This is an interesting concept. Unfortunately, Big Pharma can fire me and fight this until my grandchildren are dust.

Great post, and very informative.

I'm glad the CT Fed. Court acknowledge what I, as an ex-drug rep for over 10 years, have known for some time: pharmaceutical representatives do not sell anything.

However, it is a false perception that drug reps. work over 40 hours a week. Throughout my career, I possibly may work a 20 hour week with a pharma company as a drug rep, or less. Most drug reps have a similiar work week with 20 hours applied to their vocations.

So the overtime issues, while legally valid, are not realistic. Pharmaceutical represenatives do not work overtime, and any who conclude this are basing their conclusion on ignorance.

Hey Dan:
Working 20 hours per week was stealing money from your employer. I, too, am a veteran of the pharma sales industry and I don't recall my Big Pharma employer ever telling me that LESS than 8-5 pm hours was acceptable. I can only assume that your 20 hour work week is why you are an ex-rep.

Hey Dan:
Working 20 hours per week was stealing money from your employer. I, too, am a veteran of the pharma sales industry and I don't recall my Big Pharma employer ever telling me that LESS than 8-5 pm hours was acceptable. I can only assume that your 20 hour work week is why you are an ex-rep.

Hey DJ:

Dan is correct. The article was very informative and it's a little harsh to say he wa stealing from his company. Your head is up your butt if you claim to be working 40+ hours in this position. Your claiming that your in your territory at 8am and you don't leave your territory until 5pm or later. I must say, that you must have found a very comfortable park bench because there is no way you're the one rep in the industry that puts in a 40+ work week. D-E-N-I-A-L! You must be in line for the CEO position by now. Good luck with that Dan...and yes, there is life after being a Pharm Rep.

Hey JB:
Hit a nerve, didn't I? You and Dan both were stealing money from your employers by not working a full work-week. Talk about denial! I call taking money from an employer without earning it STEALING. I am sure your company did not agree that working part-time hours without their knowledge and taking full-time pay was acceptable.

No wonder you work 8 to 5... you're busy during those hours posting back and forth with JB and Dan

Retired at 55 after 32 years in the business. That's what you get for working 8-5 pm and being excellent at what you do!

Reps who claim that they don't work 40+ hours per week are usually out of the industry after a few years. After 26+ years, I have learned the only way to do this job is to work at least 40 hours. Also, I have had many, many overnights over the years, are they included? They would be easy to count - just look at expense reports. Reps who scoff at the hours required are one reason management doesn't respect us.

I've been in the industry for 7 years, won every award offered, and kill numbers every year...I work 50+ hours/week when I'm given a new territory, then once the relationships are established, 25-30 is fine to maintain and grab business if done correctly. Plus, since dinners without speaker programs are now illegal, evenings will be cut back to less than 5-10 per year. Plus, if you do work a night, you just start a little later the next day...and it all equals out. Reps that work 40+ hours in todays market (use to be different) are inefficient and trying to fufill their internal need to be 'productive.'

oh, and I forgot, any 'sales' job isn't about how many hours you work...it's about hitting revenue numbers and quota. I'd take a rep at 110% of quota working 20 hrs a week over the guy who works 50+ hours and is at 100% of quota...

I think the argument you guys are having is the exact point they make in the article...drug reps (and I'm one of 'em) are NOT salesmen...that's why most measure their work in hours, not productivity (quota attainment).

Hey successful rep:
I am sure your company's policy is not to allow reps to work whatever hours they want as long as they deliver their numbers. I subscribe to the code of ethics that says if you take something from someone without their permission - in your case fewer work hours than 8-5 pm - it is stealing. If you want to work the hours you deem appropriate your best option is an independent rep. It is your business, you decide your work hours and you probably will make more money.

you're silly...you should go work for the government. For-profit corporations are about results, not time and checking boxes.

It's reps with the '8-to-5' mindset and not the entreprenurial spirit that has ruined this field.

Correction -- successful rep -- marketing has ruined this field.