Manufacturing Supervisor | Canaan, CT | Feb 22, 2020
Cells of good workers, very political, very bad culture and undermining environment
The culture at BD is very very bad. Why?
There is very strong disconnect from upper management team leads. There is NO support from upper management.
Upper management does not lead by example and much rather beat you up mentally verbally through intimidation bullying and job threats. The focus is off point and centered on what looks good on the “wall” rather than fixing what’s really wrong!
Machine operators are at a disadvantage because they are held accountable for quality but are running machines that are antiquated, old, run into the ground. The machines never stay running at all. Operators have no support but are taken to task for production ( 1.6 million syringes a night)
Machines are dirty, unsafe, and operators are held accountable to maintain them.
Technicians are under trained, under qualified and are lead by incompetence.
There are not enough techs to support production which includes supporting machine operators in the attempt to meet company production goals.
Most crews are understaffed leaving the burden on the workers on shift
Upper management states that they are there to support but never come out of their offices to put their hands in the fire to pull anyone out.
Their offer of support is to blame you for their bad culture rather than fixing their staffing issues and concerns.
Management pushes for production numbers while shadowing their real direction with terms like safety first quality etc.
make no mistake
You are no one,
ProsGreat co-workers, hard working production working staff, shift hours
ConsCulture, compensation, benefits, leadership, support, severely understaffed, unsafe working environment, unsanitary working areas break rooms and bathroom facilities are disgusting, your punished not promoted
As a Manufacturing Engineer in the Biosciences Division, I had quite a work load but it wasn't unmanageable. The manager was absolutely horrible, had almost no management training or experience and it was blatantly obvious he didn't have a clue about how to be a good leader. When overwhelmed with high priority activities that required immediate attention and completion to avoid having production lines shut down, he strategically lapsed in being mindful of the potential long term consequences of cutting corners to get things done in time. BD products are sold in a regulated industry and are directly used on patients and in medical facilities, so quality is necessarily of utmost importance above all else. This management tended to forget that when the chips were down and all eyes were on him, when a production line was threatening to shut down because of lack of parts, or a down tool, or an out of spec part that requires an update prior to acceptable use. This manager in particular had no vision for long term quality his only concern was shipping products for revenue. He was also dishonest on several occasions and I caught him in lies which I just let pass without incident, but I had no respect for him after that.
Processing anything at BD is a nightmare - it takes an incredibly long time and requires input from dozens of other people and committees and boards and often will require execution of a validation protocol to qualify a manufacturing change, even a small rel
They will tell you 1-2 nights travel, It turns into 5-6 nights travel every week. They will tell you you have a certain geography and then it turns into your covering all US without any additional compensation. Besides doing Education you will end up doing a lot of the project managers work?? Dont think about questioning any policies because the retaliation from the managers is brutal ( They are worried info will get passed onto their bosses) . Your name will then be spoken amongst all the managers t/o the US and you will be known as a trouble maker. They find ways and reasons to NOT give you an Annual salary increase and or any bonus. If you happen to up sell on any account for any additional modules, Forget it... you dont get a PENNY but who does... the salesperson thats not even their anymore. Work your butt off, travel your butt off, do your work and the PM's work. If you have a family or grand kids... forget about them... you wont see them anymore. I have actually witnessed a manager speaking with a potential new hire stating travel is only 1-2 nights per week LIES LIES LIES!! Just be honest with people.. you eventually find out the truth and then your stuck in the job because then it looks like your job hopping. They get their claws in you and then make you suffer with unappreciated and tireless travel and work, When you get back to your hotel after your done working at the hospital all day or evening and also night shift...OH NO you don't, your not relaxing or slee
Prosbenefits decent
ConsManagement, lazy project managers, long hrs, EXTENSIVE travel
3.0
Electronics Technician | Canaan, CT | Nov 30, 2020
Good things despite management
I had a love-hate relationship with this employer.
