HI! I'm starting in R&D lab next month too and was wondering did you get any accommodation sorted yet? Most of the things I've seen so far are in Belfast and I was hoping to get something a bit closer to Crumlin.

Hi, I was wondering if I could speak to you about working at Randox. I have accepted a job in the R and D Labd and am extremely worried after reading the things on this site

I am due for interview in sales and reading this blog, I am really questioning whether to even go for it as the working conditions seem truly horrendous. Is it really that bad? I am looking for a place to further my career into management and the picture I am getting is that this is not the type of company for progression. Also can anybody confirm the type of package available pension, private healthcare, holidays, working hours (actual)and international travel?

Cheers

you will be seriously underpaid, treated badly and all the above comments are true. you absolutely need to go to another company as the industry itself is very interesting and with good working attitude you will get a good life in the diagnostic industry but not in Randox, do yourself a very big favor and stay out. If you do not fear bully, they will fire you soon as not having the proper attitude, even in training people who made comments were fired on the spot and the comments were even on a professional basis, just asking how strange Randox works compared to other diagnostic business. Not one but more examples can be given on people that were taken out of training class, handed tickets and were removed directly from the company area......

Hi, i have been offered the role of Laboratory Analyst at Randox in Central London. The above threads seem to be pretty serious stuff i.e im very shocked and in a way, confused. or is this nothing more than people having a winge?

Could someone tell me what it is like working for the Testing laboratories in Randox. I really need to know as i have been wanting to get into this industry for a long time.

Im not really a person who fears bullies. I know how to deal with them as i have done so in the past. Nothing that faces me ever scares me!!!

thanks in advance!

Well done Harry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18006222
The truth always comes out in the end. There is no smoke with out fire and finally this place is publicly shown to be a miserable, shambolic, desperate place to work.

I worked in Randox over 10 years ago and cannot believe this stuff still goes on - it's like Groundhog day. JG and SF were spiteful, nasty and aggressive, mostly to scare people out of criticising their total ineptitude. I worked with some great people at Randox, but as a company, they do their best to dehumanise you, and I have since met senior medical professionals who regard it as 'a bit of a dodgy outfit' and patted me on the back for getting well out of there!

Best read EVER

News Flash Senior management at Randox ridiculed in a public report from the office of Industrial tribunals.

Creditability as witnesses very poor LM, SF and PB Lol the entire country can now see what these people are like!!

If you plan to work there read this for an eye opener.

Well Done Harry Well deserved!! Ha ha ha Randox

Head of Scientific Department and not even a PhD!!! how stupid can they be, everything is run there on fear of icequeen Sonja and spy staff

for every new employee the company gets 5000 pound so creating 243 new jobs is shit, just to fill their pockets because indeed it is just replacing all people they fired or who where strong enough to leave. outrageous that the Government still funds this, taxpayers should be aware of all the money going dawn the drain!!!

Absolutely do not apply, worst job and company ever. You will be treated as brainless, no room to any critics, bad salary and shit bonus. you have to fly all over but the worst is that they treat everyone, even experienced and well educated staff as brainless.

OMG! Creating new jobs, ha? It's a joke. They sack anyone opennning their mouth and anyone with half a brain leave themselves. Obviously Randox needs to replace them. That's why they are creating new jobs - so to speak.

I would feel safer in Ardoyne wearing a Rangers top, rather than working under the senior management in Randox! Is that fool R McD still working there? And is SF still wearing them ridiculous boots?

I can see your point, but I still think youre full of s**t.

Emperors wear no clothes

The right decision will be just "stay away".

Ex staff members can usually be found at Killymeal House.

How desperately do you want to work in Italy? Find an ex-staffer and ask why they left.

Ask about their staff turnover...that may help you make your mind up!

Hi! I just received an offer fron Randox as International sales based in Italy..Reading about your stories I'm now really worried about this work..I'm now working for an another company, what you'll do in my position?would you accept or not? Is this company so bad to work even in another country and as a sales person? Please help me in taking the right decision!

This might explain why the Australian office is staffed by a continuous stream of new graduates on some sort of Government funded program. It's about the furthest from head office you can get!
They send non-science grads with no knowledge of the local market to run the Randox business for the entire country.
They had the opportunity recently to employ a local with relevant qualifications and local industry experience but, no, they relocated an other young bunny from Ireland.
Go figure.
Having read this though, I'm glad I didn't get the job!

Randox HQ moving out of the barn to the Gas works area in Belfast to be closer to the Killymeal House office of Industrial Tribunals ha ha

I recently left the R@D department at Randox. They overwork staff, underpay and worst of all management is terrible. To top it off the labs are old, dirty and overcramped. NEVER work here.

for few months I worked manufacturing department at randox.. I have never worked in such an unfriendly and oppressive atmosphere where you feel a constant need to be looking over your shoulder and watch everything you say or do. not a single word of comment is allowed. Management is very under-hand and you will be fired for the most stupid reasons.
on the job training training is a joke

Warn your friends about this company never to work there

Its the one of the worst places I have ever worked. Everything you read about it is true. And the stories you read in the press about them creating jobs is pure propaganda.

its a curse that when you are liars bad things come back to haunt you JT and EB, chemistry, sorry circus department.

still in the barn lol

I see they’ve announced a load more bogus new jobs!!

