Hey Goebbels, did you know that people are being denied HSA benefits if they have metrics outside specified ranges? This alone explicitly contradicts just about every one of your pathetic rationalizations and defenses of this company and your attacks on its critics. And if you think it is just a financial exclusion and not a very real blacklisting for any intention du jour you are even stupider than you hope we are.

Sure they are. Sure they are. I know many people who were outside the range and they are still covered just as I am. They didn't get the extra incentive bonus, but their benefits are still the exact same. Try again.

Just because someone buys a lottery ticket and wins, doesn't mean that you are entitled to the same money if you didn't play or meet the specefications that were laid out (which were VERY generous).

And, I am quite certain, that you are MUCH "stupider" than I had originally hoped.

The stress of that place kills people. How many this year?"

RIP Chris C, a great guy.....you will be missed.

Chris and also Pat.

>>>>>"Ok. I give up. Either quit working here or don't apply at Life Technoligies.

Clearly they are a terrible, fascist regime and should be avoided at all costs.

In actuality, what happens is:

You fail any of the tests and your name is put on a flag listing. The next review period you will be given no raise and subsequently be fired for being fat and having high cholesterol under the “guise” of poor performance.

How do they get away with this?"<<<<<

Hey Goebbels, did you know that people are being denied HSA benefits if they have metrics outside specified ranges? This alone explicitly contradicts just about every one of your pathetic rationalizations and defenses of this company and your attacks on its critics. And if you think it is just a financial exclusion and not a very real blacklisting for any intention du jour you are even stupider than you hope we are.

And, even if they could, employees are not entitled to this and people should get out of that mindset that someone else should always be paying for their lifestyles.

You're right. You could search high and low without finding anyone at LIFE that feels a sense of entitlement for having shareholders paying for their lifestyles. Oh wait, just search below the VP level...

not really ignorant at all - LT has been trying to figure out how to pay for the ABI merger for a while now (and significantly cutting other programs as a result), and the IonTorrent acquisition (around 750MM) isn't helping. It's a tough economy and everyone is suffering, whether their investor calls indicate it or not.

Is that right? Are you in finance? Are you are on the integration board where they have expressed that this is an issue? Very doubtful.

Anyway - your response also supports my point. It's a tough economy and everyone is suffering. You DON'T know whether or not that Lifetech could afford to subsidize employee insurance 100%. And, even if they could, employees are not entitled to this and people should get out of that mindset that someone else should always be paying for their lifestyles.

"The stress of that place kills people. How many this year?"

RIP Chris C, a great guy.....you will be missed.

Ion Torrent will only cost them $325M. Just ask Susan Hardin how LIFE pays out milestones.

The stress of that place kills people. How many this year?

"I would also bet that you have no idea whether Life could "still afford to do this" but chooses to "use their resources differently". Incredibly ignorant statement."

not really ignorant at all - LT has been trying to figure out how to pay for the ABI merger for a while now (and significantly cutting other programs as a result), and the IonTorrent acquisition (around 750MM) isn't helping. It's a tough economy and everyone is suffering, whether their investor calls indicate it or not.

I just find it sad that a company that professes to care so much about heath care has been reduced to this. It seems that HR's goal is for every employee who has a partner to use their partner's health care plan. There was a time at IVGN (pre- and post- IPO) that every employee and their family was covered by a health care plan that cost $0 per paycheck . And everyone that worked in those buildings worked for Invitrogen, rather than being sub'ed out to some crappy employment agency with no benefits. LIFE could still afford to do this, but choose to utilize their resources differently.

I just find it sad that people can't seem to realize that times change. There was a time when MANY MANY companies paid 100% of insurance premiums. This is rapidly becoming extinct and you would be extremely hard pressed (outside of a few still profitable dot com sensations) to find ANY company that is still paying 100% towards employee health coverage. Especially employee + family. Life Tech is no different and has had to adjust with the times of rising health care costs just like most other businesses.

I would also bet that you have no idea whether Life could "still afford to do this" but chooses to "use their resources differently". Incredibly ignorant statement.

I just find it sad that a company that professes to care so much about heath care has been reduced to this. It seems that HR's goal is for every employee who has a partner to use their partner's health care plan. There was a time at IVGN (pre- and post- IPO) that every employee and their family was covered by a health care plan that cost $0 per paycheck. And everyone that worked in those buildings worked for Invitrogen, rather than being sub'ed out to some crappy employment agency with no benefits. LIFE could still afford to do this, but choose to utilize their resources differently.

So compensation (in the form of money paid into HSAs) is kept confidential from LIFE? How to they run their payroll? How do they issue a W2 at year end? They have to know who is getting the money.

Ok. I give up. Either quit working here or don't apply at Life Technoligies.

Clearly they are a terrible, fascist regime and should be avoided at all costs.

In actuality, what happens is:

You fail any of the tests and your name is put on a flag listing. The next review period you will be given no raise and subsequently be fired for being fat and having high cholesterol under the “guise” of poor performance.

How do they get away with this?

LOL

Not confusing if you actually take the time to do a little research rather than assume some dark conspiracy.

All of the info is kept confidential through a 3rd party Health Management group. They get the info and act as an intermediary between the employee and Life Tech.

So compensation (in the form of money paid into HSAs) is kept confidential from LIFE? How to they run their payroll? How do they issue a W2 at year end? They have to know who is getting the money.

I guess you can't rape the willing.

LOL! How profound!

Again, you completely pass over the issue at hand, the invasion of personal privacy by your employer. "Buck it up soldier" and do what you're told isn't an acceptable answer. Instead, you resort to name-calling and personal attacks vs. deal with the issues. One could infer that you condone surrendering your civil rights for monetary gain - I guess you can't rape the willing.

I am not completely passing over the "invasion of privacy issue" at all. ALL forms of insurance require medical information or driving history or etc etc. My point is, Life does not get this information, it is voluntary and this is all much ado about nothing. Your hyperbole about "surrendering civil rights" is WAY off and typical of your inflammatory rhetoric.

As far as the name calling - I believe that was started on your end. Fascist stooge, sheep etc (I believe there were others as well) are not terms of endearment.

Corporations can be extremely generous to employees and their respective communities. Other's can take advantage of employees. No blanket statements can apply to all firms. My employer, a LIFE competitor, falls into the previous descriptor; LIFE, the latter. I enjoyed the six years I spent at LIFE (IVGN legacy employee). With policies like the new health care plan, I question how anyone could feel good about their treatment by LIFE's senior management.

While I seriously doubt your employer is any *better* than Life, I can agree on one thing: The new health insurance policy at Life is pretty terrible. However...it is not "an invasion of privacy", “a slippery slope" or any other the other nonsense that keeps being thrown up on this forum.

Bottom line is – health insurance costs are skyrocketing due to abuse by both the private individual and medical providers. How long should a company shoulder the cost for insurance? Why do people feel *entitled* to this?

It’s a nice perk, but in no way should it be required. We should be responsible for our own health and risks. We certainly don't need to turn the US into more of a welfare nanny country.

Again, you completely pass over the issue at hand, the invasion of personal privacy by your employer. "Buck it up soldier" and do what you're told isn't an acceptable answer. Instead, you resort to name-calling and personal attacks vs. deal with the issues. One could infer that you condone surrendering your civil rights for monetary gain - I guess you can't rape the willing.

Corporations can be extremely generous to employees and their respective communities. Other's can take advantage of employees. No blanket statements can apply to all firms. My employer, a LIFE competitor, falls into the previous descriptor; LIFE, the latter. I enjoyed the six years I spent at LIFE (IVGN legacy employee). With policies like the new health care plan, I question how anyone could feel good about their treatment by LIFE's senior management.

I find it interesting that the LIFE employees seems so quick to accept such a blatant intrusion on ones personal freedoms. My God man, what would you say if the Federal Government decided that only skinny people qualified for federal student loans, or perhaps a reduced interest rate to the slimest among us. Rightfully so, you would be up in arms! So why allow your employer to collect highly personal data to qualify you for a different healthcare benefit? It is a slippery slope folks.

I find it interesting that there are so many paranoid whiners out there who find fault in everything a “Big Corporation” does. Life employees are no different than any other employee at any other company: Some are good, some are bad. Broad generalizations such as you made in your asinine statement won't get you anywhere in life.

If you guys are so informed and intelligent - why don't you start up something better? Clearly you anonymous forum posters could run a big corporation better than the current regime! Why are none of you in power already? I think I know the answer…

Question: Is there ANY big corporation out there who meets your litmus test of the benevolent employer? Doubtful. You bitter conspiracy trolls will never be pleased.

So, spend your lunch hours and free time huddled up bitching to your co-workers about how terrible management is. I'm sure your family and co-workers are already tired of this. It must be a great way to live.

And “it’s a slippery slope folks”? To where? I realize you are trying to be profound and appear as a wise old sage dispensing out little nuggets of wisdom, but come on; stupid clichés like this do nothing to further your fanatical opinions.

Now I'm confused. How can LIFE put money into the HSA accounts of employees that have passed the tests if they are not given the results of the tests?