Was good to me overall because I am a skilled and good worker. I had a pretty sweet gig there myself, was able to fix machines and troubleshoot technology which I love and they usually left me to it because I always delivered. I was paid to my satisfaction, and the benefits were decent for everyone there. I liked the 12hr alternating shifts, 2 days on 2 days off, alternating 3 day weekends. I quit because I moved my family to a different part of the country.
However, their management team is not skilled by even loose definitions, and they make terrible decision as a rule, as though it’s a required part of the job description.
I’m grateful that I worked there because I certainly gained in tech exposure and skills, but it was a baptism of fire. No training at all, and an unfair expectation that you know before you could possibly know. They have a tendency to hire people who are not at all qualified for the positions they put them in, which is fine if you give them training or lower your expectations, but they do neither.
I have never heard of anywhere with such a high turnover rate. Was there for 8 years and was the most senior person of about 80 people on night shift with a handful of exceptions. Most people I worked with were there for about an average of about 2 years. Even day shifts and the office was swarming with newbs. (Almost never got rid middle management though.) I remember one meeting where the plant manager ask
ProsJust apply they’re desperate, Cool technology, Excellent Pay, Good Benefits, Good Shift
ConsHigh turnover rate, Inexcusably horrible management, Hatred for training
4.0
Human Resources Specialist | San Diego, CA | Feb 6, 2015
Human Resources Senior Specialist
Assisting Managers, employees, and third parties with the following:
Organizational moves, new hires, terminating employees, any questions from mangers/employees on personal information, and verification of employment.
Assisted our internal Benefits department with reviewing, rolling out annual enrollment, assisting employees with questions regarding benefits questions, and completing Medicare forms.
Updating our internal intranet with important information newly updated policies for all employees, managers, and our Human Resources department to assist employees.
The HR department worked very closely with each other for support and assistance as well as managing ourselves. Training, creating guides, and running reports to assist my team with providing the best services for our employees.
Assisted our Payroll department with running reports on any changes from our HRIS system that feeds to our Payroll system ADP. I changed this information, added all new hires to ADP to ensure pay by the first pay period, and helped with any extra tasks the Payroll department needed assistance with.
In 2010 our company spun off of the originally acquired company and we created our own Human Resource call department. We created our own SOP's for go live and succeeded. This was a challenge we managed ourselves and worked as a team to make this such a huge success.
Prior to our go live in 2010, I worked in Customer Service with no HR background at all. I learn a lot of Human Resourc
Working 12 hour days in an extremely hot (90+) and stuffy environment with an impossible workload was a normal workday in the Canaan plant. The molding department is by far the epitome of dysfunction in Canaan.
This company does everything in their power to cut costs at the production workers expense. Management limits training so that skills nessecary to safely perform the job are never taught in an attempt to save money. Continuous additions to the daily workload by the beaurocrats in the offices have created an enviorment of that makes it literally is impossible to do your job.
BD will also threaten your job at every possible opportunity in an attempt to force their workers to meet their impossible expectations. The molding department is extremely understaffed and over worked. Mandatory overtime is common due to the fact that the temporary workers usually do not last long because of the conditions.
Despite making more product than ever, there is no where to advance to in the molding department. People have been working there for decades and the only way to possible advance is in the unfortunate circumstance of someone dying.
The management has decimated the staff leading to poorer quality and a disgustingly filthy work enviorment.
The equipment and technology at the plant is all pre Cold War era that is in a constant state of disrepair. Management turns a blind eye to the obvious problems with production flow from the dilapidated machines for fear that
ProsCompetitive pay
ConsMandatory overtime, no opportunities for advancement, understaffed, unhealthy working enviorment.
