Alere Reviews

Pros

People for the most part are vary nice and talented at what they do.
Benefits are comparable to other companies.
Many people now have opportunity to work from home a few days a week.
Company does try to innovate.

Cons

Layoffs at least once a year for the past 4 years.
Don't expect a raise of more than 2% each year.
People get promoted based on who likes them rather than work ability.
Too much management.
Too much offshore. Offshore apparently is cheap and can be written off on the books in a way that makes the company look better to stock holders but the work is crap. It would be better to get interns.
Trying to be too PC (doing time sucking inane yearly reviews that don't affect raises or promotions but are supposed to direct you on how to grow your career when there is nothing to grow into at this company)

Pros

Co-workers, potential to positively impact customer health, retirement and vacation benefits

Cons

No training, low morale, poor health care insurance, internally there is low confidence in company's upper management

Advice to Senior Management

Desperately need to implement company-wide quality training.

Pros

Good people, good ideas in theory (tobacco cessation and weight management), somewhat flexible schedule depending on your department needs, telecommuting for some people, central downtown location, easy transit access.

Cons

Salaries are far below competitive in many departments, promotion opportunities are limited (it's more about who you know and who likes you), many inefficient processes, rapidly declining employee morale, benefits cost more and cover less each year, unrealistic revenue goals (bonus payouts are rare, and aren't much to cheer about when they do happen).

Pros

The pay was very good

Cons

Power mad, insecure, clueless micro managers breathing down your neck constantly. NEVER a positive word or compliments EVER given to employees. They're quick to point out ANYTHING you do incorrectly & will happily write you up for it, but never any appreciation from ANY level of management.

Advice to Senior Management

DO something nice for your employees once a month! HAPPY EMPLOYEES ARE PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEES; Alere is a PRODUCTION environment! What part of this doesnt management GET?

Pros

Good working environment, emphasis on healthy lifestyle

Cons

Vision of company is constantly in flux.

Pros

they work with you when you are sick.

Cons

not much room for advancement for everyone.

Pros

Remote working is an advantage.

Cons

Not much interaction with team members, and no career advancement opportunities

Pros

Opportunity to help others. Decent benefits.

Cons

Quality was overshadowed by production rate. Management was only inteested in report status. Constant "improvements" for company only meant the reports were manipulated by some employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Look at where your "top employees" have differences in your reports. See what queues or assignments are not worked as scheduled.

Pros

Staff are good, but over worked.
Great place to learn and move on.
Beautiful facility and location.
Good memories and some lasting friendships.

Cons

Lack of direction and fires everywhere.
Top management not there and out of touch with staff.
Cost over quality. Form over substance.
No advancement.
Many layoffs and high level of uncertainty

Advice to Senior Management

Stop, listen to staff issues and act to make it better

Pros

A great company that touches many people in a personal way to help their health and wellness. The average employee seems to sincerely care about the end recipient of the services provided.

Cons

The company has progressively increased in bureaucracy, political struggles and trying to improve their bottom line at the expense of their employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus your efforts and solutions more on the end recipients rather than the clients who purchase the services for this larger group. Client demands for more and more in less and less time is commonly degrading the overall quality and credibility of the end products. Always giving the customer what they want can lead to departures from good company goals which does not produce the customer satisfaction desired.