Battelle reviews

Leadership is limited by a lack of vision. As a collection of business units (small businesses), it is poorly positioned to compete for contracts. The fully burdened costs required to keep the business profitable as a non-profit corporation prevents the company from being successful in market sectors with tight margins. Battelle depends on clients willing to pay premium prices for services based on their name alone. At the end of the day most services are subcontracted anyway.

While at my group that supports a critical corporate function, I experienced chaos, pronounced mismanagement, lack of process or structure, wasted time and money, lack of accountability, and repeated lack of success in our efforts for growth. In addition, I experienced and observed my peers experiencing mistreatment - frequent harsh criticism, ridicule, angry tirades, and scapegoating. These were reported and discussed regularly with leadership and at team meetings to no avail. Ideas to improve processes are discussed and then abandoned or are not enforced or monitored. Some long-time employees within and outside the group resent newcomers and change and obstruct the group's efforts. One leadership position turned over five times the first year, and all but one of my original close peers have left in the past year. As a salaried employee and manager, it can be difficult to achieve the 9/80 calendar, and Battelle skimps on PTO compared to some other large federal contractors. Many senior managers of technical teams are swamped and work very long hours, unable to give their direct reports the time they need.