3.0
Senior Customer Service Representative | San Antonio, TX | Sep 20, 2019
Not Paid Enough for the Pace, Confusion, & Overtime Pressure
A NEVERENDING amount of information that they can never fully train you for because operations are always changing and new curveballs come at you every day that not even the management knows how to handle sometimes. The pace is grueling and you are always behind, which results in constant weekend overtime pressure. You will be considered a bad worker if you don't cheerily agree to weekend overtime, regardless of the circumstances. So the only "good workers" in their eyes are the ones who work 7 days a week. The benefits are good, the facility is wonderful and clean, the co-workers are incredibly nice and helpful -- because they HAVE to be. Positivity is one of the very biggest things they hire for because they know stress is huge at this job. The pay is okay but should be higher for what they demand. It's very software intensive and not all the workers have college experience, so a lot of mistakes are made. As soon as I thought I was getting "good" at the job, a new and totally unexpected scenario would get thrown in front of me and often no one (including my manager) knew how to handle it. Thankfully, all the customers are business contacts and internal installers, so they're almost all very polite and professional. But the company product lines are so numerous and ever-changing that we would get questions every day that no one knew how to answer, causing jobs to get backed up and customers to get upset. The overall operation puts too much faith in off-the-street workers wit
ProsGreat facility, Nice co-workers, Good benefits, Decent pay
ConsVery inadequate training, Constant overtime demands, Some incompetent co-workers
Global Medical Technology Company with a great Medical Sales Team and awesome Clinical Consultants
Everyday was different, depending on the needs of the Sales Consultants.
My day was filled with any one of the following:
* Teaching infusion therapy courses to nurses in the hospital setting
* Teaching PICC line insertion classes to nurses in the hospital setting
* Presenting clinical features of a product to Materials Manager, CFO or CEO of a hospital
* Performing audits in hospital setting, and then presenting the outcome to the account
*Interacting with nurses in all departments of the hospital relative to the use of a new product.
*Collecting data, inputting on a spreadsheet, and presenting to committees.
*Working with Sales Consultants to plan and implement a hospitals conversion to our product.
During the 14+ years I worked at BD, I learned how to work around company politics, and manage a large group of nurses who were located all over the country. It was very different from working together as a team in one department in a hospital.
BD is a very diverse company, and that broadened my horizons. Like I've said before, they are very supportive of clinicians, knowing we bring the clinical credibility to the product when we are meeting with hospital administrators.
The most difficult part of the job was achieving work/home balance. I arrived home on Friday evening, and was back in the home office on Sunday afternoons, to prepare for the work week.
I traveled on Monday morning (sometimes Sunday evening), and returned home on Thursday or Frida
ProsCompany Car, Bonuses based on individual and company performance, Travel.
Assembly line workers here are stressed to the max. The constant stress to produce more and take on a higher work load by (line balances) all while NOT prepping is insane. All while receiving a measly $12/ hour. They are told that their job is critical to our costumers, that they are so important, but yet we pay them poorly and treat them like worker ants that are laid off at the drop of a hat and replaced two seconds later.
I truly believe that if this company put a bit more appreciation towards these hard working individuals, well I believe they would produce on a better level all around.
It’s unbalanced.
They feel Used and tossed aside.
When we have overtime they are all “expected” to participate and honestly most will because it’s the only way to get a decent pay check, but it comes at the cost of 10-12 hour days and you can forget about seeing your children/family
You’re either at work physically hurting and in pain in your fingers, back, neck, elbows & wrists. Or dead asleep when you’re home.
Don’t even think about showing any sign of a work related injury! You’ll be let go. No explanation just a call to the contract agency that your out.
Don’t question your lead, or even if the lead decides that they don’t like you. Your out simple call no explanation.
Don’t ask to move from a station due to pain from doing it Day in and day out for 3 months straight. You’re now a problem.
The permanent employee’s are very close and you are either in or out and those
My experience was really great. The days were long but the 3-2-2-3 shift was excellent. The “extra effort” pay for supervisors who went above and beyond covering different shifts that created excessive overtime was greatly appreciated. Additionally, it showed they recognized hard work and rewarded you for it.
There is plenty to learn and you will not get bored. It’s challenging but like everything else, once you learn it, you can build on that knowledge and it makes it an easy job. The amount of components being manufactured and assembled just in this location is impressive.
The culture was great. Everyone is friendly for the most part. There were some “clicks” on the floor but nobody was ever childish or disrespectful. It’s a small town atmosphere that’s a happy, how are you and can I help you type atmosphere. Really welcoming and a change of pace from other places I’ve worked or visited.
