Genentech Employee Reviews about "cost of living"

Pros

Great benefits, excellent medical coverage, cool perks, respected industry leader, tons of intelligent colleagues, optimism is celebrated, 6 week sabbatical after 6 years tenure. If you work for the company for a lifetime, you can go far... but you will go faster and further at a smaller company

Cons

Cultish devotion to company is encouraged, promotions and opportunities are distributed corresponding to leadership favorites, there's a lot of backstabbing, and perceptions of your peers are given more weight than your actual accomplishments. If you aren't picked to work on an opportunity, you won't be recognized for your accomplishments. New employees are paid at a higher rate than experienced counterparts. The cost of living raises do not reflect the actual cost of living increases, therefore, you are making less money the longer you work there. You are paid below industry standards, so you will have a hard time explaining that in new interviews. You can not voice a perspective that conflicts with leadership or you will be punished.

Pros

Innovative, Research. Development, Community, People

Cons

Location, Flexibility, Resources, Cost of living, etc

Pros

A very nice place to work. Most people are collegial, outgoing and helpful and the company makes a sincere effort to treat its employees well. Salaries are relatively generous, although it is hard for any employer to keep up with the cost of living in the Bay Area.

Cons

Many talented people are leaving the company. This is hard to watch happen. There are growing problems in middle management as more people are promoted because they are good individual contributors in a specific area and not because they are talented managers who can help their teams achieve the best for the business. When people are disproportionately rewarded because they are popular and well-liked, it generates a feedback loop that incentivizes self-promotion and political jockeying over managerial competencies. It is great that Genentech puts so much emphasis on interpersonal skills as it sustains the culture of friendliness and openness that so many of us value, however the company should consider what is falling by the wayside when niceness and self-promotion are so heavily valued at the expense of other skills. Genentech is remarkably conflict avoidant for a company rooted in science and this mindset leads to burdensome processes, including overly flat decision-making, deficits in critical thinking and, amongst the leadership, the inability to make the kind of tough calls that are sometimes necessary for an organization to run effectively. Some of the problems described in other reviews here stem from problems with management and others are due to the general sense of fear many are feeling due to rapidly growing competition, biosimilars, and tightening budgets.

Pros

- Strong mission and values, driven by science, always doing what's right for patients - Generally collaborative, friendly, and engaging environment with smart colleagues - Generally good work-life balance, flexible work hours/location - A clear focus on employees: fantastic benefits, health and wellness programs, many resources/opportunities for employee development, fun events

Cons

- Less certain future with increased competition and cost/complexity of pipeline - Big company bureaucracy - Loss of unique 'fun' Genentech culture after integration with Roche - Recent exodus of senior leaders - Compensation is only decent given the cost of living in the SF Bay Area and in comparison to nearby tech companies

Pros

A place to do top-notch scientific research that also directly impact people's lives A shared sense of mission and inspiration - to create medicines for unmet medical needs. Science driven culture - scientists truly enjoy a lot of independence, respect and freedom to publish. Genentech attracts really good people and in particular, the brightest scientific talents. Excellent perks - great cafe and day care, club house, free sports club membership, beautiful campus by the bay, Friday parties, retreats (and the list goes on). Genentech has a great reputation. A great learning environment: top scientists and vendors come to give seminars regularly.

Cons

Promotion and career advancements are very rigid and difficult. People are often trapped in tracks or positions with limited professional growth (if not impossible). It is not unusual for good performers to go 8-10 years without a single promotion. People are 'demoted' when coming to work for Genentech. For example, senior scientist becomes associate scientist; director becomes senior scientist. The pay is good but cannot keep up with the high cost of living in the Bay area, particularly for new comers. Merger with Roche basically capped any potential future growth. It is questionable whether its unique, science-driven culture will remain after the Roche merger.

Pros

This is a great company to work for, they have good projects/opportunities, and the work environment is very positive.

Cons

The temporary employees are not provided with health insurance. Also, the pay is lower than expected and lower than some other companies given the high cost of living in the bay area.

Pros

Health Insurance, Office culture, shuttling to work, lots of room for personal growth.

Cons

low market compensation in comparison to the cost of living in San Francisco.

Pros

Patient focused Employees are valued Strong science Highest ethics

Cons

Cost of living in the Bay Area; salaries are not quite adjusted for the housing costs

Pros

Supportive mentors Lots of opportunity for development

Cons

Salary is low for Bay Area cost of living

Pros

Research, inclusive, responsibility, benefits, international

Cons

Location, cost of living, less competitive salary