Vistakon, Limerick

bobby101

Hi There

I was just wondering does anyone know what vistakon are like to work for , do they take on general production workers (non specifice trade) and if they do what are the hours and pay are like. Also is it contract work and if so do they recontract you once your contract is up or are you left go? sorry for all the questions, thanks

ninty9er

I'm pretty sure even the production lines in Vistakon are staffed by skill specific bachelor and postgraduate degree holders.

Haven't heard too many complaints from people I know who work there.

killwill

ninty9er wrote: »

I'm pretty sure even the production lines in Vistakon are staffed by skill specific bachelor and postgraduate degree holders.

Haven't heard too many complaints from people I know who work there.

Nope you are incorrect.
They will take unskilled workers for "end of line" production. Have done in the past and still do.
It will be an 11month contract with a slim chance of been taken back on. You might get a second contract but only after a break between both contracts.

Brennans Row

Vistakon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and the world’s biggest manufacturer of contact lenses, is to expand its plant in Limerick and create 100 new jobs as part of a €100 million investment.

See RTE

europa11

Great news!

+ 200 jobs on the construction side of the project as well.

thesimpsons

is this in addition to the big construction going on there at the moment or just a late announcement of work thats being going on for last 6 months ?

Mc Love

it seems there is always construction taking place there for as long as I can remember

Cheerful Spring

Well they said 100 third level employees. Does that mean if you have a degree you can join us?

Or does it mean the jobs will have a specific skill set and you'll need a certain degree to do a certain job there ?

Cookiemunster

Cheerful Spring wrote: »

Well they said 100 third level employees. Does that mean if you have a degree you can join us?

Or does it mean the jobs will have a specific skill set and you'll need a certain degree to do a certain job there ?

Generally they look for specific skill sets and engineering or science degrees.

limericklad87

Flexsource (CPL) have an account there and a lot of people working there on contract will get 11 months and then cut loose for minimum of six months after which you may be offered anbother 11 months. Then thats it. 2 x 11 month contracts and your on your own unless hired directly

Re: Process technicians working on the line, this is the job requirements from irishjobs.ie

_____________________-


Main duties and responsibilities:

Working on a 4 cycle shift system, you will be responsible for:
· Production output of a Class III Medical Device
· Equipment Maintenance (controls, sensors, pneumatics & electrics)
· Line efficiency (high volume production and fully automated manufacturing)
· Project work (relating to process improvement including cycle-time and yield development)
· Contribution to targets related to Safety, Quality, Compliance and Continuous Improvement


Education and Experience:

• An electrical or mechanical qualification and experience working in one or more of the following - injection moulding, automation control, toolmaking, maintenance, electrical or mechanical /fitter roles
• At least three years experience is required

We seek technicians who have the interest, energy and motivation to work in our fast moving, medical devices manufacturing environment.
The successful applicant should have experience of working within a team, have excellent communication skills and be able to work under their own initiative.
All candidates must be available to work a 24/7, 12 hour rotating shift system.

flutered

i know of a person who has relocated to limerick and works in vistakon, who says the following, 25 of the 100 places are filled, this person has a specific science degree, also a masters, but can only get work there via an agency, then only on a three month contract.

limericklad87

saw a lot of new starts recently alright

phill106

limericklad87 wrote: »

saw a lot of new starts recently alright

Yep, canteen is getting a bit crowded

Marstan

Does anybody know what agency deals with contract positions for Vistakon, and if they are currently hiring ?

CPL I think. They seem to be always hiring. I heard they're a balls of a company to work for so that's probably why

Marstan

Yeah I'd say they work people fairly hard all right they seem to have advertisements and billboards the whole year round looking for technicians too. Thanks for the response.

Mc Love

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

CPL I think. They seem to be always hiring. I heard they're a balls of a company to work for so that's probably why

Marstan wrote: »

Yeah I'd say they work people fairly hard all right they seem to have advertisements and billboards the whole year round looking for technicians too. Thanks for the response.

To be honest, people said that about Dell too, but its just the fact irish people are no longer used to hard work.

Mc Love

Mc Love wrote: »

To be honest, people said that about Dell too, but its just the fact irish people are no longer used to hard work.

