No Loyalty, "Me-Too" Drug Research - Associate Principal Scientist Merck Employee Review

2.0
Aug 5, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Research budgets are generous (or were), ample time is given to investigate scientific leads (but that also made it hard to judge when a project was dead). Pension, benefits, vacation time and culture are very good. I really enjoyed who I worked with. The West Point site had a very academic feel, and I find that a plus.

Cons

I worked there for 17 years and each year was different depending on the zeitgeist of management tools. We wasted a lot of time redefining research areas and re-positioning "teams". So many good, talented professionals left or were severed so that management could restructure and back-fill lab-positions. It is an elitist corporation.

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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