If you get a good manager it is great. If you get a bad manager, God help you. - Senior Research Associate Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Jan 7, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are still some good researchers around but there is a slow and steady brain drain going on. Compensation is not the best but OK.

Cons

A lot of managers have risen to their current position due to attrition and not because of their qualifications/qualities/abilities. They are understandably afraid of more qualified and able personnel and try to hamper their career growth. Since everything here is manager driven if you get a bad one then, well, too bad. However there are some great people here who actively foster employee development but none of them are in research. People in commercial operations and development seem to be happy but those in research appear to be equally (if not more) unhappy. Benefits are slowly going away, with the bi-monthly Ho Ho-s, then the compensation for riding on the bus; now they have started asking employees to pay for taking the bus on some routes (previously this was only limited to contractors and temps). Health insurance is not as good as before. Some people pretend to do "science" without any understanding of it. Lower level employees cannot give real feedback on their managers. There is a lot of promise of change but everything stays the same.

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5.0
Jun 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Patient-centric company. great culture & benefits

Cons

Not always clear how promotions are awarded.

2.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The work is meaningful and overall the company vision aligns with my goals

Cons

QA management has become inept. None of the leadership (aside from maybe one or two) truly understand the nuances of our site and jobs. They refuse to pay you more due to "budget" reasons but won't provide much information, they claim to be transparent but will make decisions behind your back and not communicate them, even if they impact you and/or your job. Leadership doesn't listen to feedback and gets defensive if you even try to give any. It honestly has become a game of politics only in QA and that's not really building any real quality culture.

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