Dear Ian,
First things first: Good evening! how was your weekend? Interesting what happened today. You wouldn't believe it.
Finally! some answers. Awesome. I cannot believe it (almost). Although they didn't come from you. They came from the people that you sent to face the MPs enquiry today. And let me tell you: that was super interesting!
We learned several things:
1.- Kindler, as late as November 2010 had a very amicable chat with our PM, David Cameron and said that everything was peachy.
2.- But he left :-( and suddenly is all systems go to get rid of "a" site, somewhere (where, where?). That's when you came, Ian.
3.- But nobody knew exactly what site. Which was kind of annoying. Apparently the decision was taken on a whim, on the 24/01/2011
4.- However (!) the Head of the Sandwich site, with her enhanced telepathic abilities, decided that things were a bit "weird" and she could sense with her third eye that something rotten was coming so she decided to stop all recruitments from November 2010 on...even when said decision (see 3.-) was taken in January 2011 (huh?)
5.- We also learned that NOBODY in your Pfizer high management has read the article that Nature published on the 9th of February explaining in very simple terms that pharma companies (it was about Pfizer, actually) just play the wall street game without measuring the human consequences of their actions (they are not relevant after all!) and that the Pfizer shares are up, up, up! (and the Board is happy)
6.- But also then, just as confusingly as all the rest, we learned that some of them indeed had read that article (which is in this blog as well, for future reference) and,
7.- they were even objecting to the article after all because it wasn't accurate!!!!
8.- Only to say that they did exactly what the article said because it was common practice in the Industry, got it MPs? (this is getting awfully complicated)
9.- We also learned that the Head of the Sandwich site, relying on her inner eye has miraculously secured the nice job of Head of the Cambridge site (awesome) and
10.- that (at last!) around 150 people will go to the Pfizer Cambridge site.
11.- BUT, very importantly, Pfizer is committed to Kent. So much so that the Head of the Sandwich site and the most valuable people from Pfizer Sandwich they can find are moving to Cambridge (huh?, are we running in circles here?)
12.- And the most incredibly AWESOME, MIND BLOWING and INCONGRUOUS statement of all, came from our beloved Olivier B, who, in a passionate declaration, said **triumphally** that Pfizer was committed to R&D and that they'll keep investing lots of money in the best places for research in the world, including the UK, of course!!! (I'm having a headache here)
There is lots more but honestly, I'll stop here today.
Feedback: they didn't look great, your people. Actually, they looked a bit sick. Mind you, it must be mind blowing to negotiate your way through a Parliamentary enquiry trying not to (without succeeding possibly) lie and trying to keep your job as well.
Comments Ian? comments anyone? I'll write a bit more about other stuff that we learned (and things we didn't learn!) tomorrow.
Since little Letter to Read is not one to lie, here is the link, so you can make up your own minds
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=7757
Have a nice evening everyone. Sleep tight. I know I will.
Best,
Letter to Read
Monday 28 February 2011
Friday 25 February 2011
letter to Read (No. 18): Friday
Dear Ian,
Pffff..thought I wouldn't make it! just came back from the pub, must be really careful not say too much!
Please find below the latest bit of inspired prose from one of our Sandwich colleagues.
Take care...and have a nice weekend everyone!
Letter to Read
----------------
Pffff..thought I wouldn't make it! just came back from the pub, must be really careful not say too much!
Please find below the latest bit of inspired prose from one of our Sandwich colleagues.
Take care...and have a nice weekend everyone!
Letter to Read
----------------
What Ian’s response to Little LTR could look like (5)
Dear Little LTR,
I am back at the helm! Thank you so much for the flowers and your heartfelt note. It meant a lot to me. You seem to have some experience with getting through a bad patch yourself. I wonder what that was
Best,
Ian
Thursday 24 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 17): ...guess? another one!
Dear Ian,
I hope you'll receive this one. We are on a roll!
Take care,
Letter to Read
-------------------
I hope you'll receive this one. We are on a roll!
Take care,
Letter to Read
-------------------
What Ian’s response to Little LTR could look like (4)
Dear Little LTR,
I am afraid our trip to Harvard is off. I got a rejection letter this morning. At least I think that is what it is. It just says: How dare you of all people submit a course outline for ‘How to lay off staff with integrity’?
Sometimes I don’t understand the world we live in. I am taking a duvet day today
Best,
Ian
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 16): And another one
Dear Ian,
And another one! still waiting for the real one, though.
Take care,
Letter to Read
--------------------------
And another one! still waiting for the real one, though.
Take care,
Letter to Read
--------------------------
What Ian’s response to Little LTR could look like (3)
Dear Little LTR, My treasured Sandwich Colleagues,
This is not an easy time for me either
· Last night I dreamt I went to Sandwich again and woke up with my heart racing
· I have lost my security blanket
· It is not as easy to fool Little LTRs nowadays as it used to be
· I have lost all my air miles with British airlines
· It is a truth universally acknowledged that a CEO would rather have a proper job at the grass root level
· I have been banned from the Open Golf Championship in Sandwich for life
· I keep hearing this voice: To lay off some staff may be regarded as a misfortune; to close a whole site looks like carelessness
· My dog has stopped talking to me
· Clairvoyant Clara keeps quoting at me: As a man sows, so shall he reap
· I am on the verge of tears most of the time
Don’t cry for me Sandwich
Best,
Ian
Tuesday 22 February 2011
Journal of Universal Rejection
Do you want to publish quickly those results before we're all gone?
I have the answer for you: go here
I have the answer for you: go here
Letter to Read (No. 15): Why Ian, Why?
Dear Ian,
Aha! still no news. Awesome. So...the lack of news is proving to be a real source of inspiration for my colleagues, who are now spending their time thinking of a number of reasons that you might have had to close Sandwich.
I know, I know, not healthy. We should move on, after all, this is business as usual. Agreed. But honestly at least for me, this is a lot of fun (a bit of fun can't do us any harm, right?).
Anyway, another inspired literary piece from a brave employee. We hope that one day, you'll confirm how close we are to the truth.
Yours truly,
Letter to Read.