Stay away from it if you are currently in employment!!!

From a Former Manager

Its not that bad, its run by a very strange little man, with strange ideals, and strange hair. Beats working in the public sector. Bite down hard and enjoy it!

Is the set up there still based in a delapidated old cow shed?

The review copied from the other thread is quite accurate and what I would say as a scientist is that your experience of Randox very much depends on the area in which you end up. If you are working under the artful dodger and his lackies especially you are in for a difficult time if you work in chemistry as the 'manager' of that area has no guts when it comes to standing up for his employees, has the leadership ability of a breeze block and just about as much scientific knowledge, and seems to have been trained by the Spanish inquisition when it comes to interacting with people. If your male happen to be a trappist monk and can accept stupid directions like an army grunt you may do alright.

This is unbelievable!

Location is a factor to consider if accepting an offer. No public transport to it, skid pan alley in winter. Ask for a formal contract of terms and conditions, not just a letter and get a solicitor to check it over before accepting. More choice elsewhere.

Yes, quite. If you have worked hard for your degree etc, much best to go elsewhere where your efforts may be better rewarded, praised etc. Plenty of MNC bio firms over in Berlin.

Grads used to get around £17.5k if lucky. Totally inaccessible place in winter. More like a Gulag.

I liked this from the other forum:
I have been working in Randox for nearly a couple of years now and thankfully it seems the end is in sight for me as I am about to move onto greener pastures which to be fair would not be hard! I have been on this website quite a lot over this time and have never posted before. I would like to take this opportunity however to put my point across. I never knew of this website before I joined this company and I wish I had of. As they say, there is no smoke without fire and in this case there is a lot of smoke.

I want to put across a very honest opinion of this company so that hopefully people who are thinking of joining this company can make a more informed decision. Firstly, this company has some really good products and some not so good and it should be performing at a much higher level. The reason it is not performing at a higher level is due to 2 of the lady senior managers (SF and JG) playing house and not having an ounce of business acumen between them. I dont actually think that Dr F is that bad a person and I dont think he is aware of how these two ladies treat the business and of the terrible decisions that they make. He has created many jobs in a time when they are scarce which is to be commended albeit he pays them very little and they are ultimately treated very badly.

If the company was bought out, I feel there would be hope for Randox and the staff there but that will never happen. People need to be rewarded, praised, motivated, respected and overall treated like human beings. Surely that is not a lot to ask and obviously if they are performing well. These key factors are frowned upon and you are told to not to encourage and praise people. I believe over the last week approx 8-10 people have resigned. This as most people know is not unusual and the high turnover of staff is disgusting. I just cant believe that Dr F dosent sit down and ask the question why? Easy...give people respect, pay them a fair wage, give them flexibility and listen to the people that work for you and not listen to the 2 ladies that constantly tell you what you want to hear. There are several departments that are just a horrible environment to work in.

I feel sorry for the people who work in the marketing department where working in silence is the rule there. The distribution team is not much better. The frustration is that there are some really good people in Randox who are not looked after and listened to and as a result these good people leave. Most people can see how the company could be run better and the changes that need to be made but this change unfortunately will never happen. As I say, there are some really good people working in Randox but there are so many that are in positions that they should never be in as they are far too inexperienced.

The truth is, if you are a yes person and love sucking up, you will go far and put into a role which you are totally unqualified for. This is very true in some managerial roles where the people do not know how to treat their staff and in turn make their lives hellish. People work in fear and dread their names being called over the tannoy which is very sad. The following departments seem to be the better ones to work in.
Finance - good people here and with the exception of the senior manager within this team, everyone seems to be treated ok.

Purchasing - mainly good people here with not too bad a manager
Sales - some really bad managers in here but the best teams to work in would be the pharma team, telesales team and rx team where the managers actually seem to care, treat their teams with respect and actually know what they are talking about. The Uk team seems ok also but they are very cliqey and have an air of arrogance. The other managers in sales are in it for themselves and treat their staff like the dirt on their shoe with no regard to them whatsoever.

Within Randox, you are expected to travel in your own time, losing your weekends with no compensation of time in lieu or pay, you fly the cheapest way possible and if that means travelling for an extra day when there is a direct flight, so be it. You are also put up in the most disgusting of hotels. This would be tolerable if you were paid a resonable salary to compensate for it. The canteen is a joke with the facilities a disgrace. There are about 3 toilets in the whole building which are so unhiegenic its unreal. There have been so many accidents on the diamond road this year in the snow all due to Dr F not forking out a few pounds to keep his staff safe by gritting. Clocking in and out is also ridiculous and again shows that staff are not trusted. Holidays are terrible where you only have 9 floating days a year that you have the choice to use. You cannot receive or make personal calls as there is no mobile reception and noone is allowed to receive personal calls at any time. You cannot even use the internet or email on your breaks which is very inconvenient.

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

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

But the pay is great in R&D, and the management are super experienced. Best job Ive ever had. As long as you've some political astuteness, it really is an easy place to exists and succeed in.
Stop complaining, just cause you dont know how to work the system.

I attended the aacc for the first time this year and was very impressed with their booth and upcoming products

they had a big booth at this year's AACC - was there anything of substance on it? Or was it all bells and whistles as usual?