Not confusing if you actually take the time to do a little research rather than assume some dark conspiracy.

All of the info is kept confidential through a 3rd party Health Management group. They get the info and act as an intermediary between the employee and Life Tech.

Queue up the next round of stupid comments. There HAS to be ulterior motive somewhere! Couldn't possibly be innocent procedure! Nah...

Life Tech doesn't have access to the data. The testing was done by an independant firm that is required to be in compliance with medical privacy and security laws. None of the results of the screening will be given to Life Tech or the insurance carriers.

Now I'm confused. How can LIFE put money into the HSA accounts of employees that have passed the tests if they are not given the results of the tests?

I find it interesting that the LIFE employees seems so quick to accept such a blatant intrusion on ones personal freedoms. My God man, what would you say if the Federal Government decided that only skinny people qualified for federal student loans, or perhaps a reduced interest rate to the slimest among us. Rightfully so, you would be up in arms! So why allow your employer to collect highly personal data to qualify you for a different healthcare benefit? It is a slippery slope folks.

Life Tech doesn't have access to the data. The testing was done by an independant firm that is required to be in compliance with medical privacy and security laws. None of the results of the screening will be given to Life Tech or the insurance carriers.

Why do people feel the need to see conflict in everything?

Let me guess - 9/11 was an inside job and aliens are walking among us too?

It doesn't affect anyone's income? Greater or less of out of pocket expenses aren't a real determinant of people's actual financial situation? They haven't already announced an expectation that people will participate in prescribed "wellness" activities like running certain distances per month (in documented events) etc? And you think that pressure to conform to the "program for your own good" won't steadily increase?
Who says Life Tech doesn't have access to the data? The release and HIPPA you've already signed gives rights to this data to anyone with a financial stake in the covered proffered. Who is funding this coverage by the way? Fascist stooge.

Ok Chicken Little. You are correct. Life Tech is out to get their employees and probably kill their children too. The Evil Faceless Big Corporation Boogey man!

Your online crusading is so passionate. Did you not get that big raise you were promised? Bad childhood? Evil Biotech not pay for your meds? I feel sorry for you and your intense bitterness and paranoia. It can't be a very rewarding life.

Fascist stooge? Yeah...that's it. Idiot. Keep trying. I'm sure there are many other paranoids on this board who you might convince with your constant drivel.

It doesn't affect anyone's income? Greater or less of out of pocket expenses aren't a real determinant of people's actual financial situation? They haven't already announced an expectation that people will participate in prescribed "wellness" activities like running certain distances per month (in documented events) etc? And you think that pressure to conform to the "program for your own good" won't steadily increase?

Who says Life Tech doesn't have access to the data? The release and HIPPA you've already signed gives rights to this data to anyone with a financial stake in the covered proffered. Who is funding this coverage by the way? Fascist stooge.

""Let me get this straight. You could pass or fail the tests and whether you passed or failed altered your income? If you passed, you got more compensation in the form of cash in your HSA? REALLY??"
Yep, that pretty much sums it up! Shocking but true."
Boy, I hope that the pass/fail lines were race, gender and age neutral... That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Oh no! The sky is falling! They are tracking my thoughts! OMG...they are probably reading this rumor forum right now and sending people to kill my family!!!

Idiots. Maybe you should throw out a few "Big Brother" references. That would be pretty original and insightful like the rest of your paranoid ramblings.

A lawsuit waiting to happen...what a bunch of whiners and morons.

"Pass" or "Fail" did not change premiums or change anyones income. Life Tech does not get the results etc etc. Why can't you idiots understand this? Oh - I know - because that wouldn't jive with your view that the "Big Evil Life Tech" is trying to spy on it's employees for nefarious reasons...oooohhhhh scary!

Oh - and by the way - I think the new insurance plan is kinda lame but...I never use it anyway and it seems to be the way of the future with rising health costs and the constant abuse of the system by losers and scammers.

""Let me get this straight. You could pass or fail the tests and whether you passed or failed altered your income? If you passed, you got more compensation in the form of cash in your HSA? REALLY??"

Yep, that pretty much sums it up! Shocking but true."

Boy, I hope that the pass/fail lines were race, gender and age neutral... That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Yeah r-i-g-h-t...
Illumina 700 employees = $800M revenue = ratio of 1.14
Life 10,000 employees = $3.2B revenue= ratio of .32
this means illumina employees are more than 3 times as productive..my guess is their margins probably show it...
And I don't work there....

Actually, Illumina had only $666M (not sure where the $800M came from since it is not reported as such) which is .951 by your useless calculation of " the productivity revenue stream by headcount" correlation.