------
Aha! still no news. Awesome. So...the lack of news is proving to be a real source of inspiration for my colleagues, who are now spending their time thinking of a number of reasons that you might have had to close Sandwich.
I know, I know, not healthy. We should move on, after all, this is business as usual. Agreed. But honestly at least for me, this is a lot of fun (a bit of fun can't do us any harm, right?).
Anyway, another inspired literary piece from a brave employee. We hope that one day, you'll confirm how close we are to the truth.
Yours truly,
Letter to Read.
------
What Ian’s response to Little LTR could look like (2)
Dear Little LTR, My treasured Sandwich Colleagues,
Found it - list of reasons to close the Sandwich site
· Nobody from Sandwich has ever sent me a Pfish card
· I did not get an invite to the Royal Wedding
· I knew Sandwich would cope best with site closure - thanks to the British stiff upper lip
· It is always raining when I am in Sandwich
· US airports have repeatedly complained about Sandwich colleagues behaving badly in airport lounges
· Octopus Charlie picked Sandwich
· When Nigel (The Archers) fell off the roof to his untimely death I knew the UK would never be the same again
· Clairvoyant Clara picked Sandwich
· If we want to remain No 1, we have to stop building on SAND and relying on WHICHcraft
· It is just one of those things
I trust this answers most if not all of your questions
Best,
Ian
Monday 21 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 14): A reply
Dear Ian,
Great news. My colleagues are being proactive, yay!. Since we haven't heard from you, this is what one of our Sandwich colleagues (that of course, cannot be named) imagined your reply could look like. This is seriously inspired stuff and 10/10 marks to the person who wrote this (and a little star for "proactiveness" or is it "proactivism"?). I'm pretty sure this is not far from the truth.
I've got more, by the way. Wohoooo...!!!! little LTR is not alone and whilst we wait for something to happen so we can report and share with the world, I'll publish my colleagues' e-mails.
xxx
Letter to Read
--------
Great news. My colleagues are being proactive, yay!. Since we haven't heard from you, this is what one of our Sandwich colleagues (that of course, cannot be named) imagined your reply could look like. This is seriously inspired stuff and 10/10 marks to the person who wrote this (and a little star for "proactiveness" or is it "proactivism"?). I'm pretty sure this is not far from the truth.
I've got more, by the way. Wohoooo...!!!! little LTR is not alone and whilst we wait for something to happen so we can report and share with the world, I'll publish my colleagues' e-mails.
xxx
Letter to Read
--------
What Ian’s response to Little LTR could look like
Dear Little LTR, My treasured Sandwich Colleagues,
Sorry for not writing sooner …
· I have not been feeling very well - bad bout of ESI (Encrusted Soul Inflammation)
· I could not find my special pen
· I have been busy preparing a course I will be giving at Harvard this spring: ‘How to lay off staff with integrity’. Little LTR, would you like to give a talk at this event - no fee, but all expenses paid? We could have a good natter at the same time
· the dog ate my draft letters
· I have been to the Seychelles to do some serious blue sky thinking
· I was behind with my P2L training
· I have been busy researching how to invest my bonus
· my computer has been upgraded
· I have been busy debating with myself which elective courses to take during Pfizer Clinical Trial Learning Week 2011. Little LTR, do you think I would benefit from ‘MindGym – Courageous Conversations’? Extract from course description: It is an exciting 90-minute exercise that helps learners develop skills on how to have conversations about challenging topics. Learners will leave feeling comfortable with tactics and approaches to raise tough issues with peers, team members, and managers.
· the heartfelt letter I wrote to you on Feb 1 must have got lost in the post
More soon
Best,
Ian
Friday 18 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 13): A collective effort
Dear Ian, dear all,
This is going to be very short.
The fact that I started this blog doesn't mean that I ever wanted this to become a blockbuster. News are slow for the time being and the original objective of this remains: please send me an e-mail with things you would like to say, your story or your concerns. I would like to keep this personal and compelling and I won't publish any names.
I'll try as much as I can to keep writing once a day, however, you all know now that there are literally no news. Which I find flabbergasting, but there you go. No news, we live in limbo...
We received an e-mail reminding us that it has been 17 days already since the news and that the "consultation" process will last for at least 90 days. At the same time, a personal plea appeared in "Your Thanet" asking the Pfizer employees to wait before looking for jobs. Waiting for what? who knows...
This is a difficult position for everybody but I'll do my very best to document this process as soon as we have something to document. My conundrum: should I write or not? is that I promised a letter a day and I was planning to stick to that...I'll mull it over during the weekend.
Anyway, this "Letter to Read" was for Ian and for all. Have a nice weekend.
Letter to Read
This is going to be very short.
The fact that I started this blog doesn't mean that I ever wanted this to become a blockbuster. News are slow for the time being and the original objective of this remains: please send me an e-mail with things you would like to say, your story or your concerns. I would like to keep this personal and compelling and I won't publish any names.
I'll try as much as I can to keep writing once a day, however, you all know now that there are literally no news. Which I find flabbergasting, but there you go. No news, we live in limbo...
We received an e-mail reminding us that it has been 17 days already since the news and that the "consultation" process will last for at least 90 days. At the same time, a personal plea appeared in "Your Thanet" asking the Pfizer employees to wait before looking for jobs. Waiting for what? who knows...
This is a difficult position for everybody but I'll do my very best to document this process as soon as we have something to document. My conundrum: should I write or not? is that I promised a letter a day and I was planning to stick to that...I'll mull it over during the weekend.
Anyway, this "Letter to Read" was for Ian and for all. Have a nice weekend.
Letter to Read
Thursday 17 February 2011
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 11): Hiatus
Dear Ian,
No news to report. Don't forget I'm here, that's all. Sandwich has an eerie feeling now. Motto is “business as usual” (?) this is a waiting game now.
Talk to you tomorrow?.
Letter to Read
Tuesday 15 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 10): Our Story
Dear Ian,
Since I've got time to spend on this these days, I've decided to write our story. Do you know this blog exists? don't forget about us, your Pfizer-Sandwich people!
Little Letter to Read's story: (no real Pfizer employees have been harmed...)
...to be continued....
