Balderas is a sausage smuggler. Don't get locked in the same jail cell as him.

In the month or so I've been gone, my health and well being have been restored. No looking back - BD is becoming a fading memory and for that I am truly grateful.

Just heard 2 BD plants in NC are moving. One to puerto rico. Both diagnostics plants. Anyone familiar?

Ha! You're right...it's like what you do in a TV reality show to win in the end! Except the only people who win at this place are the names you see on Yahoo finance that get to cash out on millions of dollars of BD stocks on a monthly basis...

You have to know how to play the game, top rules are ass kissing the incompetent and back stabing over achievers so as not threaten management.

Weirdest place I ever worked at. You could perform miracles and still get trashed. Horrible place to work, glad I am gone!

The best example was my review in my new job last week. We went through everything and there was basically no discussion about the fact that I didn't do my job. Flashaback to BD....you don't know your stuff (no examples), you didn't create the presentation exactly word for word like I marked up in red on every page, you suck, you blow, you are a worthless human being - oh, and you get a 1 or maybe 2 if Im in a good mood. Sorry, I didn't mention this all year long.

Yes, I had the same strange experience! Crazy!! People listen, value and appreciate me in my job after BD. Gee, how refreshing. Everyone thought they knew how to do my job at Bd, including the useless HR woman, who strangely enough would be invited to project phase review meetings every month????????
I no longer have to justify my every decision, opinion or statement because where I am now everyone expects that the team member is the subject expert and their opinions are not constantly questioned. I don't even know how to start describing how dysfunctional BD is compared to other companies. Good luck to whoever is left and refuses to leave.

What was that?? It's the sound of laughter in the halls of my new job. Smiles? Praise? My new Director told me my input is needed and I am valued. At BD I was a marginal, underperforming pariah - what planet am I on????

This place has taught me that the best way to judge a company when you're interviewing is to really look at the people you pass in the halls. Around here everyone looks like zombies: blank faces, downcast eyes, slumped shoulders. The shuffling undead. They hate their jobs and they hate themselves for voluntarily putting up with this shit every day. BD is the zombie apocalypse.

Perhaps some law firm would like to take this on. I am sure many would file.

If the wise guy that included the link to the air conditioning company is trying to say 'chill out' about getting an attorney, I hope you're not trying to preserve what you have for your spouse and kids and trying to support a family. To bad I didn't go into air conditioning and refrigeration - I wouldn't have to deal with the 'management' at BD and wonder if my job will be going to India. And too bad people are all talk and in the end wouldn't band together and get a class action, age discrimination lawsuit going against this company. Ever look at all the new hires? Not one over 30.

I am truly sorry for you, personally know what you're going through but there's something comforting to know I'm not alone. Bring on the lay offs. At least the sucking noises will stop.

It is true. BD Employees live 80% of their day being criticized, judged and belittled and then blamed for things that are out of their control.
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That is SOOO true. Nothing I did the last few months there was EVER good enough (after more than 15 yrs of great reviews). The place sucks the life out of everyone.

It is true. BD Employees live 80% of their day being criticized, judged and belittled and then blamed for things that are out of their control. That is what Balderas calls LEADERSHIP.

The important thing is that Balderas is promoted out of the way, so he doesn't do any more harm to anyone.

Does anyone know if the NJ Dept. of Labor or EOC is monitoring BD for age discrimination? I'm seriously thinking of calling or even spending the money for a consultation with a labor attorney. Lay me off - PLEASE!!!!!!

LOL! good one buddy

At BD, technology is unmatched, leadership is world-class, and worker morale has never been better. With unrivaled visionaries such as Ballsderas at the helm, it is possible that this year we can beat Beckman and take that #4 spot in the cytometry market.

Wow,I worked at BC in Miami for 20+ years and was provided an opportunity to exit when Miami management changed for the worse. Life after is great. I now work with another Cytometry company, perhaps the one that will challenge BD in the future. We always thought it impossible to lure people from the market leader, but maybe we were wrong.

