They are coming to a car near you. The worst part of the job. Awkward day with a weirdo you barely know. Uncomfortable conversation with your boss looming over your shoulder. Holding in farts. Exhausting.
they know the field visits are pointless and even counterproductive to driving the business. Field visits have been weaponized so that management can harass out any employee they want at any time... that's really what field visits are about...plus, the managers have nothing of any real value to do in pharma.
When I ride with my reps, I like to lead the calls when appropriate. Ride alongs can be good for the rep when the manager presents. It’s an opportunity for the rep to hear how others present. I also always rent my own car so I can fart.
OP, its time to look for another job if you are feeling this way about your manager. This is not normal. Also, just call in sick if you don't have a good day planned or are not feeling it. You can buy yourself some time that way. Finally, go on short term disability for stress or something if it gets bad. Don't let these corporations get away with their lack of accountability. They make a lot of money and need to learn to respect employees better. Best to you.
Oh how I used to hate these days. Or worse, when managers would do two days on a row to get “ a real good look at your territory” ugh! Scrambling around, trying to set up a “good” lunch, thinking about any possible places where you might actually see a doc. then one day I just said F#vk it! I’m not going to set up an easy run just cause my manager is with me. I did two days of sample drops with maybe 1 detail a day, if lucky. After two days, my manager was like, “what was that??! We didn’t see anybody?” Welcome to the real world, sport. I told them that I wanted to give them the real world of my territory so they could understand what I deal with. They thought for a bit and then just nodded, ok then. I never stressed out about rides again. It is what it is. As a common courtesy, I’ll wash my car and vacuum it out before a ride with my manager, but no other advanced planning. Much less stress this way!!
I did this too with the manager who had to do the full 2 day ride alongs. He wanted to come on a Tuesday and Wednesday and see a particular part of my territory. I live in a mountain state the manager lived in Houston. I told him T&W worst days in this part of the territory due to doc hospital schedules. He ignored me and came. I took him two hours on snowy icy roads that literally were full of serious car accidents and flipped semi trucks to an account we could see. He was furious, and said I risked his life. I told him he should listen to me in the future. Worst manager I have ever seen. He got promoted beyond is intellectual abilities and then fired for being incapable. He was the typical loser manager.
You have to wonder how they could have ever been promoted when it’s obvious they are clearly clueless. I’m sure it felt good to you to see him implode and get booted!!
This is exactly the right approach. They have to see reality, because if we set up fake days that are really good, they think that is the norm.
It’s an absolute joke. Outside of a new hire at entry level ride alongs should be a thing of the past. If my boss wants to come Down and sit with me and go over accounts, sure but riding around, even in separate cars is ridiculous. It’s creepy and the docs hate it. I have been told more times than I can count in my career that they hate it. I have told My bosses this fact but they do not care. They need to do them because they would never leave the house otherwise. Their jobs are useless really. I want one.
