Pros
The company attracts exceptionally talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. Colleagues are brilliant, but also genuinely kind and collaborative. A shared trait among employees is the desire to make a meaningful, positive impact.
Cons
The leadership approach is top-down and difficult to challenge; differing viewpoints are not welcomed (and often reprimanded). Performance management practices are inconsistent. Numerous employees were hit with Performance Improvement Plans after being told they were doing fine in annual performance reviews (if they were given feedback at all).
Communication gaps and lack of follow-through has eroded trust across the organization. Numerous employees have experienced being verbally told something in a meeting, only to have it reneged on in a later, carefully-worded email from senior management. Employees feel trapped by this deceitful "paper trail." Cross-functional collaboration is limited, and in some cases forbidden, reducing opportunities for shared problem-solving.
High workloads and relentless pressure contribute to burnout and low morale. Alarmingly, despite positioning as a science-driven company, there has been a noticeable reduction in scientific staff. Demand for employees to be on-site full-time, in spite of a recent company relocation that has led to considerably longer commutes for most, unnecessarily amplifies stress and leads to poor work-life balance.