Great benefits, challenging work environment - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

3.0
Oct 12, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent benefits and compensation, stable company, and good work/life balance. The retirement plan in particular is better than any company I'm aware of in the Bay Area.

Cons

Lots of long term employees who've been in the same position for 15 or 20 + years who don't pull their weight leading to an environment where hard workers get completely burnt out to benefit those long term employees. People are often kept in the same position with growth discouraged.

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5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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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
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