IT Organization

I am a Bayer employee and was wondering if anyone at Berlex nows what is going on with the IT Dept in NJ? Rumor has it that if any IT/O&I employees relo from WH, they would go to Wayne or PA?

Any news on your end?

Another WH employee... Has anyone IT been offered relo packages yet and dont tell me you would consider going to NJ or PA, I would go work at Home Depot first?

Is the Home Depot hiring? If so how do their salaries compare to job options in NJ?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Another WH employee... Has anyone IT been offered relo packages yet and dont tell me you would consider going to NJ or PA, I would go work at Home Depot first?

Pittsburgh is a great place to work and raise a family in. I lived there for several years with my kids. There are several nice and affordable neighberhoods with good public schools. University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Pitt Law School, The football steelers, Pittsburgh symphony orchestra etc etc etc.
The cost of living (housing, foods and taxes) is at least 20% below that of CT.
I would be glad to give more info if you're interested.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Pittsburgh is a great place to work and raise a family in. .......I would be glad to give more info if you're interested.
Cheers

What's the management like in Pittsburgh?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

What's the management like in Pittsburgh?

I don't know. I wasn't working for Bayer while in Pittsburgh.

I heard NJ will keep its Application Support and they will go to Wayne, but Infrastructure will be migrated to PA

Does that include the Helpdesk?

Originally Posted by ITGuy

Does that include the Helpdesk?

Helpdesk is gone! Everything out of Pittsburgh.

Infrastructure will be moved to PA, but strictly the hardware. If you work in this area at any site other than PA now, expect to get your synergy visit from HR.

Development for key platforms (i.e. SAP, Oracle, Notes, etc.) will be outsourced to CSC across the board. This includes platform support. Whether they choose to hire some of the existing Bayer/Berlex staff is still up in the air. Likely they will need some staff, but if you are kept on expect to be a contractor working for CSC and not a Bayer/Schering employee. You will have a compeltely different compensation package than you may be used to at a pharma company.

Plan for helpdesk will be for an offshore model. Likely India or Singapore depending on the vendor awarded the contract.

Local desktop, printer, telecommunications, and network support will also be outsourced. Negotiations with several players are ongoing with an expected contract start date for March 1 2007. Current fornt runners are The Geek Squad, IBM, and Unisys. Again, I would expect some of the existing staff to become employees or contractors for the vendor Bayer awards the bid to.

Hope this info is helpful. Sorry I can't divulge more at this time but will try to release what I know as soon as it is appropriate.

Diip Throte

Hey diip shit, I mean diip throte-

Sounds like you are trying to scare away as many IT people as possible, maybe hoping that it will open a place for you? Infrastructure and help desk will in fact go to PA, but Apps support will get folded into BCBS NAIT. Bayer divisions have long term contracts with BCBS for IT services and are obligated, per the Bayer board to use BBS and BCBS unless they are not cost competitive. Apps folks should hang tight to see where they will fit into the BCBS IT organization.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Hey diip shit, I mean diip throte-

Sounds like you are trying to scare away as many IT people as possible, maybe hoping that it will open a place for you? Infrastructure and help desk will in fact go to PA, but Apps support will get folded into BCBS NAIT. Bayer divisions have long term contracts with BCBS for IT services and are obligated, per the Bayer board to use BBS and BCBS unless they are not cost competitive. Apps folks should hang tight to see where they will fit into the BCBS IT organization.

You sound like a current Bayer IT employee whose job is planned to be outsourced, so obviously you would not be privy to the information I've shared. I'm not trying to scare anyone as many of these jobs will not go away, they will just be transferred to the outsource companies and you will no longer be a Bayer employee. Company strategy is that they are good at healthcare not information technology so it makes sense to outsource in order to achieve a competitive edge instead of trying to manage the development and enrichment of technology employees.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Is the Home Depot hiring? If so how do their salaries compare to job options in NJ?

I've heard Home Depot is not a great place to work, from someone who part-timed there (in N.H.). I've read however, that Costco is a great employer.

Does anyone know when Hr is officially visiting us berlex IT folk? When all of this information becomes official?

ole grandmama sittin in her rockin chair, poopen in her underware, cant afford another pair...............

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Does anyone know when Hr is officially visiting us berlex IT folk? When all of this information becomes official?

The bomb will be dropped in waves depending on certain events. They do not want to create a situation where there is no one around to support anything until they have secured a stable and secure situation for the future. Helpdesk will be first wave in the first quarter of 2007 once the networks between North American Sites is secured. Infrastructure is planned as the second wave after the data center consolidation is underway, currently planned for end of Q1-2007. This will be followed by the conversion of current Bayer BCBS NAIT and Berlex IT employees that will remain to their new CSC organization, most likely no earlier than June 2007. Remaining functions such as local network, communications, and desktop support will be transitioned to the selected vendor throughout the first half of 2007.

