be R&D.
Of course, the impact of this bad practice will show later. Most probably couple years down the road, when most of the product lines are out of date and there is no grandpa. Bio-Rad will disappear (acquired by agilent, VWR, sigma, etc.).

Seldi dropped, definite possibility. Duoflow probably not, as there is a project to revamp that product. BioEd is a favorite of DS and AS so it is safe. Experion could be a possibility as the margins are not so great. R&D cut would be foolish as the R&D level is already below industry standard. Could cut some managers especially since some division manager just seem to make more of them to manage the same number of people as before.

Bioed, duoflow, experion and seldi product lines will be dropped by end of year, and R&D cut 20%?

LSG better watch out. It will never be able to match Diagnostics margins and net profit. All the international regions are run by diagnostics people.

Although LSG doesn't have a prayer since all the divisions managers are clueless and struggle as a second rate player against the big life science companies.

"Norman wants LSG to be at 15% net profit. Currently LSG is at about 10 or 11%. It takes a pretty significant cut to increase net profit by 4 or 5%."

before or after Q1 earning call?

"JS is a typical yes-man. No real ideas and cant take advise from anyone except the boss (Seldi is still around, 'nuff said)."

Worse than that, he is completely dishonest. Don't believe anything he says unless it's in writing. His managers are all too weak to stand up to him, which is why he personally picked them all. He has forced people to change their employee's reviews and broken his word to multiple people within the division. He takes credit for everybody's ideas and thinks the sales force is stupid.

Norman wants LSG to be at 15% net profit. Currently LSG is at about 10 or 11%. It takes a pretty significant cut to increase net profit by 4 or 5%.

They need to cut another 10% to be profitable?

It's all about profit now. Forget all the lofty ideals BC has been spouting for the past two years about customer focus. The only focus is on the bottom line. All customers should find other companies to buy from besides Bio-Rad.

Norman is just waiting until he's in control and then the voting stock will be all sold to large institutions and the company will be bought by a VWR, Fisher, LifeTechnologies.

Bio-Rad as it used to be is over. Watch out employees, customers and shareholders.

Wait until Q2 results are in. BC and PC will have to act and they will be more interested in cutting costs than addressing how to improve sales.

'Unless sales get better for LSG, there will be additional layoffs. There is a short list that includes some Regional Sales Managers, and a few low performing sales people as well.

A re-org and consolidation of the regional and global marketing groups is likely. More marketing people will be lost.'

Any idea which Regional Sales Managers and low performing sales people are on that short list?

Unless sales get better for LSG, there will be additional layoffs. There is a short list that includes some Regional Sales Managers, and a few low performing sales people as well.

A re-org and consolidation of the regional and global marketing groups is likely. More marketing people will be lost.

Antoher round of lay-off is scheduled at end of April?

These recent layoffs are extremely shortsighted. It looks like about 5% of LSG was let go. That accounts for the merit pay increases, so the net expenses did not increase for 2009. A quick way to save money, but it will cost them in the long run. Once revenue picks up again, they'll be short resources to deal with it. Plus, in general anytime you have to replace somebody it costs about one year's worth of their salary in lost productivity. So, in effect they lost money on this effort.

And yes, there are lots of morons running LSG. I liked the mental midget term for AT.

Hi I was reading the following thread with great amusement being an ex bio-rad employee you raise some very valid points and totally agree with all the statements.

Nothing will change unless PC, BC-VP and others are fired and let go, it is an old boys club that have no direction or vision and buy up crap companies like Virtek, Ciphergen to name a few and have very low performers who could not work anywhere else or no one else wants them.

All the people that I know and believe me there are many have all left and are much more happier from Bio-Rad. The guy running Canada for sales RR is an utter complete moron and bafoon and the reason he was promoted is because the GM at the time who has now left felt sorry for him after he was with the company for over 20 years and was always overlooked for promotion because he was so incompetent.