Good luck to you, the last poster. I hear you and I can understand exactly what it feels like to have to walk through those doors. Sick to my stomach. Hope you find something soon. No one should have to live 80% of their day being criticized, judged and belittled like many of the BD employees do now and then blamed for things that are out of their control.

I've encountered recruiters that can't even get BD employees into certain companies for interviews - they just don't want to even look at BD resumes. BD is a tainted, flawed, Orwellian organization that deserves to crumble under the weight of its top heavy, do nothing, buzzword driven, 'eager young go-getters' with MBAs and mandates. I hate every day I have to walk through those doors, am aggressively looking for new employment and will celebrate the day I no longer 'help all people live healthy lives.' Next round of layoffs - after mid year reviews in April. I hope I'm one of them.

To the latest poster, GOOD FOR YOU. I too was very loyal for years, then discarded for political reasons, like a gum wrapper. All of a sudden, I wasn't good enough. LOL. We ALL have to fight when these things happen. The "leaders" think their crap doesn't stink and that no one knows what's going on in that company. Newsflash! The entire industry is laughing and headhunters are complaining that they can't get any candidates in because everyone knows to stay away.

I do not believe for a company who is categorically hypocritical in every facet, that is should have the luxury of thinning the heard, due to their lack of accountability in development of new products, derelict leadership, no direction, sound strategy and false pipelines.

What is our option to turn this around and fire them, for lack of fulfillment of their responsiblities, compensation plans half baked, delivered in the middle of the fiscal year, no defined job description, or the need to track it on an excel spread sheet because it is changed as often as their underwear. It is one thing to admit their shortfalls and agree to a "reduction in workforce." It is another thing to blame it on those who have fought valiantly for the credibility of the BD name, and our own integrity. This is a violation of human rights, and violations by the dozen in discrimmination, hostile work environment, coercive managment, and I could go on with supporting evidence. I am not going on a plan without a fight, they will pay dearly for their indignities, hypocrisy and violation in respecting the human spirit of those who have served them faithfully and well.

Thank you for that reply. There are jobs, I've had several interviews and fully intend to revel with a light heart the day I walk out that door without glancing back. And I wish all those seeking to change their current BD employment situation the very best!

"...My 2012 wish for leadership is to suffer the indignities, the plummet in pay and the other nasties they've conjured up for hard working, consciencious yet older (read - dispensible) regular folks like me.

To this poster. Good luck to you. I along with many others have also suffered this over 45 PIP crap and of course no one survives those for a reason, it isn't meant to be any kind of effort on their behalf for improvement : with no examples given, I was tossed aside under the notion that I wasn't good enough all of a sudden after all these yrs, when instead it was a despicable, nasty age discrimination effort. Believe me, as soon as you walk out the door, sweet life starts again, with many job ops from people who appreciate you. This WILL happen to you. Think of it as God giving you a new lease on life.

Age discrimination alive and well in the 21st century. Thank goodness for all our protections and laws.

You can't get them on age discrimination because they toss you out in a RIF where they laid off a bunch of under 40s and the lawyers look at that and say you have no case. They do not negotiate package regardless of how damning their actions were because they hide behind the RIF. My hope for 2012 is that the Board smartens up and tosses out the CFO and his cronies at the next earnings miss. The guy is a complete idiot. Happily, the useless boss who pushed me out was just shown the door himself.

I am currently one of the over 45 that has received a performance improvement plan in the hopes I will hasten my exit rather than BD pay unemployment insurance in the next layoff. It is my sincere hope that a class action lawsuit for age discrimination is brought against BD for their systematic, deliberate eradication of over 45 seasoned workers that drink water, not Kool Aid. My 2012 wish for leadership is to suffer the indignities, the plummet in pay and the other nasties they've conjured up for hard working, consciencious yet older (read - dispensible) regular folks like me. I also hope my intense, relentless job search pays off very soon. Helping people live healthy lives? Oh pa-shaw.... if they did that, they'd put themselves out of business.

