The Empire Strikes Back....

Ive never been happier to be out of that godforsaken place!! the management are a bunch of self-centered arrogant know nothings! the majority of the staff are just as bad with one or two exceptions.. you are not praised for anything, you are not allowed to be happy, no laughing, no smiling and certainly no morale! its a miracle people still choose to work there!! I wish i had never taken the job as it has scarred my confidence about other jobs... thankfully i am now working for a company that actually respects their employees with decent and friendly people, i don't get up dreading work everyday! good luck to all those still working there ..

I will let you know soon!!

i was there for 7 months, from september to march.

DO NOT WORK THERE.

if it is too late begin a new job hunt evenings and weekends immediately. i was l;eft to my own devices pretty much but left due to what I witnessed. they do not have a clue, and ship medical devices to hospitals without testing the software. its a disgrace, illegal, and dangerous. also senior management is highly incompetent in running the engeneering department.

its an awful, backward, stingy, company and i feel sorry for the many people trapped there. the contract is a joke. they deduct money from your final pay when you sensibly try to move on and courteously give notice.

everyone beware of randox. career dead end.....

I have to say, im a bit apprehensive after reading all of this. Im meant to be starting a new role as a Sales and Marketing Executive in 2 weeks time with Randox. Through one of these online forums it seems a girl who was in the exact role I am replacing was let go for all of the reasons being described. We have exchanged emails and she hasnt had a positive thing to say about the company, and I am alarmed that she is now being bombarded by solicitors after being out of the organisation only 2 days later. Apparently likening it that she was moving to another role with a marketing title, despite not sharing any of the same markets, products, or clients.

I am so glad to be away from this company and would certainly not recommend it to anyone!!! I feel sorry for any young person just left college and starting here. I will tell them that not all work places are managed like this. Most employers value their staff, trust them and appreciate if they are hard workers. I will say that the wages were great, but they got their pound of flesh from me!!!

Well this is either truth or damage control/spin by a PR company.

$.02

whats it like to work for randox in dungloe

Tuesday 23rd nov comment. I have a agreed with every comment then I found yours!! You represent the absolute minority. I've worked here for a year and cannot wait for the day to leave! Pay is ridiculous, conditions are horrible, management are clueless! If this is what working life is like I must change careers. One I the most hateful companies in NI! And then there's Dungloe .........

Sounds like things are still the same since I left? Anyone know if they still have a sales force in the US made up of actual Americans? Randox, Randox, Randox "Haters Gonna Hate!" It is fun hating on you Randox so go sell some apples bitches! -Rick James

Yeah, right, you have my IP and I'm a manager. Righto.

don't tell lies...your petty attempt to conceal the fact you're a manager there does not bode well. i have your IP!

Just seen a double decker bus in belfast with the Randox Healthcheck advertised on the back of it and i thought what a rather good idea...

Then i thought how many double decker buses could you fill with ex members of staff who have been sacked/left on their own accord by Randox (seated only lol)

please send your answers on a postcard to singlefarefromcrumlinplease
POBoxP45

I did work there up until 2 years ago - my colleagues and my line manager were outstanding friends, unfortunately I was highlighted as I was meticulous and proactive in my appointment I was classed as a nuisance and the 'lieutenants' of SF (herself included)where systematically attempting to physchologically bully me into submission. I carried on working knowing that my shelf life was going to expire soon, concurrently I was applying for other jobs whereby I was successful. On handing in my notice I was asked to leave the next day! Albeit with 4 weeks wages, without handing over my numerous job appointments! It was not a healthy working environment and most sacked employees may need counselling for how they have been treated. I still keep in touch with other ex-colleagues as we all need to let off steam to help de-stress each other. DO NOT TAKE EMPLOYMENT AT THIS GULAG!

Just over a month ago, I had my employment 'terminated' for the first time ever in my working life, 4 months into my 6 month probationary period citing a reason of being unable to handle the workload, even though barely a month before I had been given a 'competent' rating after my review (the highest they give apparently). This on top of the fact that I had never been busier in a post in my life with barely time to take a break (clocked out of course!) since the day and hour I started. What was interesting was they gave me 4 weeks salary in lieu of notice, which I thought strange for a termination? I then learnt later that several of my colleagues and others had been 'let go' in the following days, some of whom had been there for quite a few years.

According to a comment below, I worked in one of the better departments with an OK manager. That's open to debate.

