Working within IT?

[Anonymous]

Thought about applying for a PM position. What's the IT department like? Any advice is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

it stinks. they just let 100 contractors go in one day. I left recently, the mistreatment was just getting to be too much.

[Anonymous]

it stinks. they just let 100 contractors go in one day. I left recently, the mistreatment was just getting to be too much.

There is a general belief that mistreatment is being allowed in hospira IT to cull the workforce indirectly instead of directly, and thereby having to pay out severance, etc. There are multiple managers and directors that should have been fired for various grievances that would never be tolerated at any other company that "values integrity". They are being allowed to stay in their positions because they are doing a damned good job doing the dirty work, while corporate HR and excecutive management keeps their hands clean.

Within the chicago area, Hospira IT is ridiculed for it's backwards QA organization, ineffective process and procedure, and mindless management.

[Anonymous]

Here is a post that is probably very likely accurate regarding the firings. The second poster is probably giving hospira more benefit of the doubt..which it probably does not deserve:

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_H/threadview?m=tm&bn=24328&tid=3171&mid=3171&tof=1&frt=2

[Anonymous]

The CIO, Michael Carlin, surrounded by his directors told all of IT over a month ago that he was going to outsource where ever he possibly could. Was Printsmart not very smart? Yeah, it was a horrendous failure, which can be mainly tagged on Tom Werner, the CFO. But the primary goal of Printsmart was not just to reduce printing costs, but also to keep track of everything being printed--everything that gets printed at Hospira also gets digitally archived. So, those bank statements that you print out on your lunch break....those are sitting on a server at a data center for the infinite future.

The key problem for Werner is that Carlin has not created a lean and effective IT organization, so Werner is doing it himself with terrible results. For IT to be successful at Hospira, Carlin has to be replaced, with about half of his directors, and most of his managers.

Keeping Carlin in is like a football team firing the team and keeping the coach. That's not how it works. You fire the coach for the failures, not the team.

[Anonymous]

For the unknown person looking for possibly taking the PM position, keep in mind that taking advice from an obviously disgruntled ex-employee is not something you should take to heart.

[Anonymous]

For the unknown person looking for possibly taking the PM position, keep in mind that taking advice from an obviously disgruntled ex-employee is not something you should take to heart.
Well if he was contractor ,he wasn't an employee and should have known when contract expires. Who are you an ass suck?
Hi CP moderators hows your day going today ?

[Anonymous]

For the unknown person looking for possibly taking the PM position, keep in mind that taking advice from an obviously disgruntled ex-employee is not something you should take to heart.

another motivational hr lecture

[Anonymous]

I don't think I need to add to the fact that the situation royally sux balls but it should be stated that not all IT contractors were affected. Only contractors in the Infrastructure group (anyone under Ray Duncan) were affected. Other groups inside of IT are still employing their contractors.

[Anonymous]

I am a former Hospira employee (not IT) but I did interact with them. I am not disgruntled (Hospira does have some issues, but what company doesn't?!)but knew when to bail. I have read these boards for a couple years now and I am rather amazed at the things people post here! Anyway, take it from me, I would really reconsider IT at Hospira. They do have some issues and I agree with the other poster: They really do need to get rid of Mike Carlin. The poster is also right about Tom Werner. IT was and is too heavy and Mike Carlin failed to trim it down - so Tom is doing it for him.

Just think - if you constantly see ANY company that ALWAYS has openings in ANY division, that is a warning sign. Unless they are adding a division, something is not right. If a division/company is a good company, the only way you should get in is through someone retiring. In this day and age, most people are NOT leaving companies that are treating them fairly, offer good salaries and benefits and treating them with respect - the economy is too unstable. But if people are jumping ship now - well, there's your answer.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thought about applying for a PM position. What's the IT department like? Any advice is appreciated!

Oh I wonder who started this post ? could it be softlayer looking to sell banner space here ? Well ?

[Anonymous]

There is a general belief that mistreatment is being allowed in hospira IT to cull the workforce indirectly instead of directly, and thereby having to pay out severance, etc. There are multiple managers and directors that should have been fired for various grievances that would never be tolerated at any other company that "values integrity". They are being allowed to stay in their positions because they are doing a damned good job doing the dirty work, while corporate HR and excecutive management keeps their hands clean.

Within the chicago area, Hospira IT is ridiculed for it's backwards QA organization, ineffective process and procedure, and mindless management.
For Hospira , Begley, and Integrity
Fuck You, Fuck you, and Fuck you
For anyone who disagrees FUCK YOU TOO !!!
Now tell me how great Hospira is

[Anonymous]

I agree completely! Also, I might add Salesforce.com = Garbage in and garbage out. Just another ridiculous tool that Juda talked upper management in to purchasing. Way to go Juda! Do you actually think you are getting accurate sales data? We are just adding BS to get you off our ass. You are a joke!

[Anonymous]

Another round of IT employee layoffs on Halloween - Oct 31, 2008.

Morale of remaining staff is apparently low, wondering when the other shoe will fall.

Rumors are that all of IT will be outsourced.

Original stated outsourcing goal was 30% but others guessed 80% would be good enough - could it really be 100%.

Remember your options - consult with an attorney, and contact the:

Illinois Department of Labor: http://www.state.il.us/Agency/idol/

Illinois Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx

The US Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/dol/accomplishments/il.htm

They all have sections dealing with employment issues, age discrimination, race discrimination, etc.

Since most of the jobs are apparently going to India, an interesing argument could be race discrimination or an avoidance or the requirement to post local foreign hires on the local job board per the Railroad Retirement Act (or something like that).

