Roche Reviews in Nutley, NJ

Pros

Knowledge sharing between departments and collaboration with colleagues was always excellent. Good communication between global teams using very modern technology. Up to date tools and always process improvement on an ongoing basis. Telecommuting was excellent, dependent on the department and the type of job you had it was possible to negotiate some work from home time. Very accomodating with work-life balance. Exceptional benefits,

Cons

Since GNE integration the management structure is not as secure as in previous years. Not always willing to acknowledge star performers due to the budget. Found merit reviews were always depressing and fell short of expectations since everyone is really thrown into one budget bag and it is then divided.

Advice to Senior Management

Dont' throw away the Baby with the bath water. Need to think about the global company profile with other pharma and biotech companies since the Genentech integration.

Pros

Some good people, some good benefits and a severance package when you get layed-off.
There are opportunities to be put in a position that no other company would even consider you for, particularly if you are a sycophant.

Cons

The company identity in the US is confused and seems to be changing into Genentech, but not quite.
Most management, at even the highest levels, seems lost at times.
The Nutley NJ site seems to be destined for continued down sizing and really should be put out of its misery. The medicinal chemistry dept. that brought Valium to market has been turned into a “World Class” joke. This is partly due to new incompetent management who sought guidance from incompetent and narcissistic “retired” management who rose to that level through the attrition of truly talented people.
Unfortunately this seems to have become standard practice.

Advice to Senior Management

Hoffmann-LaRoche was an excellent company and needs to be revitalized, not transformed into Genentech.
Close the Nutley site completely. It is and will be just an embarrassment.
New leadership is desperately needed and failed “retired” managers should not be kept around and constantly consulted.
Finally, settle on a research structure and strategy, fully implement it, and then give it a chance to work.

Pros

Opportunities to train and get further education abound. Excellent infra-structure.

Cons

No downsides specific of Roche, but as with any large corporation, change may take some time to happen, upward mobility in promotion ranks can be slow. had excellent managers and others not so good.

Pros

It is a good company to work for. It offers a great opportunity for career growth/development.

Cons

It has a very busy/ hectic working environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more intuitive to promote open communications w/ coworkers

Pros

Family oriented company. Can maitain the work life balance. New benefits are great. No complain

Cons

Too crowded and very chaotic these days. lab space is very limited as palo Alto people moved in. After the headquarter move to San Francisco the stablity of this site is not sure.

Advice to Senior Management

Please do not promote the squuky wheels

Pros

Smart people. Great place to work and salaries are very competetive.

Cons

Roche - Genentech Merger has ruined it all for most of us.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop talking about how great Roche will be when you know hundreds of people are on their way out. Show some respect by not always touting how great the site will be when you know people who are losing their jobs are in the audience.

Pros

Many interesting projects across all departments in Roche
Good job opportunities globally. Very good expat opportunities for those who are interested.
Growing company with successful products both in Pharma and Diagnostics.
Global focus on many projects that makes them challenging and interesting at the same time.
Market leader in oncology drug development and sales. Growing their franchise in RA.
Solid financial position relative to other pharmaceutical companies that should continue in the future.
Relatively good personal working environment at most sites

Cons

Lower salary than my peers in other companies
Typical large company bureaucracy
Technologically they are behind other companies in support of employee productivity

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to push the performance management and show more courage to remove the barriers for people to perform their best.

Pros

exciting products, challenging project work. A company with a very good growth rate..looks promising for future career growth. Lot of products in pipeline ensuring job stability. company has been around for a long time so well set processes.teams are very competent.. senior management is very good at taking note of good work, encouraging fresh ideas. Overall a great work environment. benefits are very good especially for those with kids and families. Employee retention is high

Cons

politics between departments can sometimes hamper work. Bureaucracy is high and sometimes its tough to make long term employees to accept newer ways of doing things.

Advice to Senior Management

separate technical management and operational management.

Pros

Autonomy, Good Benefits, Decent Salary, Longevity of company, company car, well established in specific disease states (infectious diseases, HIV, oncology), a global company that has leverage in the world.

Cons

Very political, old boy network, morale is terrible and upper management breeds a work atmosphere of fear and intolerance.The company is outdated in its leadership style. It's uninspiring, using old leadership and management techniques, probably due to the fact that Roche Global is a family owned company and runs alot like the catholic church: very hierarchical. Consequently it all runs down hill: fear, intolerance, paternalistic, narrow minded towards ethnic and diverse peoples, and one gets prompted based not on skill sets and ability but rather who knows who.

Advice to Senior Management

Fire them all. Start with new senior management then make sure they are thinking like modern thinkers with a forward type vision

Pros

Stable job, company has been around for a long time.

Cons

People stay years and years, move up bcos of seniority. Nothing to do with capability.

Advice to Senior Management

Stay connected to what goes on, rather than worrying about who at what level said/did what. Heirarchy is stiffling.