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Early visionaries Bausch & Lomb is one of the largest manufacturers of contact lenses and eye care products in the United States. A pioneer in the development and marketing of contact lenses, Bausch & Lomb began in 1853 as a small optical store that sold European imports. After the invention of vulcanized rubber frames in 1880, Bausch & Lomb expanded its service with the production of lenses for telescopes, binoculars, searchlights, and microscopes, some of which were used by the American armed forces in WWI. Bausch & Lomb's contribution to the war effort also included Ray-Ban sunglasses, which the company developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps pilots, who fought sun glare as often as Japanese kamikazes. Ray-Bans were made available to civilians in 1936, and their rapid success led the company to go public only two years later. However, in April 1999, after selling its sunglass operations to Italy's Luxottica Group for a reported 640 million dollars, Bausch & Lomb declared its mission to focus solely on the production of new contact lenses and lens solutions. Refocusing In the early 1990s Bausch and Lomb quickly expanded, acquiring Curel skin care products and Miracle-Ear hearing aids, increasing overseas sales, and producing optical instruments and drugs, including glaucoma treatments. In growing rapidly, the company spread itself a bit too thin, only to find its profits drop during the mid-'90s. These losses led to major restructuring in 1996 when 950 employees were laid off, followed by an additional 1,900 cuts the following year to minimize costs. Other casualties were the loss of the company's Rochester, New York manufacturer, and the shedding of its skin care business, including Curel and Soft Sense, to Jergens Corp. in June 1998. In May 1999, Bausch & Lomb also sold its Miracle Ear products, and unloaded its rat-breeding laboratories. By that year, the company's luck had turned, as it successfully reached its goal of annual savings of $100 million dollars. Solution for the future After missing the opportunity in earlier years to be the first to market disposable lenses, Bausch & Lomb has committed millions of dollars annually towards research and development. Bausch & Lomb had the technical ability to lead the disposable lens revolution, but hesitated, costing the company greatly. It learned from its mistakes; the expansion of R&D paid off in 1997 when Bausch & Lomb introduced the first multi-purpose solution for contact lenses. In 1999 Bausch & Lomb introduced extended-wear lenses, as well as lenses for people with astimatism. New disposable lenses are to be rolled out in 2000. Bausch & Lomb is getting into laser-eye surgery, marketing a vision-correction machine with a laser beam that is three times narrower then standard lasers. The Technolas 217 is the marker leader overseas, and the company hopes it will catch on here, since 1.7 million Americans are expectd to undergo the surgery in 2000.
Though recovering recently, Bausch & Lomb is still in the aftermath of major layoffs, which, as one employee pointed out, is "not something you probably wanted to hear if you are looking for a job" here. Those who have gone though the interview process say the interviewers ask "fairly relaxed, mostly general questions" though "recently they started interviewing in teams, which can be a little intimidating." Usually the interview consists of "a human resources rep who does a general info interview, both acquiring information and giving information about the company" followed by interviews with the hiring manager and supervisor in your field. Interviewers usually don't "grill or ask for answers to specific problems," but "for recent grads they may ask questions about courses and lab work" or other division related questions. Bausch & Lomb's employment Web page at www.bausch.com/EmploymentInfo/employmentinfo.html, provides information on some job openings. Applicants can submit their resumes either by fax or regular mail. Since the Web page lists only a few openings, applicants should consider sending resumes and cover letters to the placement office, which keeps resumes on file for six months. Those interested in working at a specific plant must inquire there, since Bausch & Lomb is a highly decentralized company.
Making the cut Recent downsizing in the Bausch & Lomb workforce contributed to a "nervous" and "stressful" atmosphere at the company during the past few years. Nonetheless, employees consider themselves lucky to be working for a "team-oriented" company that "listens to its employees' ideas." Employees say that throughout the company, Bausch & Lomb fosters interaction between different levels of management, encourages "individual initiative," and rewards "hard work with genuinely meritocratic promotions." The best way to find out about available positions is through an insider, since campus recruiting is uncommon, and "supervisors will often call friends and other sources to let them know they are looking." One insider reveals that "the usual way of getting the word out is an internal announcement for 3 days, then advertising in the paper." Out with the old "As the company has grown over the years there has been a definite change in the environment." "The culture is now more fast paced, sometimes very political and very stressful" but the "the atmosphere changes with the building you're in." Some warn that the "world headquarters can be stuffy." In the aftermath of the layoffs, one insider found that: "'Do more with less' is the running motto and they are working people beyond the breaking point." Others on the corporate side warn: "Look elsewhere for employment unless you like high pressure, very political situations." Despite the massive cuts of 1997, some positive changes have resulted: "Casual dress is allowed at all locations, alternative work arrangements (flex time, compressed work week, etc.) are just starting to be put in place, summer hours for June through August (four 9 hour days and half day on Friday)is the norm for most divisions, and the company's 401k plan is becoming more flexible." One happy insider declared: "All in all B&L is a terrific place to work and I hope to be employed there until I retire!"
Human Resources (716) 338-8265
Contact Lenses;Medical Instruments;Pharmaceuticals;Hearing Aids;Skin Care products
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