Battelle Memorial Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Battelle Memorial

Pros – Like many large companies, experiences will vary. I've worked in product lines and support organizations and by and large had intelligent, strategic and thoughtful supervisors and meaningful, challenging work. The technical skills of many of our staff are really outstanding. In addition, if personal crisis strikes you while you work at Battelle, you will find many willing to assist you. I've enjoyed my time here very much.

Cons – Recent hires at just below the C-level have been troubling. In general, the trend seems to be toward "strong" personalities who are not good listeners or collaborators-in some cases, one might even use the word bullies. Professional courtesy in our culture has taken a strong hit. These hires are generally on the support side, but I expect there to be negative impacts to the product lines as a result as we lose more staff as a result. While our new values documents talk about respect as a Battelle value, there is a large contingency at the senior leadership level that are not following that in any way.

In addition, we're not quick moving. That's not because staff are resistant to change, it's our risk averse culture based on some of the security requirements of our kind of work. When good change is possible, you'll find that staff embrace it.

While my experience has been good, there are many who have suffered from the "sink or swim" culture. If you can build a network yourself, you should be alright. But if you want a managed mentoring program, you may need to look elsewhere or at least pick your manager carefully.

Benefits are decreasing as part of cost cutting. They aren't horrible now--just market competitive, where we used to be better than average.

Advice to Senior Management – A successful executive committee must process information regardless of the matter in which its delivered. Volume, drama, pretty suits, slick haircuts and superficial factors don't mean the information is right or better. Right now, the ex comm needs to do better due diligence on the pitches they are being sold: both from internal _and_ external sources. Content content content. If it sounds to good to be true, than it is.

In addition, don't undermine the efforts of those of us trying to save the money you've asked us to save. Lead by example.

Current Employee – been working at Battelle Memorial

Pros – benefits, nice people, creativity, nice facilities, sick leave policy, variety of project work, networking, multiple office locations, charitable donations and activities

Cons – buddy system, people, lack of loyalty, poor feedback from management, outsourcing, complainers, vacation accrual system, poor communication between business units

Advice to Senior Management – Provide proper training to new staff members. Actively work to retain employees and implement meaningful career development programs. Be fair to all employees.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Battelle Memorial

Pros – salary and benefits
flexibility of hours worked

Cons – little opportunity for future growth

Advice to Senior Management – It seems management doesn't see long tern goals and tends to try to make short term solutions.

Current Employee – been working at Battelle Memorial

Pros – Scientific & engineering think tank that operates laboratories for various US government agencies. Exposure to a great many interesting scientific disciplines. The work itself can be very interesting and rewarding and a learning experience in and of itself. Most of the peers I worked with were great and equally talented. Virtually all of the clients I worked for were great and appreciative of the work performed. Overwhelming majority of the coworkers are more than willing to share their knowledge and expertise with other coworkers and not cop a superiority attitude. Under the right management chain it can be place to thrive and grow, however, that is becoming harder and harder as upper management moves it's marketing focus away from the "short-term" contracts that are renewed multiple times over many years in favor of multimillion dollar mega contracts that are far and few between.

Cons – Management has lost focus of its most valuable resource - its employees and trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. Many in mid and upper management are retired military officers and do not realize that they are now in industry and no longer in the military. Hence, they feel that when employees ask questions about assignments, they employees are not interested in the work. Also, management is very tight lipped and there is virtually no communication from management about what is going on or how the company is doing. They do not announce Reductions in Force (layoffs), nor do they tell the remaining employees why there have been layoffs which results in a very stressful work environment and diminished employee productivity. There is also an apparent bias against those without military experience by managers who were former military, but there is the occasional decent retired military boss who is decent and fair to all. Unrealistic expectations regarding timelines by management and marketers who sell clients everything under the sun and promise it can be delivered in an unrealistically short time frame, or grossly under a realistic cost.

Advice to Senior Management – Remember that it is the employees that makes Battelle Battelle. Also, send all the retired military officers to a retreat where they can learn they are no longer employed by the military and that their underlings are not the unquestioning underlings they have grown used to. Teach these people that they are now in industry, not the military.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend