Sanofi Reps' Morale Hits New Low as Layoff Rumors Circulate

(MoneyWatch)  Sanofi-Aventis managers are driving their sales reps crazy with their refusal to either name a day on which layoffs will be announced or announce layoffs are not happening. With concrete information absent, rumors are taking their place. This person thinks the layoff count was determined five months ago. But this one thinks Thanksgiving is the time:

It was 11/26, but voicemail this am stated that they would be completing alignments it over the Thanksgiving holidays.

Layoffs have been expected ever since Chris Veihbacher became CEO, auguring an end to the French management style of never laying anyone off no matter how unproductive they are. Perhaps the delay is due to Veihbacher having a lot on his plate right now? And the withdrawal of Sanofi's applications for Taxotere and Docetaxel Winthrop for breast cancer in Europe cannot have helped.

Here's what it's doing to morale among the Sanofites:

I know it doesn't take a genius to know lay offs are coming...but no one has announced this or confirmed it. Why can't someone just tell us...YES we will have lay-offs and you will know on this date.

This waiting is killing me wondering when they are going to finally announce the cuts. C'Mon just do it already! I am tired of hearing that "they" don't know anything and that we should know our fate the week of December 1st. ENOUGH! Just drop the bomb already!

I couldn't agree more. Everything we hear one day is negated the next day. It really seems that even the managers are clueless. Wish we could just know today. I don't think this is creating a good working environment.

It is not making for a good personal/home life either. I am constantly scared, grumpy, and kind of down lately just waiting to see what will happen. I want it to be over, yet I want them to wait as long as they can because then my paycheck will continue a little longer, and I am scared of losing everything when the money runs out in this bad economy.