I have never worked in such an unfriendly and oppressive atmosphere where you feel a constant need to be looking over your shoulder and watch everything you say or do. I hadn't used a clock machine in work since I was 17! I regret giving them any excuse to let me go as well as the fact that I'm now unemployed again, but ultimately I think I've been done a favour.

I started working here 4 months ago and want to leave. How much money do they take off you when you leave for the PTRs you sign?

yes he does and they are worse than ever, was just dimissed from work for a very stupid reason and now looking into what exactly is classed as unfair dismissal?? such a horrible place to work.. i worked in admin for 4 months and after 2 i was constantly looking for an alternitive... i think they have done me a favour!!!!

McDonalds would be an improvement...

No mention of the sackings for drug testing then???? Interesting!!!!

any chance of booking a spa?

Right, got my contract. A whopping £15k per annum! I need to pay for my own training before I even get a real contract! And I can't work anywhere else for 12 months if I decide to leave! This is a joke.

Good decision, try looking at the Berlin Biotech site. Charite hospital great place to work.

Such obvious BS from characterless spooks at Randox...pathetic really.

Alright, so I've made my decision, I'm going to give this job a miss. Feels strange to reject an offer on a job since I've been looking for one for months.

Almac might be a better option, though they don't pay much either! Plenty of biotech jobs elsewhere, try over in Berlin, spolt for choice, nicer folk, conditions etc. NI really is a goldfish bowl jobwise.

Thought I'd be getting something like that... Whats worse is that I can't find a lease that suits me, so I might have to stay in a B&B which will cost around 1100£ for a month.

I am starting to be hesitant about this.

To the person who is thinking about joining Randox on the graduate programme....With my hand on my heart I can honestly say, do not take it. You will be treated terribly and if you dont pass your training tests of which there are many, you will be fired anyway. Save yourself the pain and heartache and seriously do not go for this.

Grads if lucky might get £17.5k, hardly enough to pay off one's student loan.

For months that is...

Woah...

So after going in for an interview and being accepted today, I was ecstatic about starting work here as a graduate who has been looking for work for month.

My dad sent me a link to a blog stating how bad it is, and I have a lump in my throat now. I'll be moving far away from home to work there and I really want to it to be as smooth transition as possible.

Any advice on this matter?

AC posts taken of to protect her..so I here..pitty they couldnt protect AC workforce from her???
I here they have got enough info. on her now..past and present..even taped her on phone..well done and good luck.
This will be away by next week...bet ya!

Graduate programme?
Go for it, sure its a grand place so!
Does peter still have his army of flying monkeys?

Can anyone give me more info on the reality of the marketing executive/ international business development and sales executive/graduate programmes at Randox? Am thinking of applying as have seen adverts on nijobfinder but have just found this site!!

Don't forget the training expenses if you leave within 4 years. A very bizarre company indeed

what did happen too the AC posts, ref her other half?? Why on earth would anyone protect AC???
What was the outcome..come on let us know.

replyflag this

waht did he do???

what did happen too the AC posts, ref her other half?? Why on earth would anyone protect AC???
What was the outcome..come on let us know.

Used to work there about 2 years ago now. Its a pretty grim place. Hard to believe a place like this exists in the Western World. If your thinking of applying read the comments here and elsewhere online. It is pretty horribe. I know there are not many jobs out there at the min but if your going in be very aware its going to be tough. To survive you gotta:
Bite your lip and never express an opinion
Look busy at all times
Have a yes sir attitude
Stick religiously to clocking in
Come in early. Leave Late
Work your weekends
Never Question your boss
Dont take toilet breaks
Watch out for the Cameras - they are everywhere and you are being watched
But business expenses on your personal card
Never send an email that you wouldnt want your boss to read because they read them all

Apart from that DONT DO IT.

But hey if your in there more than 3 weeks you will know the craic already and be surely dreaming of an exit strategy

Exceptionally precise overviews of Randox, Wishing you well in your new company and don’t look back. A least you had the opportunity to resign, others were dismissed and walked off the site on the mouth of Xmas 08 for delivering results were others including those you've mentioned had failed miserably.

A really bizarre place to be employed in, with an under performing senior management team. One thing is for certain without the financial assistance for the UK taxpayer this company would have sunk a long time ago.

