Pros
Candidates are given a thorough tour of the facilities prior to joining, allowing them to assess the work environment and determine whether it is a good fit for them. There has always been freedom to select the kind of work that best suits each person. With salaries above the industry average and a planned career path for advancement from entry level onward, compensation is fully paid and specified in writing plus perks. Only entry-level undergraduate associates without any prior experience who are still pursuing their degree begin at or a bit above the base salary, which is then readjusted after their first month.
The atmosphere at work is friendly and supportive. Management as well as the PIs/Managers keep a professional distance and only step in when necessary or requested. The unusually long employee tenure is a strong indicator of the overall conditions. Many members of the current team have remained with the company for more than a decade, some since the very beginning of the R&I Department.
Realistic buffers are factored into project timelines to address the inherent uncertainties in research with extensions and/or additional resources allocated as necesssary, as is a common occurence in research projects. Long before formal certifications (which in reality only reflects a portion of the already established standards) health, safety, and procedural protocols were part of the everyday workflow.
Since Research and Innovation is a demanding process, our achievemnts are shared in public with our colleagues and collaboratorators which we are particularly proud of. Photos are mainly used for C&D purposes; the actual dissemination is actively carried out through posters/presentations/patents/publications which are widely available online.
Overall it is a stable, secure, supportive and well-organized workplace where we can grow and build long-term careers.
Cons
Self-motivated professionals who feel at ease with accountability and a methodical, deliverable-focused workflow are encouraged by the environment.
