Hostile Work Environment, Dead R&D Pipeline - Anonymous employee Abbott Employee Review

1.0
Apr 18, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good compensation and benefit package. Overall, majority of the employees want to see the company succeed. The company has potential to turn around.

Cons

Of all the years that I've worked here, it is now one of the meanest work environments I've ever seen. Upper management will berate and rip presenters apart in front of co-workers and literally tell them they are stupid. This then trickles down to everyone else. There is NO appreciation of the hard work, long hours of overtime, and multiple projects that employees juggle - never a positive phrase or thank you. The motto is to just work harder. There is no career development plan for employees. They often hire from the outside bringing in managers with no knowledge of the industry or with management experience. Often the managers can't contribute to the R&D pipeline or to strategy so they in turn bully their direct reports due to insecurity. The theme is to acquire companies and then run them into the ground and then buy another company to make up for it. There has not been an upgrade to the VISX or IntraLase pipeline in 6 years and the cataract pipeline is riddled with problems. Managers never have your back and the theme is "every man for themselves".

Explore other reviews about Abbott

5.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Team is supportive and great to work here. lot of freedom and no micromanagement.

Cons

as of now nothing but its good place to work.

2.0
Jun 15, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

• Strong brand and market position • Talented individual contributors and subject matter experts sprinkled throughout the organization • Opportunity to work on products that impact many patients

Cons

These comments reflect experience within Abbott Diabetes Care. • Culture can feel political and risk-averse, with difficult issues often addressed indirectly rather than transparently • Decision-making is slowed by multiple layers of management, many of whom appear focused more on managing upward than enabling teams and execution • Long-tenured management structures can create limited accountability, discourage new ideas, and make modernization difficult • Some leadership styles feel hierarchical and dismissive of dissenting viewpoints, making it risky to challenge the status quo • Strategic thinking and decision authority are concentrated among a relatively small group of senior leaders, creating bottlenecks and limiting innovation • Office environments and ways of working often feel outdated compared to more modern organizations • Organizational responsiveness can be frustratingly low. Routine requests, decisions, and communications often require multiple follow-ups, creating unnecessary delays and reducing accountability • Promotions and performance assessments often lack transparency, leading employees to question whether advancement is based on impact, visibility, DEI, or internal relationships • Employees navigating significant career or life transitions may experience varying levels of support, visibility, and development opportunities, making career continuity and progression feel less predictable than they should be

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