Merck not what it used to be in the ways that matter - Digital Marketing Merck Employee Review

3.0
Feb 27, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay and benefits not what they used to be, but still good relative to many companies. Managing to be relatively successful, in a difficult industry, despite many patent expirations.

Cons

Management "talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk" when it comes to being customer-focused, taking appropriate risks, diversity of ideas and employee engagement. George Merck's quote to "remember the patients" is long forgotten. Decision-making is highly controlled and priorities are never set, therefore trying to execute on every idea that comes along. Probably not done downsizing, which leads to increasingly difficult working conditions (long hours and unrealistic expectations). Career tracks are gone.

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5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent company to work with.

Cons

No cons encountered so far

4.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits like medical/dentist/vision, pension, stock option, 401k match. Co workers are excellent, pretty good on site symposiums, lot of diversity clubs/activities. Innovation is extremely welcomed. Diversity in research portfolio. AI/ML is heavily invested to make databases more efficient.

Cons

Micro managing, especially within the biologics department, potentially others. Promotions are limited, and pay bump is poor. Company invests too much in buying companies rather than keeping talent - lay offs let go of great talented people. Merck is afraid of investing into exploratory biology and doesn’t take risk - they even admit they would rather see other companies clinical data or R&D data rather than taking a risk. Although it’s slow going in building new software, current databases are slow and needs much improvement. Extremely poor work/life balance.

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