Charles River Laboratories Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Charles River Laboratories full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Even though Charles River is a global organization, there is a lot of emphasis on team work from site to site. Many of my colleagues that I interact with on a daily basis are all over the world (Canada, Europe, Asia, in the US but outside of Massachusetts) but we still work well as a team and support each other to achieve our goals. As a member of the marketing department, I have the pleasure of working with a variety of different groups within the company including operations, sales and the scientific staff. There is also a lot of room for growth within the company. I have seen a lot of my colleagues grow and move between departments when opportunities arise. The company does a great job of retaining employees.

Cons – It can be difficult at times to find a work life balance as the company expects more from its employees without increasing resources. However, this is not unique to Charles River, but a trend across industries and corporations.

Advice to Senior Management – Continue to encourage employees with positive reinforcement when deserved. It can really boost moral and create increaseed productivity.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Charles River Laboratories full-time for more than a year

Pros – Very encouraging and positive environment. Got to know other employees well and felt team spirit. Immeadiate supervisor appreciated my efforts and treatedly me fairly.

Cons – As long as everything is going great, no worries. But when things started to slide, the team disappeared. Felt abandoned at the end.

Advice to Senior Management – Take time to figure why problems are there and work to address them if you value keeping employees.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Charles River Laboratories full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Work Schedule - Very relaxed when it comes to time off, school schedule, and various emergencies as they arise

Full Benefits w/ decent pay and overtime if you like to work a little extra every week

Cons – Nothing to bad to say except that it is a testing facility, if your sensitive to animal rights and pharmaceutical testing then this obviously is not the place for you.

Advice to Senior Management – None

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Charles River Laboratories

Pros – Charles River offers a competitive salary and great medical plan. Charles River offers an employees stock purchase plan. New hires start off with 3 weeks a year vacation.

Cons – Due to tough economic times the company is scaling back on its operations and employees. This is making it a very stresful time to be employed not knowing if you have a job day to day.

Advice to Senior Management – Management was always very fair and my best advicce is to try to comunnicate to the employees how the business is doing.

Former Employee – worked at Charles River Laboratories

Pros – The quality of work and personal life is good at Charles River Laboratories. Work hours are flexible and workload is not too bad (since there are ebbs and flows at every job). Everyone cares about the work that they do and the people are great to work with.

Cons – Although work life at Charles River Laboratories is good, this is really the only scientific company in Sparks/Reno outside of UNR or DRI (both academically oriented) to work at. Therefore, in order to find another job I had to move out of the area.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep growing

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Charles River Laboratories full-time

Pros – Many Staff are extremely committed to their jobs and the welfare of the animals. Flexible working environment and understanding supervisors. High performers are thought of highly

Cons – Work can be tough and schedules are unpredictable. Lots of manual paperwork can create challenges to your daily job. Poor performers are allowed to stay around too long

Advice to Senior Management – Look at issues with the big picture in mind and consider how initiatives impact employees at all levels

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Charles River Laboratories

Pros – there are good advance opportunities

Cons – salary are below average of the industry

Advice to Senior Management – none

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend