Big pharma company struggling for survival - Director Merck Employee Review

2.0
Jun 29, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Merck scientists, reputation in medicine

Cons

excessive work hours, poor work-life balance, lots of bureaucracy; management doesn't care about employees. performance reviews are stack-ranked vs peers every year, to be eligible for top tiers employee must also be considered as having greatest "long-term growth potential" with the company relative to peers on the same job (good luck with that if you're over 50). high performers may end up in bottom 2 tiers (those individuals are then assigned low importance projects or laid off). Company has frequent layoffs due to poor planning and business failures. salary ranges for each job are frequently re-evaluated and individual salary reductions or capping are common (greated impact on long term, experienced employees who are usually at high end of the band). experienced level positions are eliminated (laid off) then reposted on the internet at lower salary or title.

Explore other reviews about Merck

5.0
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work from home (that may not always be a perk, but it is now for writers), choice of flexible hours (7 AM - 9 AM starting), friendly, helpful people, great bosses, people very interested in their jobs, plus a lot of educational benefits, you are trained on all aspects of Merck and your job.

Cons

I cannot think of any, though sometimes work from home has its drawbacks, because the employee doesn't get all the information that an onsite employee would.

4.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Over my tenure, I had the opportunity to work alongside highly talented and mission-driven colleagues dedicated to improving patient outcomes. The organization provided exposure to cross-functional collaboration, leadership development opportunities, and meaningful work supporting healthcare providers, patients, and community stakeholders. I appreciated the company's commitment to innovation, professional growth, and serving patients through scientific advancement.

Cons

Like many large organizations, priorities and organizational structures evolved over time, which occasionally created uncertainty and changes in responsibilities. Decision-making processes could sometimes be complex due to the size of the organization, and navigating multiple layers of stakeholders occasionally impacted speed and execution.

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