Good place to work as an employee, but not as a contract employee - Human Resources Consultant Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Jan 24, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Purpose-driven business. Strong feeling of employees that they are doing something meaningful - developing and selling drugs that cure cancer. People can be nice, depending on the group. Some areas are very haughty and superior.

Cons

Contract employees are treated, for the most part, as second class citizens. The company expects them to behave like employees - e.g., be on site 40+ hours per week, and be a W-2 workers - but the treatment of them is inconsistent with permanent employees. Contractors are frequently referred to simply as "red badges" (employees have blue badges.) "Red Badge" is a term referring to their non-employee status within the organization as contingent workers. When hired, contract employees are often told that they can be converted to permanent employee status after 6 months, but it rarely happens. It does only if you can find an open position - people don't get "converted." Beware of the agencies, too. Some are very good, but many effectively drop you as soon as you are onboarded, and simply collect a check for their percentage of your earnings.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All