Varian Medical Systems Reviews

Pros

Varian is supportive of its employees spending time to find the root cause of problems. There is a variety of work so one will always find something interesting to do.

Cons

Varian spreads its employees over many tasks at once which makes it difficult to make consistent progress. Varian is not a high growth company.

Pros

PPL accrual is very reasonable, profit sharing is nice, employee incentive plan seems to be disappearing but nice for now

Cons

Varian has moved from a family to a military. There are many new senior and executive managers who show no respect or care for their employees.

Advice to Senior Management

The company used to value the following: Our customers come first and our employees are our greatest asset. Now, the message you send: Our customers come first and employees are easily replaceable. Do you realize what is really going on at the bottom level?

Pros

Most of the employees are friendly, with time comes nice vacation packages and other benefits, bus/tram pass (if requested). If you have ambition you can stand out.

Cons

The internals of the company have become more political. A person used to be promoted based on merit, now it is about who you know.

Advice to Senior Management

Varian Medical Systems is a great company, it is widely known in the industry. To stay in this position more of a focus needs to be placed deep in the heart of the organization with the workers.

Pros

Be part of a company that fights cancer.
There are some great engineering minds that produces cancer treatment machines.
Many good and dedicated people (unfortunately not recognized at all).

Cons

Many silos within department/group
Poor management
Lack of vision in corporate depart, doesn't align with BU
Unbalance work force
Poor communication
Old company = stuck in old ways

Advice to Senior Management

Need some new blood in the company. Improve hiring and review process, need to open their eyes and identify good people vs incompetency. Stop being complacent.

Pros

Great people: very smart, capable and friendly. They are loathe to do layoffs, thought they did one in 2009 of about 5%

Cons

Terrible management at highest level. Regulatory compliance is not a priority, Everything is driven by Engineering and the priority is to ship product - whatever it takes.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees, especially those at the individual contributor level. You have not created a healthy regulatory compliance environment. You do not mentor and promote people.

Pros

Pay is decent. I work with a good core group of guys.

Cons

Senior Management does not know what my job entails. Edicts are pushed down before really checking to see what the affect would be on the field

Advice to Senior Management

Walk a mile in the shoes of those you manage.

Pros

Good People, interesting projects, freedom to do what you need to do, relaxing workload

Cons

Feels like upper management just wants you to be standard. Hard work is appreciated but not prized or valued.

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be better communications across groups and departments. Its like the business side doesn't communicate with Engineering sometimes.

Pros

Good place to work. Calm and mature environment. Benefits are competitive and pay is fair. Healthy company as the company continues to grow.

Cons

Career development is stagnant and slow moving.

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize talent while it's there.

Pros

1. Stability of the company
2. Good work environment

Cons

1. There is no carreer growth
2. Lack of recognition for hardworking & dedicated people.
3. Salary is not based on the contribution to the project.
4. PPL who talk more gets more attention and benefit and hike rather than who are really working.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the ppl who does not do any job.... some people staying here for very long...but there is no contirbution in any manner.....Also, have ppl who talk more to work also...not just talking,.

Pros

Job security, because of industry

Cons

Too much dead weight, because of job security
No stock incentive for non-management

Advice to Senior Management

Promote competency