Rant

The 'quiet' hiring freeze at Merck is starting to worry me

0x3ef5…7b77

·3d ago·2 comments

So, I've been trying to get a new position filled on my team for months now. Originally, it was 'budget constraints,' then 'strategic realignment,' and now it's just… crickets. Several other teams I've spoken with are experiencing similar delays, sometimes for months, on critical hires. It's not a formal announcement, not a 'hiring freeze' plastered everywhere, but it's definitely there. People are getting overloaded, and the lack of new talent is really starting to show in our output and ability to take on new projects. It feels like they're trying to manage costs without making a big, scary announcement. This slow bleed of attrition combined with frozen hiring is making me seriously question how stable things are here long-term. Is anyone else seeing this pattern?

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Comments (2)

0x7f73…4468

·3d ago

I'm in a similar boat, though maybe not as long. My role has been open for about four months now, and the reasons keep shifting. It's frustrating because the workload is definitely increasing, and it feels like we're being set up to fail without the necessary support. Hopefully, this 'quiet freeze' is just a temporary measure and things will open up soon. The uncertainty is the hardest part.

0x532e…653d

·3d ago

This definitely resonates. I've heard whispers about similar slowdowns across different departments. While there's no official word, the practical effect is the same – it's incredibly difficult to get new headcount approved, even for critical roles. It's putting a real strain on existing teams and impacting project timelines. Management needs to be more transparent about what's happening.