A company with good people and incompetent leadership - Anonymous employee Illumina Employee Review

3.0
Dec 1, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Current benefits package is still decent and in line with genomic industry standard Strong flexibility on working from home Great PTO offers (unlimited holiday) Nice Cambridge office The most incredibly talented and smart colleagues across the company. Little in the way of ego and very friendly approachable colleagues. Illumina values are really demonstrated by the employees. Commercial in Europe had a solid understanding and approach meeting european customers needs

Cons

10 rounds of lay offs in 4 years has led to near constant structural changes across departments and regions. An exhausting and really demoralising experience. Resulting layoffs stack former workload onto remaining employees with never signs of increasing headcount. Additionally, ELT wanting to be reactive to the market and create new projects or campaigns is just not possible with severely understaffed and overworked Cuts to stock options brings us in line others and so now benefit package is "average". The approach to telling us by the ELT was borderline insulting "Go home and sleep on it" will be a phrase remembered by Illumina employees for years to come. Communication about departmental changes, RIFs and other changes to process often it feels are never bothered to be shared. The ELT seem completely clueless in what direction they want to take the company in. Doing everything, everywhere all at once seems to be the only way forwards.

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5.0
Oct 19, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great benefits, good working culture

Cons

Has gone through a lot of change over the past few years but stable now...

4.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Stuck with them for 7 years because it was good back then. Comp is good, benefits are good, and if you're on campus its a nice experience. If you find the right team it can be a dream, but the flipside can be awful. Overall they have a lack of direction in what is turning out to be a highly competitive market.

Cons

Corporate bureaucracy and internal politics are strong but could be worse. The benefits were better in the past and all the perks are winding down with time as they tighten the budgets and try hard to pivot away from dying segments

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