Pros
Genentech is a great company in a lot of ways. There is a lot of room for improvement of processes, or for implementation of new manufacturing improvements. There is plenty of vacation time, and holidays. Salaries are quite competitive, and there is quite a few talented individuals that you can connect and work with. There is of course the 6 weeks sabbatical every 6 years (which is mandatory) and a slew of employee financial benefits, as well as good helping of daily life assists benefits (such as being bused to work almost door to door and back)
Cons
The cons come from Genentech lack of a fair professional development track. Emails go out on a regular basis announcing the promotion of individuals, unfortunately those usually are quite often part of the management team members. It is not uncommon for the most experienced and knowledgeable employee on a team to be the lowest on the totem pole. One major Con is that individuals are not measured by the amount of sweat and tears they generate, nor by their actual day after day accomplishments and victories, but instead by the impression they allow upper management to perceive of them. Although this is true of most companies, this is especially true at Genentech. An individual who works, and works, and works; an individual who time after time successfully brings project to completion; an individual who is competent and a source of knowledge for peers and business customers can be perceived in a negative manner if he or she does not conform with what upper management have decided a model employee should behave. Many an individual have been glossed over for promotions, or admonished for not adhering to upper managements abstract notions of the model employee. On the other hand, brown nosers, shmoozers, and other individuals who know how to play the game of politics in the office are moved up the ladder, or placed in positions of power where they make the life of productive employees miserable.