[Anonymous]

Also heard that many other Business Processes are being Outsourced (BPO - business process outsourcing) and/or supplemented with foreign hires, saw Sale & Marketing post several jobs indicating foreign hires are in the pipeline. Could it be that all of Hospira will be outsouced with a shell HQ remaining in Lake Forest?

Are staff from other area's disappearing?

[Anonymous]

I know that they have started an external search for a new CIO....

[Anonymous]

WEll after 28 years of service at Abbott/Hospira IT I was told July 10th I am no longer needed. This is along with 30 others. Then within two weeks three VPs have "retired" Val Yen (who rang the bell on opening day along with Begley at the NYSX, Mike Catlin and a third I forget. Yep that Tom Werner is a great thinker.
We hear huge projects for Project Fuel to make Hospira stronger but it looks like it will be from the sweat of many VISA workers and offshore folks.

[VPofITofOPS]

Looks like they are going after the Rocky Mount NC location.
Big mistake as those guys control the manufacturing plants.
We will see if Jenkins and Bailey actually fight for "their" people???????

[Anonymous]

Well it's official, 3 months and IT/Helpdesk is gone. India will get yet another company to send all the work there and screw americans. Hospira is offering 1.5 weeks severance for every year worked. Nice. The sad part is all the lies that were told to emplyees and contractors alike. But remember Hospira is all about INTEGRITY. Yeah right! The other sad part about this is that the employees/contractors that are still there at the helpdesk, get to train the foreigners that are taking their jos and still have to put up with Laura Neumann and her antics. Poor souls.

[Anonymous]

Check the internal policies on sick days. Take as many consecutive days as possible without a Dr. note. Don't sign your performance review or sign "under protest". You will be outsourced, why give accurate information. Sign up for your Yahoo,live or Google mail account update your resume and start looking now! Print everything you can, take it with you (of course it's necessary it's your future). Buy a $20 flash drive and copy all of the policies and procedures in case your lawyer needs a copy. Their internal security and risk management isn't motivated to follow-up as they are on the outsourcing block. Email can be traced, copying files can't. Most of all if you don't like working there, keep your mouth shut and keep looking for another job. When the magic day comes that you have something else, just don't show up. It will take them about 3-4 weeks until they figure out they you aren't coming back. By then you will have started your new job with continued access to your internal email to check on how they fumble around. You will be terminated for job abandonment but who cares, you have a new job anyway.

[Anonymous]

Check the internal policies on sick days. Take as many consecutive days as possible without a Dr. note. Don't sign your performance review or sign "under protest". You will be outsourced, why give accurate information. Sign up for your Yahoo,live or Google mail account update your resume and start looking now! Print everything you can, take it with you (of course it's necessary it's your future). Buy a $20 flash drive and copy all of the policies and procedures in case your lawyer needs a copy. Their internal security and risk management isn't motivated to follow-up as they are on the outsourcing block. Email can be traced, copying files can't. Most of all if you don't like working there, keep your mouth shut and keep looking for another job. When the magic day comes that you have something else, just don't show up. It will take them about 3-4 weeks until they figure out they you aren't coming back. By then you will have started your new job with continued access to your internal email to check on how they fumble around. You will be terminated for job abandonment but who cares, you have a new job anyway.

..or just grow the fuck up and move on... no wonder you douchebags are being outsourced. boo hoo ...news flash, you will suck at your next job you lie to get too.

[Anonymous]

Yes, boohoo...nice and adult while you tell us to grow up. I hope you are adept at communicating with foreigners as you seem to love the sinking ship this company has become.

[Anonymous]

Yes, boohoo...nice and adult while you tell us to grow up. I hope you are adept at communicating with foreigners as you seem to love the sinking ship this company has become.

Nice, must be from an upper management idiot that is keeping his/her job. Must be in bed with Paul Q. (maybe it is Paul.....hmmmmm) Well i just hope you and your comrades can sleep well at night knwoing that you just added to the ever increasing numbers of unemployed AMERICAN workers.

[Anonymous]

Yes, boohoo...nice and adult while you tell us to grow up. I hope you are adept at communicating with foreigners as you seem to love the sinking ship this company has become.

Understand that pharma IT can make sure that ANY system can pass internal validation. The skilled ones can alter any records and bypass any audit trails. If you have to go to a hospital and get one of these products it's rather uncomfortable to know that the systems designed to assure that the products meet specifications have admins on the other side of the world where FDA doesn't have the budget to do an extended audit to insure the process integrity. They mostly rely on the internal audit findings.

This wasn't a sinking ship until a certain VP came on board and decided that profits were more important than products or people. HSP will never have dividends. The money will be used to do more acquisitions and pay down the debt until the magic day comes when they will be an attractive buyout target.

[Anonymous]

Well the first busload of non-american rats just arrived at the sinking ship known as Hospira.

[Anonymous]

Coalition for the Future American Worker

http://www.americanworker.org/

It's time to stop off-shoring jobs.

Tax the company so that hiring US citizens will be competitive again. Tax money can go towards extending unemployment for displaced knowledge workers & Cobra benefits.

[Anonymous]

watch what you say about our new 'friends' .... management is looking for any way to avoid paying out our HIP.... dont trust that anyone who is keeping their job wont turn you in just to look like a team player to the rest of the sellouts.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't care less about management reading this, I am an ex-contractor, left before I got pushed out the door by the India rats. Paul Quaglia is known for going in to places and out-sourcing right away. but remember Hospira is all about integrity.....yeah right tell that to the unemployed. The only good thing is i don't work for Paul or Laura Neumann anymore, a RAT and a BIPOLAR maniac.

[Anonymous]

Well it is done! The IT department is officially gone. Hopsira SUCKS!