Since I've got time to spend on this these days, I've decided to write our story. Do you know this blog exists? don't forget about us, your Pfizer-Sandwich people!
Little Letter to Read's story: (no real Pfizer employees have been harmed...)
...to be continued....
Monday 14 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 9): St Valentine's
Dear Ian,
Today is St. Valentine’s Day. A bit of a rubbish St. Valentine’s as we are not in the “mood” for love but anyway, let’s get straight to business.
I was wondering how your life is and if you will have a nice St. Valentine’s with your better half. I was wondering if you would go to a nice restaurant and will buy some flowers. Or perhaps, you will stay at home, with a lovely candlelit dinner for two.
How wonderful life is when you are not between a rock and a hard place.
Whilst many of us will spend today wondering where we’ll work and how we’re going to pay off mortgages, move our children from their schools and selling our devaluated homes, you will most certainly be in NY, forgetting that your actions have put lots of people under incredible strain.
The Pharma business is definitely changing. When lawyers and accountants are at the top of the business, science (and scientists) suffers. I don’t think I need to remind you that our business is “we make medicines”. But apparently, Pfizer would like to sell medicines made by others, without taking risks. When Pfizer is making billions but still decides to fire its R&D workforce, something tells me that this is not the right thing to do. Perhaps accountants and lawyers will make medicines? No, it doesn’t sound right.
I don’t think your little Pfizer-Sandwich people are the only ones baffled by your decisions. Instead of working for sustained growth you seem to steer your boat to gain maximum profit in the short term. I am not one to pretend to understand what you do, but somehow, something tells me that this is the wrong strategy for a business that plays (or used to play) the long game.
It is heartbreaking that not only all the buildings and labs will be abandoned in 18 moths or less, thousands of very qualified people are currently closing projects, abandoning experiments, leaving things that could have come up with something interesting and good unfinished. Seriously, you added all the columns and realised this was more cost effective after years and years of investment. Seriously?
I will not pretend that I know how Wall Street works but who in their right mind would invest long term in a business with no future? If you keep selling the key assets and knowledge, what will remain in 10, 15, 20 years or so? You know that this is not going to last and you will come up with a new trick in your magic hat to excite Wall Street without doing anything substantial. Smoke screens, booby traps and decoy detonators are what you and your senior management seem to be experts at.
Enough for today, I have better things to do and a lovely and supportive partner as well.
Happy St. Valentine’s Day everyone!
Letter to Read.
Friday 11 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 8): +2600 Hits!
Dear Ian
Thanks! Letter to Read has reached +2600 hits. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you!. This is my "Letter to Read" of today: Look at it well because this is just the beginning of what's to come!
(a.k.a "Letter to Read")
"We shall never surrender..." -W. Churchill-
Have a nice weekend everybody
Letter to Read
Thanks! Letter to Read has reached +2600 hits. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you!. This is my "Letter to Read" of today: Look at it well because this is just the beginning of what's to come!
"We shall never surrender..." -W. Churchill-
Have a nice weekend everybody
Letter to Read
Thursday 10 February 2011
Pfizer Slashes R&D
This is an article from Nature News
Read here
Look at the nice picture. Where will you apply for jobs?
Read here
Look at the nice picture. Where will you apply for jobs?
Letter to Read (No. 7): Things you will not hear from your staff
Dear Ian,
I was trying to get inspiration today for my little letter and I thought I had enough of the moaning for a little while. Tomorrow will be another day.
I've been thinking of a number of things that you will not hear from your Pfizer-Sandwich staff:
1.- I so totally knew this was going to happen
2.- I thought it was a neat thing to do. Thumbs up!
3.- I SO totally understand
4.- I'm conflicted...because I'm a Pfizer shareholder...and my shares have gone up! :-)
5.- My family and I have taken this really well. My kids love you.
6.- I think of this as an opportunity. Life is for the brave!
7.- I wanted to look for another job anyway
8.- I feel liberated (well, this one you might hear actually)
9.- I always wanted to try a new career as a pole dancer
10.- But in fact, you are lovely!
11.- I'm having a barbecue on Saturday. Do you want to come?
12.- I'm relocating to Groton!
13.- My mum wants to meet you
14.- Thank you very much for being honest with all of us. We greatly appreciate your moral integrity
15.- Ian! BIG FAN!
16.- I want you to be the godfather of my newborn baby
17.- I want you to be the father of my newborn baby (hmmmm...not sure)
18.- Have a lovely day!
19.- Those pictures don't do you justice (they so do!)
20.- Lunch is on me
:-)
I can think of a number of things that we would like to tell you as well but I think we'll keep it half civilised.
Have a nice evening.
Letter to Read
I was trying to get inspiration today for my little letter and I thought I had enough of the moaning for a little while. Tomorrow will be another day.
I've been thinking of a number of things that you will not hear from your Pfizer-Sandwich staff:
1.- I so totally knew this was going to happen
2.- I thought it was a neat thing to do. Thumbs up!
3.- I SO totally understand
4.- I'm conflicted...because I'm a Pfizer shareholder...and my shares have gone up! :-)
5.- My family and I have taken this really well. My kids love you.
6.- I think of this as an opportunity. Life is for the brave!
7.- I wanted to look for another job anyway
8.- I feel liberated (well, this one you might hear actually)
9.- I always wanted to try a new career as a pole dancer
10.- But in fact, you are lovely!
11.- I'm having a barbecue on Saturday. Do you want to come?
12.- I'm relocating to Groton!
13.- My mum wants to meet you
14.- Thank you very much for being honest with all of us. We greatly appreciate your moral integrity
15.- Ian! BIG FAN!
16.- I want you to be the godfather of my newborn baby
17.- I want you to be the father of my newborn baby (hmmmm...not sure)
18.- Have a lovely day!
19.- Those pictures don't do you justice (they so do!)
20.- Lunch is on me
:-)
I can think of a number of things that we would like to tell you as well but I think we'll keep it half civilised.
Have a nice evening.