I am very happy that I left a few years ago i will them all well as they will need more than luck to do well they need a total clean slate of new people.

As for PC he is a total moron and useless individual and spineless and is just picking up his large paycheck until he retires or is fired whichever one comes first.

B-R is is serious troubles.

Witness the leadership and their track record. Has JH done anything since assuming the role of leading the LS group? Oh, he makes very intelligent statements like, "ProteOn is better suited for the academic market than pharma". Of course, with a price tag of over a quarter of a million dollars, name an academic lab that can afford one!! And lets not talk about acquisitions, can anyone say Ciphergen/Seldi??

Next in line for the LSG unit is PC (he is in charge of selling everything in LSG for the US and Can). What a moron. This is the guy who decided a couple years ago that the sales team would be rated on gross profit margin, just to go and demand country wide sales that ruined our margins. Thanks! Oh, and if you thought that AP (remember her, the iron fisted imbecile) was bad, BC is no different!! Of course, this is just PC being his usual micromanager and not letting anyone do their job. When will PC realize that the more he dictates, the worse the entire division's performance. Well, it would take a brain to notice it which rules out any epiphanies from PC.

Next is all the Div Mkt Mgrs. The only one worth their salt is SH, who unfortunately hired KB just to move him to a position where he cant hurt anything. Will she tackle the big job of re-org and getting good people or just follow in the footsteps of AT and fiddle while Rome burns? JS is a typical yes-man. No real ideas and cant take advise from anyone except the boss (Seldi is still around, 'nuff said). As for AT, well what a domineering mental midget. She is changing the focus of the entire GXD division to cellular biology!! Talk about a mature, stagnant market in which B-R has no experience. Sounds exactly what AT would think is a great opportunity. Next product, an outrageously expensive cell counter!! (I can't wait to sell this, can you??)

As for the NASD Mkt team, well there is no marketing team there anymore, just a lame attempt to recreate MarCom (yes, that is efficient!!). As someone else said, the two people let go were the only ones who actually understood marketing and were secure enough to push back to try and make positive changes. It is obvious that PC and even the new BC (cheerleader BC, not the VP BC, but hey, they are a 'team' so what is the difference??) have no clue what to do. PC tells BC what to say, and she says it. No thought, no plan, no cares (actually it looks like BC is the new MS). It is now up to us sales people to create all our own literature, create our own leads, organize and manage any promotions we want, etc. Oh, when do we actually sell?

"Speaking of not having a brain of their own....he should have let BC his new marketing manager go. In the past 4 years anything she has contributed was because of the work of others."

Brutal, but with some "truthiness."

Let's have a crack at all the senior managers.
BC (VP) talks behind everybody's back and protects those he'd like to screw (not screw over). Let's his managers ruin businesses that actually make money.
PC weak number-cruncher who is counting the hours until retirement and will rock the boat as little as possible
AT control freak who is betting it all on a strategy that will most likely fail, all while SK tries to brown nose her as much as possible
BK what does he do again?
JS never met a process he didn't like and is not to be trusted, only interested in covering his a**. If he really had the cojones he thinks he does he would dust get it over and kill seldi sooner rather than later.
SH in over her head right now, but might come out as the hero if she can turn around a division with a lot of whiners in it, although why in the hell did she not use the layoffs as a way to get rid of KB? Oh, yeah because she hired him and that would look bad
LP - gone because he saw the writing on the wall from all the other idiot managers
JH has accomplished what since moving from CDG?
DC - she really runs LSG

"PC let people go that he didn't like or who stood up to him. Basically, anybody who had a brain of their own was let go."

Speaking of not having a brain of their own....he should have let BC his new marketing manager go. In the past 4 years anything she has contributed was because of the work of others.

She is a phony who isgood at being a cheerleader and playing the political game. Perhaps that is viewed as important. Not surprised she was kept around since she has been protected by PC's boss and put into positions that are beyond her background and experience.