Management is nice and understanding. Reasonable KPI’s regarding production, safety and quality are set. You can tell there is definitely favoritism from upward management towards certain supervisors. This was the only aspect I didn’t like about working here even though I was one of the supervisors who received the favoritism. I saw individuals promoted that should have been passed over for others but that was a choice made by upper management.
I chose to leave for personal reasons or else I would have stayed and enjoyed a great career with BD, I truly believe. The people and the company r
ProsGreat company, great benefits, great people, a career you can believe in
Five minute commute from home, challenging work life balance, manager turnover is very high
A typical day at work: Managing emails and meetings. I also provide process and system expertise to a young staff; this includes supporting the Warehouse Manager, Director of Operation and Supervisors. Currently I am working on an SAP upgrade project - The good portion of my day is spent working with a larger cross functional team, both in Canada and the US, in setting up process and data for the distribution center to support the SAP upgrade from 4.0 to 6.0.
What have I learned; Process and systems can only perform transactional outputs, but people are key. Over my 13 years at BD, people still remain key. Much like any systems or processes, people need the same care. Maintaining strong relationships and creating new ones is essential. Respect and good old fashion hard work remain essential.
Management; I have worked closely with 5 managers in the past 4 years while having 9 different managers in my 13 year stay. The managerial style had been different in all accounts. Adapt or sink is my saying. I’ve been able to adapt to the constant change of style over the years.
Co-workers; Hardworking & never settling for nothing but the best. What a great team.
The hardest thing about my job; The knowledge transfer to new associates proves challenging, specifically when managers would like to see the learning curve shrink from 8 months to 1 month.
The most enjoyable part of my job; Being able to help others and teach others. When my colleagues are struggling with process or system
Just depends on how much work there is, work till the job is done.
Answered Jan 21, 2019
Some days can be long other than that normal 8
Answered Oct 6, 2018
If you were in charge, what would you do to make BD a better place to work?
Asked Sep 30, 2016
Hold everyone, management included, accountable for mistakes instead of passing them off to the people under you, to make yourself look better to corporate office
Answered Apr 14, 2020
Get rid of the bosses who don't like honest answers
Answered Jan 12, 2020
What advice would you give the CEO of BD about how to improve it?
Asked Sep 29, 2016
Be fair, equal (To both men and women), and respectful to anybody that works in or for the company. Favoritism should not be tolerated. Higher ups should take time to meet their employees so they can understand everyone’s perspective.
Answered Jul 23, 2020
FIRE the ones in charge! TOO MUCH FAVORITISM!!!!!
Answered Jul 9, 2020
What benefits does BD offer?
Asked Nov 7, 2016
BCBS 80/20, 401k, the usual
Answered Oct 18, 2018
Health, Dental, Vision, Prescription
Answered Aug 15, 2018
How often do raises occur at BD?
Asked Oct 19, 2016
Raises have historically been keeping up with the increase cost of living. More recently, the raises have been cut with excuses of poor plant performance as the cause. BD made 15 billion last year, and they are doing their best to not give anybody except upper management a piece of the pie. Turnover is at massive levels and they cant get anyone to accept offers unless they are a recent graduate without any experience. Once a new employee gets about 3 years experience, they leave for more money/better work environment. Current employees are mostly one of two flavors - high seniority abused people that are too far invested to leave, or new employees that have 1-3 years. Benefits are lame when you think that BD is directly profiting from the medical business. Premiums keep going up, and you can expect to pay around $5500 a year just straight off the top of your pay. BD also used to have a pension, but they silently stopped doing that for new employees. BD used to be a great place to work, but unfortunately has rolled back down to the bottom of the hill.
Answered Nov 26, 2019
Annual raises based on performance and 360 reviews. Mostly fair and accurate. The bonus and equity structure is important.
Average annual merit increase is 3%. Bonus structure is upwards of 20%. Equity structure is based on performance but adds up quickly.
