GlaxoSmithKline Reviews

Pros

The benefits at GlaxoSmithKline are among the best, if not the best. This company rewards you with attractive wages, bonus opportunities, and company sponsored family events.

Cons

The downsides of working at GlaxoSmithKline Memphis are the opportunities for higher level jobs and positions are very few and limited, and limited sustainable products.

Advice to Senior Management

It is advisable that management consider implementing new products that will increase jobs, motivate employee base, and increase sustainability of the site.

Pros

They do really good things for people who need their medicines.
They have some innovative management ideas.
Advancement is available.

Cons

Don't get stuck in a bad department.
As with any job, networking and getting your personal brand known is key to moving up.
Increased litigation and legislation unfavorable to US pharmaceuticals has led to most leadership positions moving to London, UK.

Advice to Senior Management

I think the focus has shifted from delivering products of value to constantly seeking shareholder approval. Don't make cuts in staff before you invest in efficiencies to be able to do without them. Put health care back into pharmaceuticals. Some of the best decisions for healthcare are not based on one quarter's profits.

Pros

I was part of a team of very intelligent individuals. Each from their own background, I was able to learn a lot.

Cons

Management always seemed off in their "own little world." The problems the team faced were brought to attention but never really addressed.

Advice to Senior Management

Take your workers' thoughts and ideas not only into consideration, but put them into action. Our team struggled to improve and grown because we were not given the opportunity to do so.

Pros

Benefits are pretty good, though bonuses are capped now and no longer based on sales. Great products.

Cons

The course and strategy is constantly changing. It is hard to get behind the latest strategy when you know it will change in 6 months to a year anyway. The word of the decade is transparency, but there is little transparency. Every manager goes on and on about work/life balance, but it is all talk.

Pros

Benefits such as health insurance, dental, pension, etc
Most of the employees are good hardworking people that want to do the right thing.

Cons

Inflexible
Inconsistent
Not family friendly
I'm not sure who keeps voting for GSK as one of the Best Places to Work...it must be HR, because it most certainly is not.
Does not understand work-life balance.
Limited promotion and advancement opportunities
Toxic environment due to continuous layoffs....the morale is very bad in the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Create more opportunities for advancement in company.
Create more work-life balance.
Continue the excellent benefits.
The US Pharma President should reside where headquarters is located. It makes a difference for employees to be able to run into their management at the office and makes it seem more as a team.

Pros

Good benefits and higher wages than other companies at many positions

Cons

Management from the top levels is often inconsistent in word and action, providing ample motivation for good employees to leave

Advice to Senior Management

Reconsider the concept of employees as assets worth investing in instead of costs

Pros

work life balance is good for most people
salary is good
manager is awesome person

Cons

the leadership stinks, no idea where they want to go

Pros

Great management team
Very close friendships are made
People usually stay with this company for years

Cons

It's hard to meet new people, sometimes it's "clique-ish"

Pros

benefits package, helpful coworkers, beautiful campus, motivating atmosphere, state of the art equipment, amazing management, networking, versatility to cross train in various areas

Cons

politics, some nepotism, difficult to get interview, commute, no "park and ride", well-qualified workers easily replaced by new graduates, many positions start as contract positions

Advice to Senior Management

Take more time to orient and train new employees, offer more permanent positions to increase feelings of security

Pros

I don't have any! I enjoyed the people but in general too much management overseeing...very little independence. I found that when we worked as teams people were able to do little work and rest on the laurels of others.

Cons

I would say the downside to working at GlakySmithKline was the inability to progress upward in terms of job opportunities.

Advice to Senior Management

I would say that there would need to be better communication between UpperManagement and midlevel management. I think it's important for more open and better communication in general.