I worked at Merck for 10 years...November has become known as Black November in Merck culture...which due to this has become a very toxic and backstabbing environment.
Thankfully I have left ,and encourage all the latest slashes to stay positive and happy you are out! Good things will come! Much better than Merck!
Bumped from @10xMPt2H-1unds for info.
I was at Merck for 11 years, long enough to get a pension (grandfathered in from Schering Plough).
I got my layoff notice at the end of October of that year, so I guess November is Black November.
I will have to say that the parachute was really nice. Six months severance and paid med/dental for a year. I was angry for about 5 minutes until I realized that it wasn't a horrible deal. Plus, I will get my pension at 65.
Black November indeed