Letter to Read
Wednesday 9 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 6): Chicken and Egg
Dear Ian,
Honest to God, it is difficult to write this letters. What a mess! However, I'm a good little trooper and I do keep my promises. I know, I know, what can possibly be the value of one's word? but I do believe there is still some decency left, and I want to honour the promise that I would write once a day. Very difficult to find some decency in Pfizer's management, though. What a bunch of liars.
Would you mind reading here? this is nonsense. Check this out:
"
[Pfizer] was awarded with a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) blue landmark plaque on 15 October 2010. The prize was in recognition of more than half a century of discoveries carried out by one of the UK’s leading companies, Pfizer. Its European research headquarters site is located in Sandwich, Kent. The company is widely recognised as having been at the forefront of many medicinal breakthroughs over the last fifty years.
It is hard for me (and heartbreaking) to believe that you didn't know, Ian, at this time, that Pfizer Sandwich was doomed. But of course, we must keep up appearances even if it means little sacrifices here and there!
Anyway, coming back to our business: what a mess! this is a chicken & egg thing: we (the little people) need to start looking for jobs because we know that we will be without a job soon , however, and this is the beauty of the thing: we don't know when we'll be out for sure, so we are scared to apply for jobs just in case we are offered a job...because we don't know when we'll be able to take it! WAIT. WHAT? WHY?
BECAUSE WE'LL LOOSE OUR REDUNDANCY PAYMENT IF WE "RESIGN" (oh, the irony, for goodness sake) even though we know for sure that we are out!. Let me tell you Ian, in some cases, the redundancy might be significant. I mean, significant for little people like us, with families, and mortgages, and mundane problems and stuff you don't need to worry about.
Isn't this messed up???? isn't this a fine work of art made by your lawyers???? I swear to God that if I need a therapist after this I'll send the bills to your office.
This, Ian my friend, is the stuff of nightmares. A neurotic wait that will end in one way and one way only: we'll all get out of this with as little money as possible. Who in his/her right mind will wait till the last minute to look for a job? plenty of people will leave before being told they must. Which, will save you money. I'm officially impressed. I give it to you: it is all about money and Pfizer can make economies everywhere. Even with the redundancy package of people who have just lost their jobs.
Anyway, Ian, tomorrow I'll try to write something a bit more upbeat even if I don't feel like it. Let's see if I can make any of my colleagues smile because we seriously need cheering up.
Good night, sleep tight,
Letter to Read
Honest to God, it is difficult to write this letters. What a mess! However, I'm a good little trooper and I do keep my promises. I know, I know, what can possibly be the value of one's word? but I do believe there is still some decency left, and I want to honour the promise that I would write once a day. Very difficult to find some decency in Pfizer's management, though. What a bunch of liars.
Would you mind reading here? this is nonsense. Check this out:
"
[Pfizer] was awarded with a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) blue landmark plaque on 15 October 2010. The prize was in recognition of more than half a century of discoveries carried out by one of the UK’s leading companies, Pfizer. Its European research headquarters site is located in Sandwich, Kent. The company is widely recognised as having been at the forefront of many medicinal breakthroughs over the last fifty years.
The plaque was presented on behalf of the RSC by their immediate past president, Professor Dave Garner. Rod McKenzie, Senior Vice-President, Pfizer Research and Development said:
I am very proud to receive this award on behalf of Pfizer and our Sandwich site. Sandwich has long been a chemistry powerhouse, built on the passion and desire of generations of outstanding scientists to change lives for the better. It is a wonderful testament to the many groundbreaking contributions to medicine Sandwich has made over the site’s fifty-six year history."
It is hard for me (and heartbreaking) to believe that you didn't know, Ian, at this time, that Pfizer Sandwich was doomed. But of course, we must keep up appearances even if it means little sacrifices here and there!
Anyway, coming back to our business: what a mess! this is a chicken & egg thing: we (the little people) need to start looking for jobs because we know that we will be without a job soon , however, and this is the beauty of the thing: we don't know when we'll be out for sure, so we are scared to apply for jobs just in case we are offered a job...because we don't know when we'll be able to take it! WAIT. WHAT? WHY?
BECAUSE WE'LL LOOSE OUR REDUNDANCY PAYMENT IF WE "RESIGN" (oh, the irony, for goodness sake) even though we know for sure that we are out!. Let me tell you Ian, in some cases, the redundancy might be significant. I mean, significant for little people like us, with families, and mortgages, and mundane problems and stuff you don't need to worry about.
Isn't this messed up???? isn't this a fine work of art made by your lawyers???? I swear to God that if I need a therapist after this I'll send the bills to your office.
This, Ian my friend, is the stuff of nightmares. A neurotic wait that will end in one way and one way only: we'll all get out of this with as little money as possible. Who in his/her right mind will wait till the last minute to look for a job? plenty of people will leave before being told they must. Which, will save you money. I'm officially impressed. I give it to you: it is all about money and Pfizer can make economies everywhere. Even with the redundancy package of people who have just lost their jobs.
Anyway, Ian, tomorrow I'll try to write something a bit more upbeat even if I don't feel like it. Let's see if I can make any of my colleagues smile because we seriously need cheering up.
Good night, sleep tight,
Letter to Read
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 5): Little numbers
Dear Ian,
You thought I had forgotten today? aha! you hopeful little thing, how could I?
This letter is going to be very short. A little letter to ask about little numbers.
(a) From the "hundreds" of possible jobs that you would be able to offer to your people of Pfizer Sandwich (as reported to the BBC), how many are there, seriously? I've heard of about a dozen people that will go to the Cambridge centre...
(b) If we are not going to Cambridge, Eureka! we're going to the States! lovely! hang on a minute: aren't you laying off like 1000 people in Groton? where are they going? uh-uh, doesn't look good
(c) Look at the job adverts within Pfizer global. How many are there? I need to find my little calculator but it doesn't look promising (I can see a pattern here).
(d) We have different groups within Pfizer Sandwich aaaaannnndddddd....some of them are in the "consultation" process but some, are NOT in the "consultation" process (just yet). How many waves of good-byes are we going to have? who's going first? who will be the ones turning the lights of the site off?
Questions, questions...little questions...and no answers...
Best wishes,
Letter to Read
You thought I had forgotten today? aha! you hopeful little thing, how could I?