Ah we are. Anyone I know that worked/works in vistakon say it's a terrible place to work. I don't know as I've never worked there but it must be true if so few people have good things to say about it. Dell on the other hand wasn't the worst crowd but the work itself was just crap. Repetitive, boring and tedious

Roquentin

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

Ah we are. Anyone I know that worked/works in vistakon say it's a terrible place to work. I don't know as I've never worked there but it must be true if so few people have good things to say about it. Dell on the other hand wasn't the worst crowd but the work itself was just crap. Repetitive, boring and tedious

How do you apply for Vistakon as a general operative? Do you just hand in a CV and hope for the best or go through an agency?

phill106

http://careers.jnj.com/
tell em i sent ya, maybe ill get a referal

bennyl10

phill106 wrote: »

http://careers.jnj.com/
tell em i sent ya, maybe ill get a referal

Where would one find how to apply for general operative?.. Can't see it in site..

tim3000

bennyl10 wrote: »

Where would one find how to apply for general operative?.. Can't see it in site..

I recently started in there after a long time out of work. I had to go through the recruitment agency CPL. They are on the dock road in Limerick. What I did was to physically hand in a cv to their offices. Then I emailed them once a week til I was granted an interview in Vistakon.

A friend of mine handed in a cv two weeks ago and started this week. Apparently they are extending the number of lines there or something like that and have stepped up recruiting in accordance. Its a 12 hour shift working 14 days/nights in 28. Its good money but repetitive work. Hope you get in.

bennyl10

tim3000 wrote: »

I recently started in there after a long time out of work. I had to go through the recruitment agency CPL. They are on the dock road in Limerick. What I did was to physically hand in a cv to their offices. Then I emailed them once a week til I was granted an interview in Vistakon.

A friend of mine handed in a cv two weeks ago and started this week. Apparently they are extending the number of lines there or something like that and have stepped up recruiting in accordance. Its a 12 hour shift working 14 days/nights in 28. Its good money but repetitive work. Hope you get in.

so easiest would be to hand in a CV physically to CPL?
thanks a million!

tim3000

bennyl10 wrote: »

so easiest would be to hand in a CV physically to CPL?
thanks a million!

That's the way I did it. I was told to do it by a person who was working there that it shows interest. Plus it has the added advantage of not being just another email of a cv.

phill106

bennyl10 wrote: »

Where would one find how to apply for general operative?.. Can't see it in site..

When the roles are available, they would come up under limerick, I saw some ethicon operative ones there in an email the other day, so should come up often enough.

Roquentin

still queueing wrote: »

I can only speak for Vistakon as I am working there.
It's hell.
Most of the original staff there (5 years plus) are ignorant horrible people.
There are some wonderful guys there but a majority are nightmarish to work with.
There is a culture verging on bullying from the "older" permanent staff.
They degrade and harass you and wear down every bit of self esteem and confidence so that by the end of it you are almost like a slave to them..
Of the 10 Process Technicians that started with me there are only 3 left and that's in a space of 11 Months.
I have heard of new people having nervous breakdowns and suffering from serious depression after a short spell with Vistakon.

The shift system is cruel you work 4 weeks of nights and switch over to 4 weeks of days. So just as you are used to working nights you are moved to days and visa versa. While on nights you can just write off the month. You leave at 7.30 am and are back in at 7.20 pm the same day, or if you have "2" days off you finish say Monday morning and are back in Wednesday evening.....

There is a Joke in Limerick about Vistakon and why they have a revolving doors on the premises.

Apparently the HR department is the busiest in Ireland.

My advice to anyone is stay well clear of this hell !!!

I was warned before I went in and thought there are feckers everywhere that will complain about where they work and ignored it thinking that I am / have a strong character and I enjoy every where I worked. I also needed the work.

BOY WAS I WRONG.!!!!!

Looking for an exit since I started there hopefully things are about to change and more jobs will come onstream.

GET ME OUTTA HERE !!!!!

are you on the line or a third level degree worker?

davo2001

still queueing wrote: »

I can only speak for Vistakon as I am working there.
It's hell.
Most of the original staff there (5 years plus) are ignorant horrible people.
There are some wonderful guys there but a majority are nightmarish to work with.
There is a culture verging on bullying from the "older" permanent staff.
They degrade and harass you and wear down every bit of self esteem and confidence so that by the end of it you are almost like a slave to them..
Of the 10 Process Technicians that started with me there are only 3 left and that's in a space of 11 Months.
I have heard of new people having nervous breakdowns and suffering from serious depression after a short spell with Vistakon.

