Vantaggi
Biotronik has always been the underdog in the medical device industry but in part, due to being a small, privately held company. Started out with the most dedicated and tenacious in-house and field staff (USA) I've ever worked for. Compensation and benefits were above average for the industry. Employees were treated with respect and (at the time), could depend on long term careers until retirement, as long as you did your part as an employee.
Svantaggi
What the hell happened?! Healthcare took a major dive (thanks Obama) and so did the respect and job satisfaction at Biotronik. All the dependable and talented senior people of average 10+ years were railroaded out on a fast train and basically told, don't let the door hit you in the ass. Did someone say age discrimination? The powers in Berlin decided to recruit competitive manufacturer's "new blood", has-been or never were employees and gave them exorbitant salaries/ guaranties, only to be taken to the cleaners and dismissed the loyal pre-existing employees. Of course, only after taking total advantage of them and squeezing the last drop of blood out of them.