Suffocating, Political, Tense Culture - Specialist, Engineering Merck Employee Review

2.0
Aug 22, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible work hours, don't track employee time in/out of office or vacation & sick days, just expect you to get your work done and that's it. Hours can be very long and crazy, but it can easily be balanced.

Cons

Layoffs aplenty. Highly bureacratic. Over structured. Very slow career movement growth. Company says they value their employees, yet don't demonstrate that they take employee interests or career goals into account during all these reorgs. They also preach 'compliance is #1' but the actions they take are all about money, money, money. Validation engineers are overworked and underpaid and most importantly, under appreciated.

Explore other reviews about Merck

5.0
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work from home (that may not always be a perk, but it is now for writers), choice of flexible hours (7 AM - 9 AM starting), friendly, helpful people, great bosses, people very interested in their jobs, plus a lot of educational benefits, you are trained on all aspects of Merck and your job.

Cons

I cannot think of any, though sometimes work from home has its drawbacks, because the employee doesn't get all the information that an onsite employee would.

4.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Over my tenure, I had the opportunity to work alongside highly talented and mission-driven colleagues dedicated to improving patient outcomes. The organization provided exposure to cross-functional collaboration, leadership development opportunities, and meaningful work supporting healthcare providers, patients, and community stakeholders. I appreciated the company's commitment to innovation, professional growth, and serving patients through scientific advancement.

Cons

Like many large organizations, priorities and organizational structures evolved over time, which occasionally created uncertainty and changes in responsibilities. Decision-making processes could sometimes be complex due to the size of the organization, and navigating multiple layers of stakeholders occasionally impacted speed and execution.

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