The shift system is cruel you work 4 weeks of nights and switch over to 4 weeks of days. So just as you are used to working nights you are moved to days and visa versa. While on nights you can just write off the month. You leave at 7.30 am and are back in at 7.20 pm the same day, or if you have "2" days off you finish say Monday morning and are back in Wednesday evening.....

There is a Joke in Limerick about Vistakon and why they have a revolving doors on the premises.

Apparently the HR department is the busiest in Ireland.

My advice to anyone is stay well clear of this hell !!!

I was warned before I went in and thought there are feckers everywhere that will complain about where they work and ignored it thinking that I am / have a strong character and I enjoy every where I worked. I also needed the work.

BOY WAS I WRONG.!!!!!

Looking for an exit since I started there hopefully things are about to change and more jobs will come onstream.

GET ME OUTTA HERE !!!!!

This EXACTLY reflects my GF's experience (3rd level degree, working in the lab) here, to be far she lasted 5 months, longer than a lot. I felt awful seeing her come home so depressed. Toke a long time for her to gain her confidence back after leaving this place, thank god she did!

davo2001

still queueing wrote: »

EDIT DUE TO FACTS ABOUT VISTAKON MIGHT COST ME MY JOB......

Mightn't be a bad thing ;-)

killwill

Jesus lads, if its as bad as ye are making it out and ye want out so bad just go?

Roquentin

still queueing wrote: »

Line Worker but its no different anywhere in the plant.

i best avoid that place then......worked in dell and thought that was grand and thought vistakon would be nice to work in.....im kind of a laborer

Firefox11

I was at one of there job open nights recently. Was wondering what they were like to work for.

niallo27

I think it is a wonderful place to work.

killwill

Firefox11 wrote: »

I was at one of there job open nights recently. Was wondering what they were like to work for.

The first 18-24 months can be a bit tough especially coming from a hands on trade background as the lines are fully automated and alot of what you do is analysis work looking for gains in cycletimes etc.
There are pros and cons to all jobs. The pros in Vistakon are your health insurance paid for and a decent bonus scheme. Plus all the OT you want.
Its constantly expanding and for now seems to be one of the most stable jobs around.

Obvious cons are working weekends and nights but you know about that signing up to the job!!!

i contact

killwill wrote: »

The first 18-24 months can be a bit tough especially coming from a hands on trade background as the lines are fully automated and alot of what you do is analysis work looking for gains in cycletimes etc.
There are pros and cons to all jobs. The pros in Vistakon are your health insurance paid for and a decent bonus scheme. Plus all the OT you want.
Its constantly expanding and for now seems to be one of the most stable jobs around.

Obvious cons are working weekends and nights but you know about that signing up to the job!!!

That's not completely true.
Yes the first 18 -24 months are tough as are the following years unless you arw lucky and get on to a line with decent people and they just aren't there.
It is no place for a tradesperson or anyone with any qualifications. You are going to have your trade wasted and regret that you stayed there.
I agree with that poster there are a lot of obnoxious people working there and the culture is one of bullying.
I worked there for 4 years and when I left it was a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.
I moved to another medical device manufacturer and the difference is amazing.
No bullying what so ever and the workforce is a happy one.
You fail to mention the poor wages . €27000 ( approx €12.50 per hour) basic wage is an insult to offer any trades person or any qualified person.
People in there think they are on good wages but you can't consider shift allowance part of your wages. That is paid because you are working shifts i.e Nights and weekends.

Yes all the overtime you want but who wants to do it unless you are one of the people who makes it hell for everyone else.....
Finally healthcare is paid for but if they paid a decent wage you could pay for that yourself.
I moved and got a decent wage €46k+ shift allowance plus healthcare.

With regards to it being stable at the rate people are leaving they will run out of victims soon !

i contact

niallo27 wrote: »

I think it is a wonderful place to work.

You must be one of the people who make it a hell for the others !!!!

Roquentin

are people talking about the minimum wage line workers or the qualified personell or both?