Those IT people located at sites selected for closure will hear about their future in conjunction with site closure timelines. The lower you are in the organization the less likely it is that you will be offered any relocation.

Do not expect any information/visit from HR until after the first of the year. No further org announcements for any of the new company will be made this year. Organizational decisions at the next level are very focused on headcount synergies and some serious discussions are ongoing which have caused delays.

Again, I hope this info is helpful. Sorry I can't divulge more at this time but will try to release what I know as soon as it is appropriate.

M. Felt

I do appreciate the information. What your saying makes sense and goes along with what I have heard (though I have heard more general dates).
Please update as you get information, as i will keep checking back.

Any updates? Rumors? thoughts?

Everything outsourced to the Geek Squad

What exactly does "expect to get your synergy visit from HR" mean, in reguards to Infrastructure?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

What exactly does "expect to get your synergy visit from HR" mean, in reguards to Infrastructure?

Your're kidding right?

To Mr. or Ms. Diip Throte / M. Felt: Anything new going on? Any information would be appreciated...

Originally Posted by Anonymous

To Mr. or Ms. Diip Throte / M. Felt: Anything new going on? Any information would be appreciated...

Yes. talk to your manager instead of poking around here

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Yes. talk to your manager instead of poking around here

Nothing like coming to a gossip board and listening to random posts to determine your career's fate. Flipping a coin would be more accurate.

Outsourcing will be driver, with minimum support in Wayne. Mike Saft would be a big loss.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Outsourcing will be driver, with minimum support in Wayne. Mike Saft would be a big loss.

Mike doesn't even work for Berlex, never has. If you think that's bad, wait until the rest of IT is moved to Pennsyltucky. BTW kiss your unrestricted internet access goodbye and that's just for staters.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Mike doesn't even work for Berlex, never has. If you think that's bad, wait until the rest of IT is moved to Pennsyltucky. BTW kiss your unrestricted internet access goodbye and that's just for staters.

staters=starters

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Your're kidding right?

Actually, no, but I guess we can have a good laugh while "wer're" standing on the unemployment line together.

Synergy:

The incremental savings or revenue growth achieved when one combined enterprise is created from two or more separate parts.

or

The simultaneous joint action of separate parties which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects.

Either way HR would have to be involved by giving you a pink slip or having you sign a contract to become a Bayer employee. So which is it Diip-shit?

....and if that "wasn'nt" a Berlex smart ass, the bigger joke is the Bayer IT anyway. I'd keep that crap in Pittsburgh too, so no one could see how backasswards it is. Oustsourcing might be your best bet to get out of the '90's. Wait until you get a dose of the Berlex prima donna user/applications community. At least infrastructure gets to walk away from this train wreck with a nice package.

Bayer could learn a ton from Berlex. Better hurry up as all the real stars are starting to leave. "Youl'll" be left sorting through the dead wood that's been carried on their backs. The IT market is rocking in NJ.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Actually, no, but I guess we can have a good laugh while "wer're" standing on the unemployment line together.

Synergy:

The incremental savings or revenue growth achieved when one combined enterprise is created from two or more separate parts.

or

The simultaneous joint action of separate parties which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects.

Either way HR would have to be involved by giving you a pink slip or having you sign a contract to become a Bayer employee. So which is it Diip-shit?

....and if that "wasn'nt" a Berlex smart ass, the bigger joke is the Bayer IT anyway. I'd keep that crap in Pittsburgh too, so no one could see how backasswards it is. Oustsourcing might be your best bet to get out of the '90's. Wait until you get a dose of the Berlex prima donna user/applications community. At least infrastructure gets to walk away from this train wreck with a nice package.

Bayer could learn a ton from Berlex. Better hurry up as all the real stars are starting to leave. "Youl'll" be left sorting through the dead wood that's been carried on their backs. The IT market is rocking in NJ.

Since you're (your're) such the English pro... How about checking your own quote.... "oustsourcing", and correct me if i am wrong, but its assbackwards or do they say it backasswards in NJ

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Since you're (your're) such the English pro... How about checking your own quote.... "oustsourcing", and correct me if i am wrong, but its assbackwards or do they say it backasswards in NJ

Your're kidding right?

Ah, so it'ts a CT poster "child" (Please accept my apology NJ/PA people, just wanted to smoke this one out, no hard feelings)

CT look up oust and it wasn'nt quoted. BTW, since wer're kidding and all, I thought that was pretty funny (oustsourcing). Next time, Il'll quote all of my play on words so you can identify them more readily.

To me backasswards, would be one degree higher on the backwards scale. You'ud have backwards, assbackwards and then ultimately backasswards. But in your case, let'ts go one step further and just say "Jackass". Notice the quotes?

