Merck Reviews

Pros

Merck has products in many therapeutic areas and an excellent pipeline.

Cons

Merck did not compensate their sales representatives fairly. When you are considered a "specialty" representative, and are earning 15-20k less on average than many primary care representatives, it is a disgrace.

Pros

Good corporate systems. Company strives for employee input.

Cons

Not very pro active operation. Seem to operate by constantly putting out fires.

Advice to Senior Management

Value the people more.

Pros

opportunities for cross training, great benefits package, competitive salary

Cons

reorganization takes place often, promotion process

Pros

Accountable but not fearful environment. Leaders have a better science background than at previous companies.

Cons

Home office rotation in order to get promoted leads to a lack of geography diversity working for an East coast headquartered company.

Pros

flexible work schedule...ability to choose hours you work within reason

Cons

Decisions are made without regard to how it affects workflow within the company.

Pros

It's a great place to work. Benefits are great. Time off from work (e.g. vacation/holidays) generous, great flexibility options to support work life balance. Strong teams, dedicated employees but you always have your few in there that you'd like to vote off the island. Long hours are usually due to a major project with a tight deadline, but other than that, you should find a nice balance. There are a lot more good, competent folks than not.

Cons

There is currently a huge range in salaries, so you can be working with co-workers who are paid significantly more for doing the same job. Lately in my department, manager level and above positions are going to external candidates outside the department including those outside the company, which limits growth of local talent.

This is not the case in my department, but I've seen a lot of outsourcing. A lot of departments are sourced with more than half of their staff from third parties. It leaves you wondering, why can't they find the talent locally. I guess it really is that outsourcing is significantly cheaper because I don't see better service or capabilities by going offshore. I've seen a lot of good people, talented, dedicated, and willing to go the extra mile, being laid off, as their job is shipped overseas. It's some really sad times right now.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop your local talent, if you find yourself constantly hiring from outside instead of promoting the internal staff, ask yourself, why that is the case and work with your local folks to get them to the point where you're promoting them. Trust me, we are trying to figure out what you want, but can't figure it out on our own, so we need your guidance to help shape the Merck you're after.

Pros

in most areas, flexible work arrangements negotiable
pension when most companies don't
good benefits - medical, dental, vision, life, legal, flex accounts, long term care
if you get the right manager/department, training opportunities possible
possible to have many careers with the same employer
global company

Cons

hierarchical - consultants have a better hearing than employees
slow moving - ponderous decision making and then the decisions get revisited
shareholders are the most important stakeholders
not finished layoffs
new CEO
entrenched executive team

Advice to Senior Management

If "courage and candor" continue to be linked you can be sure that neither will emerge. When the culture wants to hear from employees, you won't need a slogan.

Pros

Most ppl I work with are very smart and driven. The working environment in general is encouraging.

Cons

The facility is actually in a very bad shape.

Pros

- Good benefits
- Work life balance
- Good place to gain experience

Cons

- No room to grow

Pros

decent pay and benefits (car, gas, expenses)

Cons

sales reps that perform well are still micromanaged

Advice to Senior Management

allow well performing sales reps to do their job; do not micromanage