Siloed, myopic and excessive focus on cost reduction - Anonymous employee Elsevier Employee Review

2.0
Oct 14, 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- people are nice - global company - relatively stable and growing

Cons

- slow career growth - low salaries - excessive focus on costs mean jobs at high costs location are always at risk. This drives low engagement and employee turnover - siloed organisation: narrow focus on the interests of specific function and some senior leaders have been there for too long and built their empires. They are resistant to change. The CEO of the parent group is one of the most well paid in the industry and it was ironical to see him promoting himself as being “understated” in the media. I personally don’t know what he does apart from sending 2 emails per year announcing company results. I have never seen him in my career of more than 5 years!

avatar
Elsevier Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We thank you for your contributions when you were with us. We genuinely value insights like yours as they help us better understand the experiences of our ex-team members and areas where we can improve. On career growth, we know that steady career progression is essential for all our employees. To support this, we’ve been investing in a range of development programs, mentorship opportunities, and personalized learning paths to ensure that every team member has the chance to expand their skills and grow within the company. On compensation and competitive salaries, we regularly benchmark our salary offerings to remain aligned with market standards and aim to create balanced compensation packages that reward individual and team achievements. Our responsibility to operate efficiently and sustainably is paramount to cost-effectiveness and job security, but it should never come at the cost of our team’s well-being or engagement. We work diligently to foster an environment where all employees feel secure in their roles, regardless of location. We are committed to increasing transparency and ensuring employees understand how their work contributes to our long-term vision. A more connected, collaborative environment is crucial for innovation and employee satisfaction. To address this, we’re actively encouraging cross-functional projects, establishing company-wide initiatives, and hosting open forums where ideas and feedback can be shared openly. We aim to continue fostering a more inclusive, cohesive workplace that benefits from diverse perspectives and talents. Thank you again for your review.

Explore other reviews about Elsevier

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

avatar
Elsevier Response
1mo
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 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Great company -Team has talented, experienced account managers and product experts who know the territory well

Cons

West team management is heavy on micromanagement and sets unrealistic territory targets without rep input — high turnover, and long tenure in company seems to shield this manager from accountability and growth

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All