Run away now - Downstream Associate Level III Lonza Employee Review

1.0
15 Nov 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good place to gain some experience, if you are new to field or just graduated from college. Some great people to work with in the manufacturing department.

Cons

Lots of favoritism going on. Too much politics. You will move up quick if you brown nose the supervisors. Lonza does not know how to utilize talent. Paper pushers gets all the credit, while good workers that are making the company money goes nowhere. So let's just say that it's okay not do any processing and it's okay to have Lots of deviations, as long as you do paper work that office people should be doing, you can move up the ladder quite quickly. Lots of experienced associates have left or are looking to leave. With all the experienced gone, newer associates are forced to fill shoes that are way too big for them. Production is not as smooth, more deviations. Pay is way too cheap for the amount of work and responsibility. Management no longer appreciate the workers, employee appreciation day is now a joke, they rather save money for a Holiday party that not everyone from manufacturing can attend. It's more of a party for office people, not the people making the product and rake in the money. If you work in manufacturing, there are three words to describe it: underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated.

Explore other reviews about Lonza

5.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Diverse opportunities across departments as one wanted

Cons

Provide decent pay and benefits

2.0
23 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Compensation (for higher level associates/senior management positions)

Cons

1) Work/life balance - leaders don't honor paid time off. Many teams expect you to be available during paid time off periods 2) Benefits - employer doesn't offer employer-subsidized vision insurance 3) Holidays - employer doesn't offer MLK Day and Juneteeth as paid days off, indicating how little they value diversity, inclusion, and belonging 4) Promotions - political; not based on merit 5) Mandated 5 day return-to-office to enable "in person collaboration" while at the same time offshoring jobs to cheaper markets. 6) PTO - based on tenure, but I think Lonza prefers high turnover so they don't have to give people time off (if they even honor it in the first place - see con 1) 7) Lack of harmonization - for an established CDMO, I was surprised at the level of misalignment between sites and the lack of standardization of processes

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