Change the culture - Administrative Assistant Merck Employee Review

2.0
31 Oct 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salary, salary, salary, flexibility, dedicated people, work/life balance. Their salaries are better than those in the other pharma sectors for administrative personnel. They encourage flex time - I am able to telecommute at the drop of a hat - but I am in IT and have the capability. The work/life balance is fantastic. I have had colleagues who got great time off for childbirth with complications, a colleague whos separation was put off because of the death of a very close member of the family. And most people are very, very dedicated - putting in more hours than required.

Cons

Awful Culture - I have worked at other big pharma in the NJ area and they are the worst. J&J ranks among the best of the best. The looked down upon status of administrative personnel - many of our admin's have college and advanced degrees and are still treated like second class citizens in the Merck world. There is no "management" track for the title and therefore we are considered lower than low. The constant atmosphere of "I am next to be laid off" - makes for terrible employee morale. Extreme offshoring - but then I work in IT. Non-recgonition and feedback.

Explore other reviews about Merck

5.0
3 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

End of the year shutdown which includes paid time off

Cons

The con for me at the time was that I had to relocate which wasn’t possible

4.0
2 Jun 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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