This letter is going to be very short. A little letter to ask about little numbers.
(a) From the "hundreds" of possible jobs that you would be able to offer to your people of Pfizer Sandwich (as reported to the BBC), how many are there, seriously? I've heard of about a dozen people that will go to the Cambridge centre...
(b) If we are not going to Cambridge, Eureka! we're going to the States! lovely! hang on a minute: aren't you laying off like 1000 people in Groton? where are they going? uh-uh, doesn't look good
(c) Look at the job adverts within Pfizer global. How many are there? I need to find my little calculator but it doesn't look promising (I can see a pattern here).
(d) We have different groups within Pfizer Sandwich aaaaannnndddddd....some of them are in the "consultation" process but some, are NOT in the "consultation" process (just yet). How many waves of good-byes are we going to have? who's going first? who will be the ones turning the lights of the site off?
Questions, questions...little questions...and no answers...
Best wishes,
Letter to Read
Monday 7 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 4): Welcome to the Summer of our Discontent
Dear Ian,
Good morning! I hope all is well in the US. Here in the UK the weather is kind of annoying actually, bits of rain, no sunshine...anyway, we are not going to start complaining about the weather as well! I personally got my plate full with all that is going (or not going?) on.
You shall be glad to know that we've reached 1000 hits in the blog. This would call for a celebration if times were happier. In fact, I called this "Welcome to the Summer of Our Discontent" because...(drum roll, please) just as the number of hits are going up, so is our discontent, got it?
Ian, I must be honest with you: you are not so popular these days around here. People have more than a bone to pick with you, let me tell you. One issue that people find particularly irritating is the "no-show" show. Hello? Sandwich calling NY?.
Just trivia: since I have loads of time now to perfect my obsession with Pfizer, I went to Pfizer's twitter, check it out:
http://twitter.com/pfizer_news
Tweeted not by lovely gnomes or by little pixies but by Jennifer, one of your PR people. Amazingly, there are NO NEWS on the closure of Pfizer Sandwich! isn't that lovely? we must have gone into Never Land for all that matters. God forbid we give the wrong impression to people. "We make medicines" and all that and we are quite the philanthropists as well, I mean, who said money???? 2400 people loosing their jobs? who said that?
Well, well, well...if this is part of a master plan to get the Sandwich issue "done and dusted", I'm afraid that this is not going to be possible. You see, I for one, do not agree and about +2400 people don't agree either.
We would like to propose, Ian, that you come to Sandwich to face this decision and that you talk to us directly, with no interference, no filter, no minions, no nothing. Just you and us. Like responsible adults. This might come as a shock to you but since you are the one demanding accountability within Pfizer as a whole, we (for once!) are with you: we want accountability with regards to the closure of our site. We propose to debate. We want to see you and we want you and your team to explain what alternatives there are for us and Kent.
The no-news show can't go on for much longer. This is not only ridiculous. Is irresponsible.
Kind regards,
Letter to Read
Good morning! I hope all is well in the US. Here in the UK the weather is kind of annoying actually, bits of rain, no sunshine...anyway, we are not going to start complaining about the weather as well! I personally got my plate full with all that is going (or not going?) on.
You shall be glad to know that we've reached 1000 hits in the blog. This would call for a celebration if times were happier. In fact, I called this "Welcome to the Summer of Our Discontent" because...(drum roll, please) just as the number of hits are going up, so is our discontent, got it?
Ian, I must be honest with you: you are not so popular these days around here. People have more than a bone to pick with you, let me tell you. One issue that people find particularly irritating is the "no-show" show. Hello? Sandwich calling NY?.
Just trivia: since I have loads of time now to perfect my obsession with Pfizer, I went to Pfizer's twitter, check it out:
http://twitter.com/pfizer_news
Tweeted not by lovely gnomes or by little pixies but by Jennifer, one of your PR people. Amazingly, there are NO NEWS on the closure of Pfizer Sandwich! isn't that lovely? we must have gone into Never Land for all that matters. God forbid we give the wrong impression to people. "We make medicines" and all that and we are quite the philanthropists as well, I mean, who said money???? 2400 people loosing their jobs? who said that?
Well, well, well...if this is part of a master plan to get the Sandwich issue "done and dusted", I'm afraid that this is not going to be possible. You see, I for one, do not agree and about +2400 people don't agree either.
We would like to propose, Ian, that you come to Sandwich to face this decision and that you talk to us directly, with no interference, no filter, no minions, no nothing. Just you and us. Like responsible adults. This might come as a shock to you but since you are the one demanding accountability within Pfizer as a whole, we (for once!) are with you: we want accountability with regards to the closure of our site. We propose to debate. We want to see you and we want you and your team to explain what alternatives there are for us and Kent.
The no-news show can't go on for much longer. This is not only ridiculous. Is irresponsible.
Kind regards,
Letter to Read
Saturday 5 February 2011
Excel and Exceed, Pfizer little people!
Good morning dear Pfizer little people...rise and shine!
This is a very good video that comes from the blog of Pharma Giles
If it was commissioned by Pfizer to "rouse its weary troops" according to the info on Pharma Giles blog, then they're doing a top job (I think he refers to the original video...). It has been updated to reflect the sad events of this week.
Dear colleagues, not easy but have a nice Saturday.
This is a very good video that comes from the blog of Pharma Giles
If it was commissioned by Pfizer to "rouse its weary troops" according to the info on Pharma Giles blog, then they're doing a top job (I think he refers to the original video...). It has been updated to reflect the sad events of this week.
Dear colleagues, not easy but have a nice Saturday.
Friday 4 February 2011
Is Pfizer's New CEO Laying Off the Wrong Employees?
Letter to Read (No. 3): No News...Good News????
Dear Ian,
I have to tell you that the morale of your Sandwich troops is not the best right now. Well, in fact, it sucks. I'm not a happy bunny today.
It has appeared all over the newspapers that Pfizer would try to relocate as many employees as possible to other subsidiaries (we are talking about hundreds, not thousands, but a little gesture is well received!).
However, since Tuesday, and after these courageous declarations from Pfizer's spin doctors, NOTHING.
