Covance Reviews

Pros

Good pay and excellent benefits.

Cons

Consistent 55 hour workweeks were too much.

Advice to Senior Management

Allow adequate in-office time for new employees to complete training prior to being expected to conduct field work. Ensure that your LCRAs are consistent with report review and don't expect the CRA to have to keep changing reports to satisfy the LCRA'S writing style.

Pros

-flexible work times
-superb manager
-training is great but not enough time to do so

Cons

-work load not competitive
-underpaid
-too much politics in terms of career progression opportunities

Pros

Decent pay, good location, great IT support - There are some wonderful Supervisors

Cons

Mundane, favoritism, constantly moving things around. They care more about putting up big screen TV's than raises.

Pros

Paid time off and other benefits are nice. Most departments are very flexible and promote work/life balance. Direct supervision does not micromanage.

Cons

The decision makers do not consult operations before process changes are made. Communication is not consistent. Not all departments offer growth.

Advice to Senior Management

Consult a team of 'experts' prior to making large decisions that van cost the company money, time, and study awards.

Pros

Very good compensation package and lots of areas to learn and grow

Cons

Could be more nimble in responding to technology

Pros

Some of the people are worth getting to know

Cons

Incompetent managers
Gossip is allowed to go on, I was accused by a colleague of not doing any work when I could prove I did twice the amount of work as my colleagues (and I proved it).

Advice to Senior Management

Put a strict policy in place for office gossip

Pros

It is very friendly atmosphere with some of the best benefits in the area. Covance allows adjusted start times to allow for family schedules.

Cons

Some positions require 60+ hours of work a week just to keep up with work. While this provides great paychecks, it can put a strain on a persons social life.

Pros

The people are the highlight here. Supportive co-workers are a big part of this company. The benefits are also great. We get very few holidays but a lot of vacation days to compensate.

Cons

Management and leadership are lacking here. The employees can be treated very well or very badly depending on who your boss is. The good leaders look the other way when the not-so-good leaders treat their subordinates poorly. Also, employees can't work efficiently if leadership isn't held to their deadlines and tasks.

Advice to Senior Management

Step up and make the difficult decisions -- that is why you are management. Don't allow leadership to treat people badly or waste their time.

Pros

CVD is the best positioned company in the CRO industry and has done the best over the past few years, even during the tough economic times.
Global presence is promising.

Cons

IT infrastructure is lacking, systems are old, work PCs are old, still using Windows 2003, Office 2003.
Covance is ok with not promoting employees and many employees have had the same position for years upon years. This is now in the culture. Company with be quite different when these folks retire.

Advice to Senior Management

Move people around. Promote high performers. Don't get stagnant. Upgrade IT now. Remove obstacles. Covance is doing well compared to competitors in industry but there is something missing internally with the career development process.

Pros

If you finally get on as a full time employee you have health benefits, retirement plan. gym membership, weekly events, and ample parking in a nice area.

Cons

The job hold is the worse part you have no idea if you will ever become a full time employee of not. Terminated without a valid reason, I am still clueless as to why I was let go.

Advice to Senior Management

I think that you should be as open as you can to the new employees. If you are having secret test at least inform people there may be something to be cautious of.