Gilead Sciences Reviews

Pros

Meaningful and relevant experience in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.

Cons

An apologetically unforgiving culture for mistakes (real or perceived).

Pros

Good benefits, OK salary. Bright and sociable cowokers who are real friendly and cool. They offer free breakfast and bagels once a month for the employees.

Cons

In my department, management rules with an iron fist. The upper-management staff want to make changes for the sake of change but with no real improvements to increase efficiency or progress our methods. They don't listen to their employees, it's managements way or the highway. They have created a culture of hiring only from outside so there is no opportunities move up or around in the company. There is a huge lack of respect by management for their employees' abilities and time. Morale is extremely low and there are no incentives or rewards for the amount of time the employees put in at work. Terrible work-life balance.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees more often. They are, after all, the subject matter experts. They know how to do the job and sometimes they have good ideas on how to improve things. Stop micr-managing as we if need someone to hold our hand to do a job we have been doing for years. If you give your employees a little more trust and respect, you will get more out of them. You will never get the quality you want from your employees by being a dictator. Employee respect can go a long way just to improve morale. Stress right now is too high and the number of people available to do the work is too low. This is a several billion dollar a year company, so stop being so cheap and get the resources needed for the job!

Pros

Co-workers in my department were great people. Benefits were decent.

Cons

Top 5 Execs (who've been around WAY too long) have stunted the ability for positive growth and innovation in products. Their personal need to control too much of the business detail has created a distrustful and disrespectful environment. The people they hire who have brains, energy and experience are pretty quick to realize that this is a hostile, political place were "loyal" employees are rewarded for turning the other cheek and newer employees questioning the status quo are met with ostracizing. There is no in-between here: either happy people who've drank the kool aid or miserable people no longer applying themselves and looking for other jobs.

Advice to Senior Management

They've been given feedback about low employee morale for years but choose not to listen. The place is imploding from the inside out like cancer. At some point, the employees will wise up and revolt against the poor treatment by leaving.

Pros

Salary
Benefits
Free fruit, OJ, herbal teas and Muller light yogurts in the kitchens
Generous catering for lunch time meetings and events
Good products and senior leaders who are geniuses in their fields

Cons

Unrealistic expectations of staff
Gilead prides itself in being 'lean' - what that means is that there are not enough people to do the work that needs to be done and as a result everyone is expected to do the work of two, if not more, people.
Complete lack of work life balance
Extremely long hours culture

Advice to Senior Management

Address the resourcing issue so that people do not have to leave to get a better work - life balance.

Pros

a very lean company which allows for greater experience.

Cons

a very lean company which means greater work load.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the Great Work!

Pros

Mediclal/Dental Benefits, profit sharing and employee stock purchase (20% discount from mkt price). Company sponsored Happy Hour every Friday and bagels every Wednesday.

Cons

My incompetent Senior Leader was not engaged with the business and could not manage employees effectively. Over worked, under paid and not appreciated.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Leaders need to be more flexible and open to alternative ways of doing things. Also, improve on employee recognition/appreciation.

Pros

If you are one of early employees, the stock option worthes something. In general I can achieve a balance between life and work.

Cons

salary is below industry standard. Very hard to find senior people to work for our people because of the lower salary

Advice to Senior Management

Need to bump up the salary to attract talent. Offer more oppurtunity for the junior employee to stand out and be promoted

Pros

Money is good. Buildings are nice.

Cons

Incompetent management
Terrible corporate culture
Backbiting
Political

Advice to Senior Management

Get managers that know about handling people

Pros

Good benefits, solid pipeline, and solid stock program. this really should be a premiere destination in pharma, but unfortunately due to poor senior leadership, they lead via intimidation, and do not value individual employees at all.

Cons

Awful culture, inconsistent promotion criteria, poor strategy, poor management, lack of professional development. there is a strong "fear-based" culture at gilead, and tremendous stubborn adherance to inneffective strategies implemented by out-of-touch senior management.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees, and the ACTUALLY implement the changes they suggest.

Pros

The company compensates the employs very well.

Cons

No flexiblilty for working from home or flexible work week i.e. working 4 days a week for 10hr/day.

Advice to Senior Management

N/A