Which kinds of make we wonder about our redundancy package. Word on the street and my feeling as well is that we are going to get screwed. Sorry! I don't mean to be harsh, you know, but we can't deny that the relationship Pfizer-Employees must be at its historic low point. Not our best moment definitely. But anyway, this will be dealt with in another letter. One problem first, then the next. This is the way little "Letter to Read" works!
OK, so, going back to the NO NEWS issue. Why is that???? I'm getting a bit paranoid with Pfizer lately, not that I am Julian Assange of Wikileaks or anything (OMG! did I mention Pfizer and Wikileaks in the same sentence! I'm going to get fired! oh, it's done already, OK then)
Sorry, I digress....I have envisaged in my free time 2 scenarios as to why, oh why? we don't know anything:
(1) You didn't plan the aftermath or
(2) You are playing mind games
Now, let's tackle (1) first. Again, there are two possibilities:
(1.1) You planned the whole operation a long time ago but with the Christmas parties and all you didn't have the time to plan properly the next steps, or,
(1.2) You made this decision like, last Sunday, after going to the pub, you drank too much, after a bravado you signed in all the papers detailing the demise of Pfizer-Sandwich AND sent it via FEDEX to the Board, so there was nothing you could do on Monday already. So of course, you need to do the planning now.
Either way, not impressed.
Now, let's examine (2). You are playing mind games.
I was watching on the TV the other day something about elephants (I'm getting somewhere here, please bear with me!). Now, for these asian elephants to do all the little things that their masters want, they have to "break" the elephant.
I can tell you, Ian, that little "Letter to Read" (a.k.a LTR) is not one to give in, give up or be broken like the elephant on the TV. In fact, little LTR thinks that he/she is so great that can even move things with his/her mind. Moreover, LTR's mum is very proud of LTR's achievement and tells LTR that he loves him/her every day. And I'm quite cool and good looking, by the way.
So, is Pfizer going to keep playing mind games with us? are the good and the mighty going to spend even more time saying nothing?
It is great time that you come up with some solutions here, since you and your Board have had the great idea of destroying a whole site and mess up with the lives of more than 2400 people and their families.
Looking forward to your reply,
Kind regards,
Letter to Read
I have to tell you that the morale of your Sandwich troops is not the best right now. Well, in fact, it sucks. I'm not a happy bunny today.
It has appeared all over the newspapers that Pfizer would try to relocate as many employees as possible to other subsidiaries (we are talking about hundreds, not thousands, but a little gesture is well received!).
However, since Tuesday, and after these courageous declarations from Pfizer's spin doctors, NOTHING.
Which kinds of make we wonder about our redundancy package. Word on the street and my feeling as well is that we are going to get screwed. Sorry! I don't mean to be harsh, you know, but we can't deny that the relationship Pfizer-Employees must be at its historic low point. Not our best moment definitely. But anyway, this will be dealt with in another letter. One problem first, then the next. This is the way little "Letter to Read" works!
OK, so, going back to the NO NEWS issue. Why is that???? I'm getting a bit paranoid with Pfizer lately, not that I am Julian Assange of Wikileaks or anything (OMG! did I mention Pfizer and Wikileaks in the same sentence! I'm going to get fired! oh, it's done already, OK then)
Sorry, I digress....I have envisaged in my free time 2 scenarios as to why, oh why? we don't know anything:
(1) You didn't plan the aftermath or
(2) You are playing mind games
Now, let's tackle (1) first. Again, there are two possibilities:
(1.1) You planned the whole operation a long time ago but with the Christmas parties and all you didn't have the time to plan properly the next steps, or,
(1.2) You made this decision like, last Sunday, after going to the pub, you drank too much, after a bravado you signed in all the papers detailing the demise of Pfizer-Sandwich AND sent it via FEDEX to the Board, so there was nothing you could do on Monday already. So of course, you need to do the planning now.
Either way, not impressed.
Now, let's examine (2). You are playing mind games.
I was watching on the TV the other day something about elephants (I'm getting somewhere here, please bear with me!). Now, for these asian elephants to do all the little things that their masters want, they have to "break" the elephant.
I can tell you, Ian, that little "Letter to Read" (a.k.a LTR) is not one to give in, give up or be broken like the elephant on the TV. In fact, little LTR thinks that he/she is so great that can even move things with his/her mind. Moreover, LTR's mum is very proud of LTR's achievement and tells LTR that he loves him/her every day. And I'm quite cool and good looking, by the way.
So, is Pfizer going to keep playing mind games with us? are the good and the mighty going to spend even more time saying nothing?
It is great time that you come up with some solutions here, since you and your Board have had the great idea of destroying a whole site and mess up with the lives of more than 2400 people and their families.
Looking forward to your reply,
Kind regards,
Letter to Read
Thursday 3 February 2011
Letter to Read (No. 2): Timeline of a Day
Dear Ian,
I'm ever so sorry to keep you busy reading my letters. However, since the news exploded on Tuesday and given that this is "a letter a day" project and today is Thursday, I have a bit of catching up to do.
OK, so now back to business. I'm sure you'll approve.
I have to be honest, Ian, my friend. I am royally p****d off. I mean, it is a bit of a manic cycle that I'm suffering now since I have ups and downs, but let's focus on one problem at a time.
Why? you can ask. Thanks for asking. I'm angry because when I revisit the events from Tuesday I cannot be but absolutely appalled about the way the bomb was dropped. So, let's get the facts right. From the inside.
TUESDAY 01/02/2011
--------------------------------
07:00 am: Alarm goes off. Little "Letter to Read" wakes up.
07:15 am: Little "Letter to Read" sips some coffee, peacefully, looking outside of the window. It is going to be a great day.
07:30 am: Little "Letter to Read" takes a shower. It must remember to pay the electricity otherwise won't be able to cook a wonderful dinner that night. Oh, and buy some bread.
07:45 am: Little "Letter to Read" is reading an article on the web about how the UK needs people to go into science and engineering careers. "Damn right!", little "Letter to Read" says to him/herself.
08:00 am: Little "Letter to Read" gets dressed. Is it the blue jacket or the maroon one today? oh the dilemma! the blue one. Decided.