I doubt you do work there, or Life Tech, or you would be much smarter and not throw out bogus stats like you just did.

"Illumina - 2009 sales $666 million
Lifetech - 2009 sales $3.28 Billion"

Dude, get a clue. We're not talking total sales. LIFE has a very diversified revenue base (cell culture, etc.), ILMN is limited. Look at the NGS and genotyping market data. ILMN owns the market - stole it from ABI. They completely ate ABI's lunch; Solexa crushed SOLiD.

I have a clue. It is you who seem to be lacking one. The statement was simply, Illumina is "eating Life Technologies lunch"...it wasn't, "in one aspect of the huge Biotech market, Illumina has a product that is beating Life Tech".

As you state, Life Technologies has a VERY diversified revenue base and it would be impossible for them to dominate in everything. Kudos to Illumina that they are doing well in their ONE area of expertise.

"this means illumina employees are more than 3 times as productive..my guess is their margins probably show it..."

Wow, you are a complete and unmitigated idiot if you believe this is an actual measurement of productivity....or even a reasonable means to calculate such a measure.

There are LOT'S of those commenting in this thread.

Pathetic

Too many idiotic responses to even begin responding to them all.

Fine - You win tough guy. Keep up the ridiculous conspiracy theories and lies. I'm happy with my job. I have a great income and wonderful life outside of work. That makes me a sheep? An idiot? I don't think so.

Despite the fact that you obviously couldn't hack it at Life Tech, there are many others who could and are very happy. Don't let your jaded outlook on the failed life you lead cloud reality.

Life Technologies - good company overall with some questionable policies at times.

Illumina - good company overall with some questionable policies at times.

All companies have both good and bad employees and leadership.

"this means illumina employees are more than 3 times as productive..my guess is their margins probably show it..."

Wow, you are a complete and unmitigated idiot if you believe this is an actual measurement of productivity....or even a reasonable means to calculate such a measure.

Does anyone remember when the Life HR community said "no more cookies at meetings." then it was only cliff bars and trail mix...fun times...

Yeah r-i-g-h-t...

Illumina 700 employees = $800M revenue = ratio of 1.14
Life 10,000 employees = $3.2B revenue= ratio of .32

this means illumina employees are more than 3 times as productive..my guess is their margins probably show it...

And I don't work there....

So you think it is routine and bordeline beneficent to take away employees' insurance and give them coverage with a $5000 deductible? How many employees will realize a single dime of value under that plan? And the payroll deductions are to be the same as for actual coverage by the way.

And throwing a trivial handful of change toward the un-covered costs in return for collecting healthrisk data, albeit not compulsorily, is NOT an attempt to manipulate employess into forfeiting privacy and possibly future insurability? And this paragon of compassion and integrity will not use this information against employees either individually or in aggregate? Stooge.

"Illumina - 2009 sales $666 million
Lifetech - 2009 sales $3.28 Billion"

Dude, get a clue. We're not talking total sales. LIFE has a very diversified revenue base (cell culture, etc.), ILMN is limited. Look at the NGS and genotyping market data. ILMN owns the market - stole it from ABI. They completely ate ABI's lunch; Solexa crushed SOLiD.

"Let me get this straight. You could pass or fail the tests and whether you passed or failed altered your income? If you passed, you got more compensation in the form of cash in your HSA? REALLY??"

Yep, that pretty much sums it up! Shocking but true.

And to you (last poster), believe it or not, there are many better places to work in the industry besides your sweatshop you call LIFE. Take a look at the market data, ILMN is eating your lunch and we're having a shitload of fun doing so!

Hmmm. Looking at market data:

Illumina - 2009 sales $666 million
Lifetech - 2009 sales $3.28 Billion

Yeah - definitely eating Lifetech's lunch! I guess it's super fun to have your sales numbers dwarfed by Lifetech. Shitloads even.

No witty reply required. You elegant display of ignorance has fulfilled that need.

Let me get this straight. You could pass or fail the tests and whether you passed or failed altered your income? If you passed, you got more compensation in the form of cash in your HSA? REALLY??

The complete cloud of delusional behavior LIFE employees continue to exhibit on this forum is fascinating! The previous poster is correct, the blood tests were "voluntary," meaning if you don't get them completed your insurance co-pays are astronomical (the company pretty much provides what could be considered "catastrophic" coverage). If you're interested in gathering in the cafeteria and be tested (blood test plus BMI), you can "qualify" for lower premiums. What a joy. What an amazing loss of privacy. What a bunch of sheep you losers are who agree to be tested, or should I say, are blackmailed into being tested.
And to you (last poster), believe it or not, there are many better places to work in the industry besides your sweatshop you call LIFE. Take a look at the market data, ILMN is eating your lunch and we're having a shitload of fun doing so!
Now, to you little LIFEr.....go and be a good little drone. Have your personal data collected and analyzed by Lucier and his lacky army.

