Biogen Idec Reviews

I have been working at Biogen Idec as an intern for less than a year

Pros – I love the other interns here. We get along very well along with the other people here. I have a lot of fun in the lab and I have my own project.

Cons – The days can sometimes be long and there is a lot of data collection at times so it can be slow. But the work is interesting and I learn a lot from it.

Advice to Senior Management – Great job no advice

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Biogen Idec full-time

Pros – Fantastic people who are on the whole truly committed to what they are doing. There is real passion and desire to do the very best on most projects. Great workplace 'perks' such as free barista-style coffees and hot drinks, subsidised cantine and some great social events organised on site, such as free lunches once a month, fancy dress days and discounted cinema/theatre tickets.

Cons – The company is currently going through a period of huge growth, so is moving from a small biotech to a medium/large biotech and is experiencing all the usual teething problems associated with this- lots of new people and products but without the infrastructure or processes to properly support the growth mean that things can feel a bit chaotic and disorganised. Mentalities and behaviours are slowly changing however, and many of the new people are making great changes and helping to future-proof the organisation.

Advice to Senior Management – Listen to/use the people you have spent such a long time hiring to get the very best out of them- some people have great ideas but they never come to fruition because they don't get the opportunity to work them through fully.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – Company dedicated to improving lives of patients
Benefits/Compensation
Flexible working arrangements

Cons – Changes to culture/atmosphere
Layoffs
Moving to an open workspace environment

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Biogen Idec full-time for less than a year

Pros – Nice working enviroment and labs

Cons – pay rate was low, no housing

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Biogen Idec full-time for more than a year

Pros – Great benefits; really smart people that are great to work with

Cons – VP and Director level management not strong or experienced enough to implement senior management vision; many promotions based on length of employment at company rather than experience; too many reorgs; too political; little to no career development;

Advice to Senior Management – Boys club mentality is not a great model for growth and employee satisfaction - have the courage to address management issues quickly so that people can focus on work rather than politics

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – The company has had a ton of success over the past 2 years. It a very exciting place to work and the salary, stock, benefits are great.

There is a new focus on science and the company is throwing resources at R&D.

If you're in the right group, you will see a lot of flexibility in work arrangements (WFH, telecommuting, etc)

Cons – Management is, for the most part, awful. There is constant infighting, finger pointing, and political jockeying. Also, the bureaucracy is both crushing and worthless. A good 30% of the staff are here only because they are too vested in the stock plan (golden handcuffs).

If you are applying, have a long timeframe. HR is slow and borderline useless. Expect rude comments, arrogance, and lack of communication and follow-through. In my experience, I have seen 3-6 months from first interview to offer. You will also get low balled in salary and title.

Advice to Senior Management – Look past your inner circle. The duct tape and bandaids are starting to come apart.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I have been working at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – Great salaries, benefits, some wonderfully smart, dedicated people work at Biogen Idec.

Cons – The company has become very political, recent hires are interested only in lots of money and promotions. Some of the worst managers I have ever seen work at Biogen Idec. No sense of teamwork anymore.

Advice to Senior Management – Go out and get to know the people who are "in the trenches". Realize that some people who are talented individual contributors need to remain individual contributors because they lack the social skills to lead. Please thoroughly vet the people you are considering making leaders.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I have been working at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – great science, leader in MS development

Cons – tolerate mediocre managers and leaders in some departments

Advice to Senior Management – practice what you preach

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I have been working at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Highly competitive salary, good benefits, flexible working approach, some very nice people

Cons – Changing landscape, changing business model

I worked at Biogen Idec full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Core sciences (immunology, protein biochemistry) were, at one time, world class. The Neuro group, while weak in Discovery research, can execute on clinical development like no one else in the MS field. Company has had more positive impact on MS patients lives than all others combined.

Cons – Vicious, relentless political infighting. Every department, every level, every day, played out against a vapid and hypocritical message of transparency and openness. Just vile.

Advice to Senior Management – Focus on neurology, dump immunology (its hopeless), remove middle management across the company, fire 2/3rds of the VPs, and read your own vision and core values statements

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company