Autonomous

Redundancy rumours abound....50 or so.

i contact

Roquentin wrote: »

are people talking about the minimum wage line workers or the qualified personell or both?

The starting wage for qualified line workers is €26,500k top end is €39,500k after about 15 years plus and kissing a lot of ass...

Wages in Vistakon are known to be very low. Grad engineers are similar at about €26k

The company consider shift pay as part of your wage and have the workers brainwashed into thinking the same. Plus all the overtime you can do if you are not mentally exhausted already.

i contact

Autonomous wrote: »

Redundancy rumours abound....50 or so.

There is no chance of redundancy there they can't keep people there.
They would only have to wait a month or so and they would have the 50 bodies...
From what I have heard from an ex colleague over the weekend another 2 have left...

niallo27

The workforce are phenomenal out there.

Roquentin

i contact wrote: »

The starting wage for qualified line workers is €26,500k top end is €39,500k after about 15 years plus and kissing a lot of ass...

Wages in Vistakon are known to be very low. Grad engineers are similar at about €26k

The company consider shift pay as part of your wage and have the workers brainwashed into thinking the same. Plus all the overtime you can do if you are not mentally exhausted already.

but whats it like to work as a minimum wage worker on the line?

i contact

Roquentin wrote: »

but whats it like to work as a minimum wage worker on the line?

I think the word used earlier was "HELL".

Its okay if you like to be bullied and degraded and paid a pittance for the privilege.

niallo27

i contact wrote: »

I think the word used earlier was "HELL".

Its okay if you like to be bullied and degraded and paid a pittance for the privilege.

That's bull****.

BrendanD

I know 2 people working there and they are very happy both have qualifications but they work the machines as well ,they fix and pm them.
They get a productivity bonus and share options as well.
I think its just a case of try it and see as everyone has their own opinions and you can always leave if you want ;-)

Roquentin

i contact wrote: »

I think the word used earlier was "HELL".

Its okay if you like to be bullied and degraded and paid a pittance for the privilege.

oh ok......i worked in dell and thought that was great. long hours no doubt but i like that kind of work

i applied for vistakon a few times. its only an 11 month contract i believe so that coupled with the poor vibes probably aint worth it.

probably better looking for a job that pays less but is more long term

i contact

BrendanD wrote: »

I know 2 people working there and they are very happy both have qualifications but they work the machines as well ,they fix and pm them.
They get a productivity bonus and share options as well.
I think its just a case of try it and see as everyone has their own opinions and you can always leave if you want ;-)

Sometimes people will say they are fine in their job but under it all they hate it.
I know when I left the consensus with my work colleagues was that I was a lucky so and so tho be getting out of there.
I'd say without exaggeration that about 60% of the workforce are very unhappy there and are planning to move as soon as they get the opportunity the other 40% are institutionalized.
There is no working the machines... It is an automated plant and you spend most of your day rooting out jams with a length of wire . The only ones really working the machines are the packers packing the cases they are kinda hands on ...
It'd be only okay if you were about to loose your house because the mortgage repayments are falling behind ... even then I would rather KFC or McDonalds...
You'd get paid just as much or very close to it.
Yep there are perks like the onsite shop where you can buy J&J products at cost price. I do miss that but the prices of some of the products are as cheap in Tesco !!!

I am happy to be out of it and when Regeneron open up fully there will be a mass exodus
from Vistakon . Mark my words....

jt84

i contact wrote: »

Sometimes people will say they are fine in their job but under it all they hate it.
I know when I left the consensus with my work colleagues was that I was a lucky so and so tho be getting out of there.
I'd say without exaggeration that about 60% of the workforce are very unhappy there and are planning to move as soon as they get the opportunity the other 40% are institutionalized.
There is no working the machines... It is an automated plant and you spend most of your day rooting out jams with a length of wire . The only ones really working the machines are the packers packing the cases they are kinda hands on ...
It'd be only okay if you were about to loose your house because the mortgage repayments are falling behind ... even then I would rather KFC or McDonalds...
You'd get paid just as much or very close to it.
Yep there are perks like the onsite shop where you can buy J&J products at cost price. I do miss that but the prices of some of the products are as cheap in Tesco !!!

