Medtronic to bring 1400 jobs to SA... (San Antonio, Lackland AFB: school, bill, swimming)

[sapphire]

I wonder if the huge number of diabetics in San Antonio came into play? I know more diabetics than non-diabetics, and I'm not diabetic.

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by sapphire

I wonder if the huge number of diabetics in San Antonio came into play? I know more diabetics than non-diabetics, and I'm not diabetic.

Although Medtronic would never admit to that, you may have a point.

[TXEX06]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

That's sad.

I agree.

Recent college grads in San Antonio get paid very low compared to other cities. I know the cost of living in San Antonio is low, but not that low.

Hmmm teach and make an extra 10k a year and have a lot of time off, or work full-time year around for 33k?

[NanaDiana]

Medtronic Diabetes Division in California does not pay more than 33,000.00 for entry level and I will guarantee you that of the 1400 jobs coming to San Antonio, at least 50% will be contract to hire, not employees of Medtronic. No perks, no advantages. That is how they work in CA and why the turn-over is so high. They work you like a slave and have the worst operating system I have seen in my 34 years of working in the medical arena. Medtronic just laid off 1600 workers last week, they have lost multiple lawsuits and they are in financial straits. I can also clue you into the fact that very few sales, customer service and billing employees are college graduates, you just have to be a robot.

I say this as part of a crew of 12 employees who all handed in their immediate resignation on the same day. We had enough of their shenanigans. Medtronic advertised for employees on a daily basis for over 3 years because the turnover was so great.

Great for San Antonio if you really want to work like that. Be prepared, you better be proficient in English, the company is world-wide, they do not care about bilingual abilities. If you like a job where you can only think inside a box, you will succeed, if you are intelligent and even attempt to think outside the box, you will hate it. You will never be a human being to them, you are just dollar signs.

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

I know they're not the best paying...but it's something. Better than losing jobs.


Medtronic Diabetes, a unit of Minneapolis-based Medtronic Inc., will bring 1,400 sales and support jobs to San Antonio and will start hiring this summer, the San Antonio Express-News has learned.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the number of jobs, the expansion of the city’s medical industry and possible future research and manufacturing opportunities combine to make Medtronic’s site selection the biggest economic boost for San Antonio since Toyota Motor Co. announced in 2003 it would build an assembly plant in San Antonio.

Gov. Rick Perry will announce the deal formally at 3:15 p.m. Monday at the Overlook at the Rim building in The Rim shopping center, where the company will set up operations.



Medtronic to bring 1,400 jobs to S.A. (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Medtronic_Diabetes_to_bring_1400_jobs_to_SA.html - broken link)

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by NanaDiana

Medtronic Diabetes Division in California does not pay more than 33,000.00 for entry level and I will guarantee you that of the 1400 jobs coming to San Antonio, at least 50% will be contract to hire, not employees of Medtronic. No perks, no advantages. That is how they work in CA and why the turn-over is so high. They work you like a slave and have the worst operating system I have seen in my 34 years of working in the medical arena. Medtronic just laid off 1600 workers last week, they have lost multiple lawsuits and they are in financial straits. I can also clue you into the fact that very few sales, customer service and billing employees are college graduates, you just have to be a robot.

I say this as part of a crew of 12 employees who all handed in their immediate resignation on the same day. We had enough of their shenanigans. Medtronic advertised for employees on a daily basis for over 3 years because the turnover was so great.


Great for San Antonio if you really want to work like that. Be prepared, you better be proficient in English, the company is world-wide, they do not care about bilingual abilities. If you like a job where you can only think inside a box, you will succeed, if you are intelligent and even attempt to think outside the box, you will hate it. You will never be a human being to them, you are just dollar signs.

Those jobs will be quickly snapped up here.

[tgannaway89]

I see no problem with the company wanting their employees to be proficient in English. I don't think anybody expected these to be high-paying jobs. IMO it is a great opportunity for grad students working while attending school (UTSA is less than a mile away). I don't see many with masters or PhDs applying here.

[Paka]

Wow...I personally know Earl Bakken the cofounder of Medtronics and can tell you that if things have gone sour with that company, it has only been since his retirement.

The employees of Medtronics when he was at the helm were some of the happiest people you could meet...and they were all doing QUITE well with stock options. Earl was always of the mindset that the employees had to have a stock in the success of the company to make the company a success.

He and his wife still live in Hawaii, and I know that the feeling was "we are family" for anyone lucky enough to work for them.

[deek102]

Originally Posted by NanaDiana

Medtronic Diabetes Division in California does not pay more than 33,000.00 for entry level

sounds like a pretty good starting salary actually. Especially when you say...

I can also clue you into the fact that very few sales, customer service and billing employees are college graduates, you just have to be a robot.

Even better, good pay for no work

Medtronic advertised for employees on a daily basis for over 3 years because the turnover was so great.

that does suck

Be prepared, you better be proficient in English, the company is world-wide, they do not care about bilingual abilities.

uh oh, we better get that poster from TN to apply.. aparently the rest of us are screwed!

[perticusrex]

I agree that $33K isnt that bad for starting wages if you only have high school graduate as the extent of your educational background.

[NanaDiana]

Happy, you are all looking forward to Medtronic coming to San Antonio. Hope alot of you have your updated resumes in local Employment Agencies because that is where alot of the staff will be coming from. You always start "Contract to Hire". Perhaps you will all do swimmingly. DME (Durable Medical Equipment) Sales and support is very difficult.

I wish you all well....as a backup plan, make a sign for the wall of your Cubicle "Bang Head Here". $33,000 is the starting salary for High School grads, Bachelor's degree holders and even less for 24 hour Support services. Remember, they are exiting California because they did not want to pay $33,000.00 per year for their support staff.

The people are lovely, it was the expectations that caused the great turnover. Once you sit down for the day, plan on only leaving for an occasional bathroom break and never count on a nice lunch break. Good luck with the computer systems, they could make Bill Gates cry. The training which lasts 4 weeks is like boot camp, so take some coping classes from the guys at Lackland AFB.

Best of luck, I do hope things improve, most of us did a 180 degree turnaround, we are working at Warner Bros and MGM and we are having a ball.....