International Flavors Reviews

Pros

Highly entrepreuneurial and innovative company

Cons

Too remote from its customers

Advice to Senior Management

Lead as a team

Pros

Interesting industry
Good 401K match
Global, many interesting people to interface with.
Where else can a chemist have a product on the market in 3 yrs?

Cons

No formal career path
inconsistent salaries
Senior managment loves ROI and misses the point of innovation.
Little support for implementation of novel chemical technologies: still replying on 1950's chemistry.

Advice to Senior Management

Be a chemical company that makes fragrances, not a fragrance house that makes chemicals. Take the time to listen to your in house experts instead of consultants.

Pros

There are a select few managers who are really creative and outstanding to work with

Cons

No personal development process (actually supported by management) - Little actual "research" being carried out

Pros

Two paychecks a month when many are unemployed.
Many of my peers are amiable and knowledgeable scientist.
It's in a fairly central location.

Cons

No upward mobility.
Nepotism wins out over merit.
Favoritism wins out over merit.
Deceipt from upper management
Sycophancy required to insure longevity and growth.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a chance on talented people. Don't obsess over the possibility of being outshined and find the best to get the work done. And for God's sake, make it fun.

Pros

- excellent work-life balance
- friendly environment
- above average 401K plan
- decent communication betw. departments
- culture has a tendency to be family oriented vs. intellectually "top notch"
- the comments echoed from various employees are consistent. Just look at the comments on this website.

Cons

- miserly tuition reimbursement plan.. ~ 1 class/semester.
- fluctuating bonus plan which has only paid out 1/2 the time. Only 2 of those times has it been at target stated levels or above.
- stagnant market share which has resulted in #1 to #3 in 10 years (with #4 coming very close)
- 3 CEOs in 9 years with a divisional restructuring with each tenure. All of which has not improved IFFs market share or rankings against its competitors.
- sales growth in 10 years has only markedly increased in-line with inflation while the other 3 top competitors out of 4 has had substantial sales growth increases..leading to greater market share. The difference in #3 and #4 now is only 1.8%
- There have been a few excellent directors and VPs I have worked with thru the years, and they never make it to the divisional VP or executive board level. There is a tendency for IFF to hire for these levels from the outside.
- no transparency in grade levels or pay scale within those grade levels.
- no well defined plan for employee development for promotional targets. It's highly political in this regard and more bureaucracy than meritocracy.
- upper level management (divisional VPs, executive boards) have a tendency to be out of touch with whats happening at department levels or lower. There is a feeling of a "boys club" at the higher levels, and this clique-type aloof mentality shows in the promotion choices and lower level frustrations...(why offer suggestions to a VP if you feel like it's going to be ignored)
- culture has a tendency to be family oriented vs. intellectually "top notch"
- higher attrition rate than the industry average

Advice to Senior Management

There will always be attrition at the lower levels as these levels are easier to come by, still feasible for career changes for those inclined, and provides for opportunity for younger people to still figure out what they want to do with their lives.
It's the attrition you see at the higher levels (middle management or non-divisional VPs) which is a cause for concern..My experience has shown that higher levels leave when they find barriers to change in the company impossible to surpass. And a constantly changing CEO may also be a sign of that.
My advice to management is to read the comments on this website. It's highly consistent with the observations. Some drastic changes have to happen if IFF wants to regain it's pre-eminence. Apparently nothing in 10 years has done that, which would indicate a wake up call. Perhaps IFF has to reach the precipice before drastic changes occur. And until then, expect the unwanted attrition at higher levels because good talent will always be wanted elsewhere.

Pros

interesting industry
challenging work
learning enviornment: must have the ability to educate yourself on issues; they do NOT show a new employee the ropes

Cons

senior management treats staff disrespectfully
leadership has very poor interpersonal/communication skills
lack of team spirit; everyone is out for themselves

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on improving the treatment of the staff; new management does not seem to care or is oblivious on how to manage/lead people

Pros

There are some very good people who are long time employees at IFF. They really understand their business and care about the company.

Cons

Too many areas of the company are lacking direction and focus. Many managers are so far above their pay scale that there is little hope for a turn around.

It is also so political that some people were promoted extremely quickly without merit, while other far more qualified employees were scapegoated for others' failures.

It appears corporate policy to fabricate excuses to terminate employees to avoid bonuses and severance.

Advice to Senior Management

Take the time to listen to the employees instead of the managers who will say anything to advance their careers.

Pros

salary is ok
less pressure
listening is more important
to keep yes to your boss

Cons

it was No 1, now No 3
nursing homes
no communications

Advice to Senior Management

let most senior managers retire

Pros

Dedicated, hardworking people who care about the company

Cons

Improve senior managment, too many competing agendas

Advice to Senior Management

No feedback

Pros

Diversified multinational company with opportunities to travel. Most people you work with will treat you nice and you will develop a professional relationship with them.

Cons

Over the years, the company has changed and has become more "going forward" thinking and less people and employee related.

Advice to Senior Management

Instead of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to outside consultants who really do not know the company and its culture, just use a little common sense.