I am happy to be out of it and when Regeneron open up fully there will be a mass exodus
from Vistakon . Mark my words....

Worked there for two years now and couldn't agree with you more. I made the huge mistake of leaving a job because vistakon is a bit closer to home and i though i would be better off without the travelling to work. About a month in i knew what a huge mistake i had made and started job hunting . It will make you appreciate what ever job you get afterwards just thinking of being back there. would say your comment about 60% of workforce being unhappy is being generous.I would say if you just take engineers and pt's it is a lot higher. Management have a god complex like you couldn't believe. Constant emails designed to intimidate. I know a couple people who work in the newest phase and they are all working hard on getting out, its a culture of intimidation and being treated like dirt. IF YOU HAVE A TRADE DO NOT GO NEAR VISTAKON. You will have to do an interview and aptitude test that would lead you to believe you are going to work for nasa and then get to do the most menial mind numbing work. Rooting at jams with a piece of wire is about the most appropriate description. As for people asking why people still work there its been down to lack of options for the last few years, thankfully that is changing and there is jobs out there again. I know a lot of people who have left there in the past few weeks alone and I am genuinely delighted for every one of them. I think even before regeneron etc. The mass exodus has begun

bridgeman

Hi,
I worked here in 2006/2007. It was the most horrible place ever to work the bullying form both management and technicians alike was unbelieveable. There was nothing you could do because people at different times reported it to HR and lies were then told and Hr also lied and covered it all up. If someone was sacked it brought a smile to the scumbags faces. Oh to meet some of them now for what they did to me. I worked in the 3GT area where we were expected to reach impossible targets on crap lines with cheap crap equipment. It wasn't possible to meet targets and have quality at the same time. In my time there I saw grown adults brought to tears by bullies. STAY AWAY.

tim3000

I am working there slightly over 6 months though I am not on the lines. I must say I find the people there friendly for the most part. I have yet to come across anything like the level of animosity other posters have seen. It is very boring and very repetitive but its easy and relatively well paid. Though I do think that 11 month contracts are a bit cynical.

jt84

tim3000 wrote: »

I am working there slightly over 6 months though I am not on the lines. I must say I find the people there friendly for the most part. I have yet to come across anything like the level of animosity other posters have seen. It is very boring and very repetitive but its easy and relatively well paid. Though I do think that 11 month contracts are a bit cynical.

Hi tim. Glad you are finding it ok but I think if you were working on the lines you would see a really different side to the place. The term bullying has been used a lot here and can be used sometimes too easily but it is definitely appropriate to use about that place. I worked on sites and am by no means soft but what goes on there is not funny. The amount of guys that go out with stress etc. is quite serious and I'm not talking about the usual suspects taking the piss. Real genuine cases who you can see when you work with them are absolutely depressed from working there

Sgt Hartman

Here's a little snippet of my experience working there.

I worked there myself 14 years ago in the QC laboratory and there were times when I found it pretty stressful. There was one girl there who was all chatty and bubbly with everyone else but she hated me for some reason and made me miserable. She was gone by Xmas though. We worked in teams of 4 per shift. One time 2 people from our shift rang in sick at the same time, leaving me there with a rookie who was only working there a couple of weeks. Not only was my workload trebled I had to try and answer constant telephone queries as well as try to help the rookie. I thought I was gonna go insane. I remember the 2 blond jobsworths on the other shift who seemed to revel in making the guys on the packing end of the lines miserable, always pointing out stupid petty things to them. The base curve reader, AARGH!! That device was a nightmare, forever breaking down. One time it broke down on the night shift. There was nobody there to repair it so all the base curve readings from the night shift were left for our shift to do I also remember the HR chief complaining that I wasn't doing enough overtime despite the fact she had a cushy 8-4 number and I don't think she ever had to do any overtime herself. The guys on the lines were lovely but they always seemed pretty miserable and pissed off about the place.

After 9 months my contract wasn't renewed and to be honest I was a bit relieved to be finally rid of the place. In fairness I was 21 at the time and I don't think I had the maturity or confidence for such a job at the time. One guy I went to college with is working in the QC lab at the moment and he seems to be happy enough there. Reading some of the comments here it seems that things don't seem to have improved on the lines there. It's a bit sad really.