Greatbatch Reviews

Greatbatch is the manifestation everything that's bad about corporate culture: a disengaged executive team, closing US-based manufacturing to open plants in Mexico, meaningless restructuring, and an overemphasis on stock value growth. To be specific: 1) The CEO recently went on a "roadshow," visiting all the Greatbatch locations. Basically, the management team shows up and tells people to work harder. When Mr. Hook goes home to Dallas, an internal team shoots out an email telling the whole company how awesome his visit was, while he drives around Dallas in his exotic cars. 2) The Executive team "retreats" consist of putzing around a ranch, engaging in manly activities, and "strategizing." Once it's over, nothing significant changes. Why is the company wasting money on pointless expenses like this? 3) If you value your job, watch out: GB might close your facility and send your job to Mexico. 4) Shareholders are the be-all and end-all. Long-term, future-oriented planning doesn't matter in Greatbatch: only quarterly returns to shareholders. This ultimately subverts any intelligent long-range planning. I actually feel bad for the executive team because of this. They actually seem like competent people - Mr. Hook especially - but they are so beholden to stock value growth that it completely suffocates their decision-making. It doesn't help that Mr. Hook's salary is over 50% stock.

Putting up with constant harassment to the point of being embarrassed for the people trying to make you look bad. Alligator skin is a must. Thick skinned people cannot survive. Concerted efforts from a group of people that are threatened by different ideas, maybe not always better, just different. Cliques of people join forces to make you look inadequate, apparently to re-enforce their lack of imagination, and willingness to try/learn something that they have never read in a book. I have learned some helpful things there. They have not. Mostly because they will put you in a state of fear, that your suggestion will make them look like they are short on knowledge. Literally removing tools/methods that I have used for 20+ years, so it can never be done a different way. Yet, your raises depend on submitting ideas. If you submit an idea, you are labeled a "Know it all." I admit ignorance, that such an atmosphere could ever exist, and that some management takes part, and enjoys the side show. If you wait to stand up for yourself, especially after being physically threatened, I think the next step is going to be being labeled "Hard to get along with", or "Unable to take suggestions", or maybe even afraid to be around you. The worst part of it. They succeeded! I don`t know if I can do my job anymore. Not even the same job I had done dozens of times before. I see another reviewer really has worked there. They now will know who wrote this, and to the creators of my sleepless nights, and brand new nervous anxiety, I want to say "I apologize". I apologize for not putting them in their place my first week there. Also, to my boss. Who treated me great for the first month or two, until my looking over my shoulder pre-occupation, destroyed my confidence, and concentration to the point of my work suffering. Thus forcing him to join in on the "fun". (at times) The real slap in the face, is how good they either were forced, or decided to treat a newer hire. Hey, maybe I don`t know what I`m doing. It took 20+ years, and Greatbatch to find out. All the others must have just liked me, and kept me around though I was not skilled. P.S. It is NOT Greatbatch. It is HR not doing anything, and SOME co-workers, and SOME upper management. Imagine passing 4 or 5 , 4 yr.co-worker in the cafeteria, saying hello the first 2 or 3 times, never getting a response, and never even learning their name? If you can...Welcome to Greatbatch Medical. Best of luck. Can I be sued for telling the truth? I really don`t know. After all, it is true. I am told, Mr. Wilson Greatbatch would be sickened by how I, and others have been treated.