I have been working in Randox for nearly a couple of years now and thankfully it seems the end is in sight for me as I am about to move onto greener pastures which to be fair would not be hard! I have been on this website quite a lot over this time and have never posted before. I would like to take this opportunity however to put my point across. I never knew of this website before I joined this company and I wish I had of. As they say, there is no smoke without fire and in this case there is a lot of smoke. I want to put across a very honest opinion of this company so that hopefully people who are thinking of joining this company can make a more informed decision. Firstly, this company has some really good products and some not so good and it should be performing at a much higher level. The reason it is not performing at a higher level is due to 2 of the lady senior managers (SF and JG) playing house and not having an ounce of business acumen between them. I dont actually think that Dr F is that bad a person and I dont think he is aware of how these two ladies treat the business and of the terrible decisions that they make. He has created many jobs in a time when they are scarce which is to be commended albeit he pays them very little and they are ultimately treated very badly.

If the company was bought out, I feel there would be hope for Randox and the staff there but that will never happen.

People need to be rewarded, praised, motivated, respected and overall treated like human beings. Surely that is not a lot to ask and obviously if they are performing well. These key factors are frowned upon and you are told to not to encourage and praise people. I believe over the last week approx 8-10 people have resigned. This as most people know is not unusual and the high turnover of staff is disgusting. I just cant believe that Dr F dosent sit down and ask the question why? Easy...give people respect, pay them a fair wage, give them flexibility and listen to the people that work for you and not listen to the 2 ladies that constantly tell you what you want to hear. There are several departments that are just a horrible environment to work in...I feel sorry for the people who work in the marketing department where working in silence is the rule there. The distribution team is not much better. The frustration is that there are some really good people in Randox who are not looked after and listened to and as a result these good people leave. Most people can see how the company could be run better and the changes that need to be made but this change unfortunately will never happen. As I say, there are some really good people working in Randox but there are so many that are in positions that they should never be in as they are far too inexperienced. The truth is, if you are a yes person and love sucking up, you will go far and put into a role which you are totally unqualified for. This is very true in some managerial roles where the people do not know how to treat their staff and in turn make their lives hellish. People work in fear and dread their names being called over the tannoy which is very sad. The following departments seem to be the better ones to work in.
Finance - good people here and with the exception of the senior manager within this team, everyone seems to be treated ok.
Purchasing - mainly good people here with not too bad a manager
Sales - some really bad managers in here but the best teams to work in would be the pharma team, telesales team and rx team where the managers actually seem to care, treat their teams with respect and actually know what they are talking about. The Uk team seems ok also but they are very cliqey and have an air of arrogance. The other managers in sales are in it for themselves and treat their staff like the dirt on their shoe with no regard to them whatsoever.
Within Randox, you are expected to travel in your own time, losing your weekends with no compensation of time in lieu or pay, you fly the cheapest way possible and if that means travelling for an extra day when there is a direct flight, so be it. You are also put up in the most disgusting of hotels. This would be tolerable if you were paid a resonable salary to compensate for it. The canteen is a joke with the facilities a disgrace. There are about 3 toilets in the whole building which are so unhiegenic its unreal. There have been so many accidents on the diamond road this year in the snow all due to Dr F not forking out a few pounds to keep his staff safe by gritting. Clocking in and out is also ridiculous and again shows that staff are not trusted. Holidays are terrible where you only have 9 floating days a year that you have the choice to use. You cannot receive or make personal calls as there is no mobile reception and noone is allowed to receive personal calls at any time. You cannot even use the internet or email on your breaks which is very inconvenient.

If you are thinking of joining Randox, it is good experience for the short term, if you are young and if you get into one of the better teams mentioned above, it will be an all round better experience for you. I will be leaving the company in the next few weeks. I dont totally regret the 2 years I have had there but wouldnt say it was an enjoyable experience. Many more people will leave but many more will join and as long as you know what you are moving into, that is fine. I have tried to be as honest as possible through this and am actually disappointed at how negative it is but facts are facts. Some people may also disagree with this blog but again I have been honest.

I really do hope that things turn around in this company but as long as JG and SF are at the helm, this will never happen which again is disappointing.

Good luck to all.
There probably is more that I have forgotten to

Its OK, not great and the MD is a bit creepy. Could be worse, could be working for McDonalds

Great place to work!
Where else would you get that type of wage to carry out self directed R&D experiments with no real goals, and no accountability when stuff doesnt work.
Come on guys, you dont know your living!
Enjoy the good times while they last.

Randox may be Super Great, but if you could lower your standards, you might find a nice position (LOL) at EBiosciences...LOL

This is funny

have you been drinking?

Most people seem quite happy here these days.
Good work for R&D scientists, good pay, managers are decent enough (great technically, but might benefit from a bit of formal management training).
Rx should enter the Sunday times Best Companies survey