Good company - bad politics - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

3.0
Apr 18, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart people. Great benefits. Patients are priority.

Cons

Bad leadership who do not inspire, bad managers. Manager based performances based on biased opinions from other people. Management plays favoritism. Brown nosing is appreciated. Heavy politics. Do not practice what is preached. Unfair treatment, promotions. Penalize those who speak up. Hard work is not recognized. Lack of teamwork Competition between team members; can't trust many. In some cases, tolerate and keep difficult/incompetent employees. No work/life balance.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All