The next genius acquisition will be Fluidigm, another Accuri like organization lead by a sales and marketing CEO. Just make sure you stay away from it if you work for BD else you can be the next sacrificial lamb like JG.

Nice post.Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post thanks.
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Is it true JG got the ax? Is he the sacrificial lamb for the Accuri deal? Will there be others?

new year sms

So let me see if i got this straight. Bill R signs the Accuri deal, then fires Jay G. because Bill paid $125M too much? So typical.

Like the poster below I've been as happy as a kid since I got out of there last year. BD sucks the soul out of everyone who works there. The cynicism at the exec level at Becton Dickinson is unbelievable. It says a lot about Vince that he didn't fire every single one of them the day he took over. Good ole boy business as usual.

One of the worst companies in america

I pray in thanks every single day that God has taken me away from that horrific place. My blood pressure is down and I finally feel good about myself. They suck the life and energy out of anyone who works hard and has a brain.

Diwali SMS

Is it true JG got the ax? Is he the sacrificial lamb for the Accuri deal? Will there be others?

I think so 2.

maybe they bribe the judges?

Does anybody know how BD manages to always make the list of Most Ethical Companies? Seriously, do they vote themselves in or what?

You were right happened today. Shitty severance package and good people gone.

There have been many more layoffs than just 3 in the past 2 years. Becton Dickinson usually lays off in lots of small bites so it is never a material event & doesnt need to be announced. Tripath here, Labware there, then snips off diagnostics, medical, PAS. R and D and sales look like the current places to keep cutting. Who needs R and D or sales?

EL will retire end of this year and VF will replace him as CEO. Then you'll see some real blood in the streets as he looks for analyst love while revenues flatline.

Funny thing is, the guy who disappeared is the lucky one, because he doesn't have to put up with the crap anymore.

Isn't it ironic that although BD is supposed to be a pre-analytical and diagnostics company, but their primary and best product is bulls**t?

People still disappear one at the time. I was trying to get some information yesterday, only to find out that this guy was gone!

I wouldn't expect a raise again this year. If there's any way Eddie Lugnuts and the original Jersey shore cast can find a way not to pay us, they will do it. Less for us means more for them! Yeah, hard times and all that. And just how much of a raise did they get last year?

True, BD ususally does their layoffs near the beginning of their FY, but didn't the layoff prior to the last one occur middle of the fiscal year?

Think about it. If numbers are way down, sr. management better do something to lessen the gap between numbers and expectations before the year end. After all, they can only make so many excuses to the board before they start looking like they don't know what is going on. Ending another year far short of expectations would probably mean BD would get punished in the market and sr. management would probably be on the chopping block and you know they aren't going to let that happen. If it's a choice between one of them or a hundred of you, they'll sacrifice your backside every time in order to protect theirs.

I pray in thanks every single day that God has taken me away from that horrific place. My blood pressure is down and I finally feel good about myself. They suck the life and energy out of anyone who works hard and has a brain.

The only thing that matters at BD is politics. They have a culture where anyone who works hard to get anything done is punished. The place is full of people who have been there for years and are just waiting to retire or just show up to collect a paycheck. Anyone involved with strategy at that company should be let go including 90% of the senior leadership. I doubt the May rumor of layoffs is true. BD usually has a layoff close to the beginning of their fiscal year in October. BD is a funny place. When layoff rumors start many hope to get laid off for the severance package....that is how bad the morale is at that place. As far as the company being up for sale....The board removed many of the poison pill measures for a takeover a few years ago.

I don't think that BD will put itself on sale but never say never.. Its stock is already HIGH since years

WOW
And Beckman Coulter staff thought they have problems
When is B.D going up for sale?

BD is a political company where idiots are welcome, better not idiots but yesman are welcome. BD is a pyramid of yesman starting from CEO to your fcking boss. This is the end my only friend.....

There will be the third layoff in less then 2 years...

Oh are they waiting for a few more to reach 45 so they can say "Good Riddance, we don't need you anymore" after all your years of service? Good riddance. Disgusting, unethical place.