People sacrificed to maintain >30% profits - Marketing Elsevier Employee Review

1.0
Jul 24, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The Science & Technology division are working on some interesting problems in digital scientific communication. There are many smart and interesting people.

Cons

Vanishingly little investment in staff training, retention, and promotion. HR is devastatingly under-resourced, which means their only role is obstructionist and cost-control. No effort was made to retain or develop existing staff after big layoffs. Training is non-existent. Hiring managers can hire externally far easier than internally. Promotion of staff from line work to management are actively discouraged. Senior management spend huge effort to convince customers their big profits are justified but they haven't convinced employees.

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5.0
May 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Industry leader Great benefits Incentive trips Invests heavily in its employees

Cons

Processes can be burdensome and clunky at times

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Elsevier Response
3w
Thank you for this balanced and thoughtful review. We're glad to hear that our benefits and investment in people are making a positive impact, those are commitments we take seriously. On the process feedback: Leadership is actively reviewing operational workflows, and the advice to listen more closely to employee feedback is something we're holding ourselves accountable to. If you're open to it, we'd encourage you to bring specific examples forward through your team or people and culture contacts. Change is most effective when it's grounded in the real experiences of the people doing the work, and that means you. Feel free to reach out to us at elseviergdrev@elsevier.com to provide more information Thank you for staying engaged and for caring enough to share this. It matters.
4.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Every direct manager I've had has been excellent: supportive, positive, and trusting me to deliver good work instead of micromanaging. Employees tend to stay, which suggests stability even if not everyone gets promotions or significant raises.

Cons

The pressure to outsource as much as possible, which is common at every publisher, leads to frustration. Because promotions or significant raises seem to be rare, you may be stuck in neutral unless you're very openly ambitious.

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