Austere, too many managers - Anonymous employee Lonza Employee Review

1.0
Oct 20, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Excellent insurance, if you have money left over to see your physician. It's also a great place to lay low, and collect a paycheck. If your into that sort of thing.

Cons

If you work at the bench, the pay is 33% below the average for the area(March 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics news release) . In fact, every person I work along side at the Alpharetta facility has a gripe about their wage. Rightfully so. The average salary for the company is in excess of $80k (2012 annual report), but no one who isn't an engineer, or a PhD makes more than the low $40's. Getting a raise is very difficult. You have to threaten to leave. Even then they promise an increase, give you half up-front, then miss the deadline for the rest of the increase. You'll get a vapid response like: the budget is really tight right now, so.... Meanwhile, they've spent your due on travel to and from Switzerland.

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5.0
Jun 8, 2026
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CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Diverse opportunities across departments as one wanted

Cons

Provide decent pay and benefits

4.0
May 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots to learn about producing API's via fermentation in bioreactors. Lots of room for career growth towards other departments and positions, from the business to the research. Good pay and lots of benefits are offered, such as dental, vision, and medical insurance; they also have a weight-loss program that I'm taking advantage of. Quality is prioritized, so there is no pressure to learn quickly, work faster, or meet quotas to do a good job. Teams are reliable, especially when learning the ropes; they'd be a part of the job I'd miss most if I leave.

Cons

Take careful consideration and be transparent with the supervisors if you're still exploring, as it's not an entry-level job that can hire and train new people at a fast pace all the time (I'm comparing this to retail and fast-food places, though). I live an hour away and work night shift, 7 pm to 7 am, thus the total amount of hours away from home is 14 hours. Please consider your mental endurance as well as your physical endurance for the night shift, as this job requires you to be on your feet, think critically, and can challenge one's work-home life balance.

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