Worsening benefits/repeated layoffs/loss of motivation
Pros
I started working at Covidien during a local downturn in the industry. I was very grateful for the job. Medtronic will match donations to the charity of your choice The fitness center has nice equipment and is rarely crowded.
Cons
When I was hired on at Covidien the benefits were top of the industry. We had unlimited sick leave which was great for a young family. We also had great United Healthcare benefits, which was terrific for a family . When we found out on a Sunday night that we are getting bought out by Medtronic, most people were excited. I didn’t worry about my job and I thought the benefits would only improve. But the benefits got worse, and the layoffs are every year since (sometimes twice a year). To sum up, the medical insurance get worse every year, Medtronic dropped the unlimited sick leave (now you get to take vacation so everyone comes in sick), and the 401k match dropped. Medtronic also ruined the cafe. Yes, there are two restaurants on campus and a coffee shop. They really don’t help you at all as the food is terrible and coffee gives me heartburn (seriously). Medtronic fired the former cafe operators and spent a few years going with different vendors. Now they are back with the original vendors but costs must be cut, as the quality of the food under Covidien never returned. Yes, those restaurants are there, but Most don’t eat in them anymore. Most people bring their lunch to eat at the cafe tables or eat in their office, or their car just to get away from the loud cubicles (that’s something I had never seen before Medtronic, sad people sitting around puffing and eating in their cars). The healthcare is more expensive and far worse, e.g. Blue Cross/Blue Shield wanted me to drive my serverely injured child straight out of the ER 100 miles out of town instead of using a local surgeon. I ended up paying about $4K out of pocket to stay local ( still to this day it makes me so angry) I tried to appeal the decision twice, even calling Medtronic’s outsourced HR, but got no where....sick or injured kid? Medtronic doesn’t care. This year, the final straw was some sort of “insurance” out of Minneapolis and it’s pay-as-you-go called Bind. So your choices are BC/BS out of Minneapolis with few local providers or “Bind”. Most I know are on their spouses insurance. You would think all that money Medtronic saved by “moving” their headquarters to Ireland would be put towards benefits to retain employees, but it’s not. Once I saw how bad the health insurance (and moral) had gotten, I started looking for another job and quickly found one locally. Starting a new company you’re reminded how bad it was at the old. I have better benefits (just used my new vision benefits and saved over $200 more compared to Medtronic ) , better vacation ( the vacation I have now is better than 20 years at Medtronic + sick leave and 2 extra holidays), better 401K match (Medtronic dropped the 6% Covidien match to 3% (with a little extra for company performance) now I have 10%), same salary and work with happier people. The yearly layoffs at Medtronic have taken a toll on employees (every June and sometimes December). The last one they dropped the few dedicated employees they had-you know, the ones that had put in decades and were waiting for retirement...lots of tears that day. To sum up, those that can get another job do, people who can’t stay with corresponding attitudes (ever see Office Space?). Oh and the severance package is the very least, one week/year. So, if you are a new employee that moved here to take a job? Good luck, here’s your week ( saw that happen also). Forget trying to get help with HR or IT that is all outsourced and you’re pretty much on your own. Get used to calling the Phillipines for help with HR (the fun part is asking them your question in a room full of people in cubicle) and Minneapolis for local IT questions. If you are desperate for a job, go ahead and take it at Medtronic. Know that they will drug test you after the offer, and if your drug test comes back positive your offer will be rescinded and everyone you interviewed with will know why. Gossip is horribly pervasive at Medtronic (I used to find out about upcoming layoffs from the person who served coffee, people would treat her like she was invisible and she would hear it all-she ended up quitting also) and there is no confidentiality (I suspect that left when Medtronic laid off all the local HR reps). Yes, and they will rescind an offer on testing Marijuana positive. How do I know this? I was told when asked why X hadn’t started, everyone knew. There is no privacy. I should have never known that information, even now it feels wrong. Medtronic also has an issue with Charities. You will be required (the company will say you’re not required but your boss may infer you that you are) to help with whichever Christian charities Medtronic decides to bring in. You will spend time during work hours doing whatever job they need you to do, and then have to watch a video about “god” afterwards, truly...I couldn’t believe it. You will also have to donate money to whatever right-wing charity Medtronic chooses in order to wear jeans. You boss will receive a list of those who have paid and will reprimand you if you don’t pay to play. If I were a new graduate looking for a job, my advice to you would be to get an internship at Medtronic. They pay pretty well and the people that take on Interns are generally pretty good (then they get new jobs and leave). Then use that experience to get a job somewhere else. Put your talents to a local company headquartered in the US with better benefits and maybe some stock options (you don’t get that either at Medtronic) there are plenty around Colorado.
