Dissatisfied, political, painful integration still to come - Development Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Sep 12, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Location in California in relation to major city, good universities and academic locations, many products in pipeline as well as on the market, Good people still work here for now, Corporate history as the birth of biotechnology

Cons

Corporate politics have split company into competing factions with different priorities that increase inefficiencies and drug development timelines/costs, maintain divisions between Roche and GNE, and increase bureaucratic processes instead of focusing on medicine and patients. Too many changes based on cost-cutting leading to 'brain-drain' of excellent people, some of these changes unnecessary such as change in cafeteria vendor so food is now awful. Other necessary changes still have not occurred including one email or calendar client or other software to minimize system errors and inefficiencies. Can't trust management to keep to promises or be transparent on decision-making, increase in management layers have increased the number of people focused on politics rather than science & who create barriers for the people beneath them doing the work to develop medicine. Unfairness in promotions have increased as middle management gather supporters around them in a time of flux. People in the same department still have not integrated titles so Roche employees' may be reporting to GNE people with a lower title or have been mapped to a much lower level than justified. Unfairness in compensation also as bonuses are also scheduled to match Roche's to be much lower for GNE employees but salaries will not be raised to match Roche's so GNE employees will have lower compensation overall than Roche counterparts. Lots more changes still to come make this an awful company to work for in the next few years.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jun 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great salary and team! The interview process was smooth and effective.

Cons

To be determined, but so far many alignment meetings. Some folks have frustuations around the re-org and strategy changes.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

2
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