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Thermo Fisher Scientific

Engaged employer

Enjoy micromanagement? This is the place for you! - Manager Thermo Fisher Scientific Employee Review

1.0
26 Apr 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I got my current position despite a tough economy, so I was thankful for that. Additionally, Thermo Fisher is a respected name in the industry.

Cons

Like the headline says - If you enjoy being micromanaged constantly - this is the place for you. They also have a 'forced ranking' system for performance reviews at the end of the year, so if you don't make the grade and are assessed to be in the lower 5 or 10% then you will get what is called an RI (Requires Improvement) rating. After your first RI, you get put onto a PIP (performance improvement plan) and after your second RI you get shown the door. None of this is uncommon mind you, but often this is handled and led by managers who themselves should be on a PIP. I've seen managers get safe workplace violations against them, and the consequences are nil. It seems the upper management is more concerned with their end of year bonus to actually care for or worry about their people who are actually doing the work. If you were good this year, you got a 2 - 2.5% salary increase. If you were superb (like top 5%) you got a 4% increase. I suppose this is called 'fiscal' responsibility. Wonderful!

Explore other reviews about Thermo Fisher Scientific

5.0
20 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, Culture, Opportunity, Compensation, Experience

Cons

Communication can be heavy and difficult to process due to abundance. Not really a con, just part of being a large company

1.0
20 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If you're stuck in the Greenville area for some unfortunate reason, it's a job.

Cons

This place is functionally a mafia. The same rotating cast of "old head" people that have been at the site for decades watches each other's backs, and overworks everyone else. God help you if you're actually capable or smart, because they will overload you as much as possible, while ensuring that they, and their pals, do as little as possible. They really have no concept of capacity management at all. There is no math, metrics, or even mild logic that goes in to how they define R&R or distribute work. No one really knows how to do anything at all. Things that sound simple, like shipping a sample for instance.. Well, clear your afternoon. It doesn't help that all of their systems are completely antiquated. I should also note that you won't get any support on anything really, from training to execution. No one wants to be here, and it's so obvious. The place looks and feels like a prison because it is. It doesn't even pay that well compared to other pharma companies! That barbed wire isn't there to keep people out, it's to keep them in.

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