You see, I knew you'ud get sucked in by the errant contractions. Based on your reply to my Synergy question, you really think your're smarter than the people posting here. I was giving you way too much credit calling you a smart ass.

Based on what youv've posted to date, you might want to study before trying to get that Home Depot job. Next time CT, bring your A game if your going to disrespect NJ people on this board.

Is there anything more youd'd like to add? Perhaps name calling? Could we possibly get both feet in your mouth?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

To Mr. or Ms. Diip Throte / M. Felt: Anything new going on? Any information would be appreciated...

Sorry for the delay in response, but much going on.

Things are on schedule for the integration transition. Phase 1 to shut down the Berlex help desk is complete and immediate synergy has been achieved there as all help desk activities now go through Pittsburgh. This will be followed soon by an adjustment in the support staff for networks, workstation support, printer, voice/video, and other central services. Network connectivity and consolidation has also been achieved. Data center consolidation is moving along as planned for Q1-2007, with 90% of all local servers due to be moved to Pittsburgh, replaced by new servers in Pittsburgh, or consolidated onto existing servers in Pittsburgh. Completed data center consolidation is planned for end of Q2-2007. Once this has been achieved, the adjustments for synergies in the data center support area can be implemented. Remaining Berlex IT staff should know their fates by mid February and Bayer IT by end of January, most likely remaining staff will stay on through the 2nd half of 2008, so that the planned severance can be adjusted to reflect the Bayer standard and the Berlex severance plan is no longer in affect. Other synergies will be achieved by staff from sites being closed not accepting relocation packages and these vacancies will not be replaced. Final staff synergies will be achieved by mandate as of January 1, 2009. Negotiations with CSC and other outsource agencies to provide technical services and support are continuing. Final contracts require a more stable technology landscape on terms of what the supported platforms and technologies will be in order for outsourcers to provide accurate proposals. Final RFP responses outsourcers are due to be submitted by March 1, 2007, with a quick evaluation period and a targeted start date of July 1, 2007.

I hope this brief update is helpful. Will try to release more as it becomes available.

M. Felt

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Yes. talk to your manager instead of poking around here

Nothing like not noticing the 10,000 lb elephant on this board. Can you say M. Felt?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Sorry for the delay in response, but much going on.

Things are on schedule for the integration transition. Phase 1 to shut down the Berlex help desk is complete and immediate synergy has been achieved there as all help desk activities now go through Pittsburgh. This will be followed soon by an adjustment in the support staff for networks, workstation support, printer, voice/video, and other central services. Network connectivity and consolidation has also been achieved. Data center consolidation is moving along as planned for Q1-2007, with 90% of all local servers due to be moved to Pittsburgh, replaced by new servers in Pittsburgh, or consolidated onto existing servers in Pittsburgh. Completed data center consolidation is planned for end of Q2-2007. Once this has been achieved, the adjustments for synergies in the data center support area can be implemented. Remaining Berlex IT staff should know their fates by mid February and Bayer IT by end of January, most likely remaining staff will stay on through the 2nd half of 2008, so that the planned severance can be adjusted to reflect the Bayer standard and the Berlex severance plan is no longer in affect. Other synergies will be achieved by staff from sites being closed not accepting relocation packages and these vacancies will not be replaced. Final staff synergies will be achieved by mandate as of January 1, 2009. Negotiations with CSC and other outsource agencies to provide technical services and support are continuing. Final contracts require a more stable technology landscape on terms of what the supported platforms and technologies will be in order for outsourcers to provide accurate proposals. Final RFP responses outsourcers are due to be submitted by March 1, 2007, with a quick evaluation period and a targeted start date of July 1, 2007.

I hope this brief update is helpful. Will try to release more as it becomes available.

M. Felt

To Mrs/Ms M. Felt,

This is extremely helpful!

I and my family thank you.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Sorry for the delay in response, but much going on.

Negotiations with CSC and other outsource agencies to provide technical services and support are continuing. Final contracts require a more stable technology landscape on terms of what the supported platforms and technologies will be in order for outsourcers to provide accurate proposals. Final RFP responses outsourcers are due to be submitted by March 1, 2007, with a quick evaluation period and a targeted start date of July 1, 2007.

I hope this brief update is helpful. Will try to release more as it becomes available.

M. Felt

WRT the outsourcing...is this Bayer Health Care US that is outsourcing, is it Bayer HC - Pharma US that is outsourcing, are are all the Bayer companies allowed to ditch BCBS?

Or is this the standard excercise where they RFP with the usual outsourcing suspects then award the contract to BCBS/BBS after getting some concessions - like Talecris, Lanxess, etc...

EMWTK

Any idea of what the severance package may look like?

As little as possible.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Any idea of what the severance package may look like?

Um, if you're in Berlex IT then you already know what the severance package is since they announced it almost a year ago and it hasn't changed.