The root of all evil...

There isn’t a day which goes by now where you don’t read or hear about another financial crisis in the news somewhere around the globe. It doesn’t take a financial expert to work out that the world is broke. Greece can’t afford to pay for anything, Americans still can’t afford to pay for healthcare and the UK no longer wants to pay for those living at home on benefits – amongst other things.

So, is there any real point going to your boss and asking for a rise in your salary? Is it worth being laughed out of the office? Money is a delicate issue at the moment – probably because nobody has any. Although, that’s not entirely true. Banks are still posting billion pound profits – as are pharmaceutical companies. The last few weeks has seen a raft of pharma’s biggest players release their financial results for last year. To the best of my knowledge, not one of them made a loss in 2011.

Although the gains may not have been enough to satisfy greedy shareholders, the pharmaceutical industry is alive and kicking. Billion pound profits may not immediately drop their way down to those working within the field, but it does show that the pot isn’t empty just yet.

I recently attended a meeting of UK sales managers. While discussing Pf’s Company Perception, Motivation and Satisfaction Survey, I was told this temperature check of the industry had been used to convince those with the purse strings that they were worthy of a pay rise. After using last year’s survey data they found they were being paid less than the industry average for their role.

No company wants to lose experienced, skilled staff – especially egotistical pharmaceutical companies trying to save a few quid. Unlike other surveys where thousands or pounds can be won or a new mini will be sent out in the post first thing Monday morning, Pf’s survey actually helps those working within the industry. Results are used both by pharma companies to ensure they’re not being left behind by rivals in the industry, and by skilled staff to ensure they’re not being taken advantage of.

It takes only ten minutes of your time. Just think, this time next year, you could’ve benefitted by taking time out of your day. Complete the survey here. For every completed form, HSP, the publishers of Pharmaceutical Field, will make a donation to Birmingham-based charity, Home from Hospital Care.