Uhh yeah. You got me. You are just another disgruntled ass spreading lies and insane consipracy theories. I have heard MANY horror stories from Life co-workers about Illumina too. No company is perfect but Life is FAR from a sweatshop where I work.

Also, idiot, your premiums didn't go up if you didn't take the tests. All the tests got you was some additional cash to put into your HSA account to help cover deductible costs. Just because you are too fat and unhealthy to pass the requirements doesn't mean that others who took the test and did qualify are sheep. More sour grapes it seems from the tinfoil hat crowd. How fun!

I'm not sure why you got fired from LifeTech, but it is pretty pathetic you feel the need to spread lies and half truths in an anonymous forum. Have fun tough guy, I await your "witty" response.

The complete cloud of delusional behavior LIFE employees continue to exhibit on this forum is fascinating! The previous poster is correct, the blood tests were "voluntary," meaning if you don't get them completed your insurance co-pays are astronomical (the company pretty much provides what could be considered "catastrophic" coverage). If you're interested in gathering in the cafeteria and be tested (blood test plus BMI), you can "qualify" for lower premiums. What a joy. What an amazing loss of privacy. What a bunch of sheep you losers are who agree to be tested, or should I say, are blackmailed into being tested.

And to you (last poster), believe it or not, there are many better places to work in the industry besides your sweatshop you call LIFE. Take a look at the market data, ILMN is eating your lunch and we're having a shitload of fun doing so!

Now, to you little LIFEr.....go and be a good little drone. Have your personal data collected and analyzed by Lucier and his lacky army.

Well then! I guess they will only have access to the "aggregate" genetic data as well...except, wait, shit; you have no privacy. Bone-up you f**king idot LIFEr's - don't take Lucier's, or his lacky army's, orders any longer. It starts with you, it eventually ends with us.
And you are saying it's legal for a company to collect serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose information from employees? Or weight, waist measurement, family health history etc (never mind that all of these things are explicitly indicative of hereditary risk)?

My God Chicken Little - You are an idiot! Not only was it COMPLETELY voluntary to get the tests done, Life doesn't get ANY of the individual information. The samples were destroyed on the spot and the information was given to the EMPLOYEE.

I'm sorry that you were not able to keep gainful employment with LifeTech but this constant conspiracy BS is getting old.

Go cry to someone else. I'm sure with your paranoid delusional complex, employers are lining up to hire you.

(of course I realize now that you will post up a response telling me that you are a great worker and make tons of money for a great company....)

Yeah right. YOU wake up - The sky is not falling. Idiot.

"The company doesn't have access to individual data. It is given the aggregate data only."

Well then! I guess they will only have access to the "aggregate" genetic data as well...except, wait, shit; you have no privacy.

Bone-up you f**king idot LIFEr's - don't take Lucier's, or his lacky army's, orders any longer. It starts with you, it eventually ends with us.

The company doesn't have access to individual data. It is given the aggregate data only.

And you are saying it's legal for a company to collect serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose information from employees? Or weight, waist measurement, family health history etc (never mind that all of these things are explicitly indicative of hereditary risk)?

Can't handle the truth? Show me one substantiated truth in this entire thread, and I will handle it. Most posts are just vitriolic gibberish by those who hold different views. First amendment allows you to post your gibberish, and I'll defend your right to post it. But it doesn't mean I have to believe you, especially since it is a rumor mill and you can't back up your posts with facts. Good luck with your gibberish and high blood pressure. Good for a laugh anyway.

It is illegal to collect genetic information from employees, according to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

I am sure Life Technologies is not looking for a class action lawsuit.

Cool your jets.

Anyone know what the blood tests were supposed to be testing for?

"Some one should close this link down..."

Spoken like a true LIFEr! God forbid there is a critical word spoken regarding LIFE. Additionally, you're wrong, most of what is stated here is true, you just can't handle the truth.

Some one should close this link down. Nobody has much to say, nothing of any substance anyway. What little is said is a bunch of crap. Maybe when something worth talking about does happen we can read about it in a new post, until that too stagnates.

"Hold on to your hats - and your priciples - folks; rough road ahead."

With GL in the drivers seat, it has been years since they've even seen a road, much less actually been on one.

It's not about whether they keep the samples stooge, it's the fact that there is no valid reason for them to have the test results in the first place.