08:15 am: Little "Letter to Read" drives off to work. Seagulls have pooped on car AGAIN. "Letter to Read" thinks that those birds are evil. Anyway, rather enjoyable the landscape. Oh!, there it is: Pfizer. Lovely. It is going to be a great day.
08:55 am: Little "Letter to Read" is a busy bee today. Lots of exciting scientific work to do.
11:48 am: We receive an e-mail saying that there is a "Town Hall" at 12.45 in the Restaurant. That sounds rather hurried? who's sick? is there a promotion? how exciting! Hang on, there is something else on that e-mail. It says that the Restaurant will work till 12.30, so we must all get there fast to buy some food!
12:45 pm: The Restaurant is rather packed. Sardines come to mind. Not sure sure that this 'Town Hall" thing is a great idea.
12:50 pm: The Head of R&D says, after a VERY brief introduction that Pfizer had decided to close down Sandwich and all living things will be gone in 18 months.
01:00 pm: Little "Letter to Read" is quite SHOCKED and starts texting/calling other half.
Rest of the afternoon: A bit of a blur...little "Letter to Read" sees people crying but doesn't feel like crying now. Feels a bit numb actually.
Did we know? Nope
Were we prepared: Nope
Was this expected somehow: Nope
I must admit that the despicable way in which this was handled, has left me shocked and angry (well, I'm mainly angry because I'm losing my job but this didn't help).
I won't bother you anymore with my problems, Ian, but this had to be said. I'm pretty sure that you have absolutely nothing to do with this and is all your minions' fault. Minions! you definitely need to keep an eye on them.
Next time, when you *need* to make a decision like this, it would be rather nice if people could be prepared that this *could* happen (like a sort of, scenario, but a REAL one). Communication of such news is definitely not easy, but a "no communication and shock" strategy is kind of lame. And coward.
Oh, and by the way, it would have been good if you would have come to the site yourself, to deal with the gazillion questions that we might have had. I know, you are busy. I know, you gave clear instructions to your managers to be "there" "for us" your people. Thanks. But it would have been kind of nice if you were there, you know, to face the bad news with us.
I'm afraid I'll have to let you go Ian. Thank you very much for listening. Talk to you tomorrow?
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
I'm ever so sorry to keep you busy reading my letters. However, since the news exploded on Tuesday and given that this is "a letter a day" project and today is Thursday, I have a bit of catching up to do.
OK, so now back to business. I'm sure you'll approve.
I have to be honest, Ian, my friend. I am royally p****d off. I mean, it is a bit of a manic cycle that I'm suffering now since I have ups and downs, but let's focus on one problem at a time.
Why? you can ask. Thanks for asking. I'm angry because when I revisit the events from Tuesday I cannot be but absolutely appalled about the way the bomb was dropped. So, let's get the facts right. From the inside.
TUESDAY 01/02/2011
--------------------------------
07:00 am: Alarm goes off. Little "Letter to Read" wakes up.
07:15 am: Little "Letter to Read" sips some coffee, peacefully, looking outside of the window. It is going to be a great day.
07:30 am: Little "Letter to Read" takes a shower. It must remember to pay the electricity otherwise won't be able to cook a wonderful dinner that night. Oh, and buy some bread.
07:45 am: Little "Letter to Read" is reading an article on the web about how the UK needs people to go into science and engineering careers. "Damn right!", little "Letter to Read" says to him/herself.
08:00 am: Little "Letter to Read" gets dressed. Is it the blue jacket or the maroon one today? oh the dilemma! the blue one. Decided.
08:15 am: Little "Letter to Read" drives off to work. Seagulls have pooped on car AGAIN. "Letter to Read" thinks that those birds are evil. Anyway, rather enjoyable the landscape. Oh!, there it is: Pfizer. Lovely. It is going to be a great day.
08:55 am: Little "Letter to Read" is a busy bee today. Lots of exciting scientific work to do.
11:48 am: We receive an e-mail saying that there is a "Town Hall" at 12.45 in the Restaurant. That sounds rather hurried? who's sick? is there a promotion? how exciting! Hang on, there is something else on that e-mail. It says that the Restaurant will work till 12.30, so we must all get there fast to buy some food!
12:45 pm: The Restaurant is rather packed. Sardines come to mind. Not sure sure that this 'Town Hall" thing is a great idea.
12:50 pm: The Head of R&D says, after a VERY brief introduction that Pfizer had decided to close down Sandwich and all living things will be gone in 18 months.
01:00 pm: Little "Letter to Read" is quite SHOCKED and starts texting/calling other half.
Rest of the afternoon: A bit of a blur...little "Letter to Read" sees people crying but doesn't feel like crying now. Feels a bit numb actually.
Did we know? Nope
Were we prepared: Nope
Was this expected somehow: Nope
I must admit that the despicable way in which this was handled, has left me shocked and angry (well, I'm mainly angry because I'm losing my job but this didn't help).
I won't bother you anymore with my problems, Ian, but this had to be said. I'm pretty sure that you have absolutely nothing to do with this and is all your minions' fault. Minions! you definitely need to keep an eye on them.
Next time, when you *need* to make a decision like this, it would be rather nice if people could be prepared that this *could* happen (like a sort of, scenario, but a REAL one). Communication of such news is definitely not easy, but a "no communication and shock" strategy is kind of lame. And coward.
Oh, and by the way, it would have been good if you would have come to the site yourself, to deal with the gazillion questions that we might have had. I know, you are busy. I know, you gave clear instructions to your managers to be "there" "for us" your people. Thanks. But it would have been kind of nice if you were there, you know, to face the bad news with us.
I'm afraid I'll have to let you go Ian. Thank you very much for listening. Talk to you tomorrow?
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
Letter to Read (No. 1): After the News - KaBOOM!
Dear Ian,
It was quite a shock to say the least, when we knew what was going to happen. I mean, who would have thought?
We, little busy bees working on our projects what do we know about the corporate decisions? and suddenly, KaBOOM!
A meteorite could have fallen into Sandwich with less moral devastation. Texts and phone calls to family and friends. What are we supposed to do, hein? When your world falls apart little piece by little piece, you don't feel so great, let me tell you. But we are resourceful people, right? of course!!! we'll bounce back you will say. Goes without saying. What else can you say? Good friends are there to cheer one up, isn't that right?
Oh, Ian, if only you knew. I started reading some comments from the internet. I know that you are super busy, you can't follow-up all the news and comments on the web. Let me help you out.
An interesting one, written by a guy somewhere (I'll try to track it down, can't remember where it was...I've read so many comments) was saying, **read carefully**, that his girlfriend was offered a job in Pfizer Sandwich after leaving Academia because she felt there were no opportunities for a long term career as a post-doc. She was super excited AND, watch out, SHE WAS SUPPOSED to start next week (or was it this week?).
You get the picture: BEFORE getting even started, she will be ALREADY redundant. A bit of a moral blow, don't you think? I hope that you will personally apologise to her when you have time in your busy diary. Just a phone call. After all, we asked Gordon Brown to apologise over and over for some stuff that wasn't even really that important (some of it might have been of importance, can't remember now, I've got my own problems as you know).
Just think, Ian, since I know that you are a person of great moral character: how would you feel? I know I can trust that you'll be "in-sync" with this person. C'mon lad, give her a call. I'm sure she'll understand.
OK, got to go now, I don't want people to think that I'm doing nothing. More later.
Have a nice day.
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
It was quite a shock to say the least, when we knew what was going to happen. I mean, who would have thought?
We, little busy bees working on our projects what do we know about the corporate decisions? and suddenly, KaBOOM!
A meteorite could have fallen into Sandwich with less moral devastation. Texts and phone calls to family and friends. What are we supposed to do, hein? When your world falls apart little piece by little piece, you don't feel so great, let me tell you. But we are resourceful people, right? of course!!! we'll bounce back you will say. Goes without saying. What else can you say? Good friends are there to cheer one up, isn't that right?
Oh, Ian, if only you knew. I started reading some comments from the internet. I know that you are super busy, you can't follow-up all the news and comments on the web. Let me help you out.
An interesting one, written by a guy somewhere (I'll try to track it down, can't remember where it was...I've read so many comments) was saying, **read carefully**, that his girlfriend was offered a job in Pfizer Sandwich after leaving Academia because she felt there were no opportunities for a long term career as a post-doc. She was super excited AND, watch out, SHE WAS SUPPOSED to start next week (or was it this week?).
You get the picture: BEFORE getting even started, she will be ALREADY redundant. A bit of a moral blow, don't you think? I hope that you will personally apologise to her when you have time in your busy diary. Just a phone call. After all, we asked Gordon Brown to apologise over and over for some stuff that wasn't even really that important (some of it might have been of importance, can't remember now, I've got my own problems as you know).
Just think, Ian, since I know that you are a person of great moral character: how would you feel? I know I can trust that you'll be "in-sync" with this person. C'mon lad, give her a call. I'm sure she'll understand.
OK, got to go now, I don't want people to think that I'm doing nothing. More later.
Have a nice day.
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
Write your Letter to Read
Dear Pfizer little people,
If you feel like you want to let Ian know how you are doing, or you want to help me document this process, please send me an email to lettertoread@gmail.com
I promise to publish the most interesting, poignant and funny letters I receive. Mind you, you might end up with a career in writing if you're very good! who knows? This might be a "new career" path for you. You know what I'm talking about, right? You would be "opening" your career prospects. After all, let's be honest, the future in the Pharma Industry it is kiiiiind of gloomy right now.
But let's not dwell on the negative! of course not. This blog is supposed to be upbeat. And helpful. And cathartic. You get the picture.
I will not publish the e-mail addresses of anybody unless you EXPLICITLY tell me to do it.
If you feel like you want to let Ian know how you are doing, or you want to help me document this process, please send me an email to lettertoread@gmail.com
I promise to publish the most interesting, poignant and funny letters I receive. Mind you, you might end up with a career in writing if you're very good! who knows? This might be a "new career" path for you. You know what I'm talking about, right? You would be "opening" your career prospects. After all, let's be honest, the future in the Pharma Industry it is kiiiiind of gloomy right now.
But let's not dwell on the negative! of course not. This blog is supposed to be upbeat. And helpful. And cathartic. You get the picture.
I will not publish the e-mail addresses of anybody unless you EXPLICITLY tell me to do it.
Letter to Read
Dear Ian Read, Pfizer's CEO
This is a blog dedicated to you.
I've decided to write "a letter a day" to let you know how we are doing, after the announcement of the closure of the Sandwich site. Since the management is worried about us, our future and all that, I thought you would be pleased to know. After all, once you've decided to obliterate a research site, leaving 2400 people unemployed at the stroke of a pen, I think you have the right to know how we feel. I am sure that you realise that we are not just numbers, of course you don't. You care about our future and you will do your best to find the best alternatives for us. I can sleep better at night now.
For those of you who don't know, it is sort of hard to get hold of Ian. Kind of difficult to send him direct e-mails or to deliver by hand my letters. Oh, Ian, you devil! little globetrotter. But fear not! I will do my best to keep you updated Ian. I am sure that you will be pleased.
Rest reassured, Ian, that I will send you "a letter a day" to document these next 18 months, when we'll be out of your life (are we not already?!).
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
This is a blog dedicated to you.
I've decided to write "a letter a day" to let you know how we are doing, after the announcement of the closure of the Sandwich site. Since the management is worried about us, our future and all that, I thought you would be pleased to know. After all, once you've decided to obliterate a research site, leaving 2400 people unemployed at the stroke of a pen, I think you have the right to know how we feel. I am sure that you realise that we are not just numbers, of course you don't. You care about our future and you will do your best to find the best alternatives for us. I can sleep better at night now.
For those of you who don't know, it is sort of hard to get hold of Ian. Kind of difficult to send him direct e-mails or to deliver by hand my letters. Oh, Ian, you devil! little globetrotter. But fear not! I will do my best to keep you updated Ian. I am sure that you will be pleased.
Rest reassured, Ian, that I will send you "a letter a day" to document these next 18 months, when we'll be out of your life (are we not already?!).
Yours truly,
Letter to Read
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