Paid Well Treated Terribly - Executive Director Novartis Employee Review

2.0
15 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Base pay, bonus and LTI are generous compared to other companies. Some very intelligent colleagues. Great products.

Cons

Restructuring every 6-12 months. One can forgive a restructure every few years. However upper level leadership and its consultants seem to have no idea how to lead and operate a company at this scale. There is so much turnover, and the resulting paranoia for one's role passes for whatever is left of "culture" and has left many good people cynical and jaded. There is also a rampant ageism driving layoffs and firing. If you are over 50 there, forget job security - you will be pitted against younger, cheaper talent as a matter of policy. It is full-on hunger games. There are employees who use the internal "SpeakUp" process to try to get ahead by reporting on peers and managers - creating a further climate of fear as people are wrongly investigated and simultaneously being prohibited from in confiding to anyone. Oh and you are expected to be a cheerleader and culture champion. :-D

Explore other reviews about Novartis

5.0
24 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great company and benefits for an employee

Cons

I didn't see any con yet

2.0
25 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pays pretty well in comparison to similar jobs in the market

Cons

Unstable schedule where you are often asked to come in overnight (1-2 am) regardless of if you have worked the previous day or are off. Basically feels like you're permanently on-call to conduct environmental monitoring. Training is slow. The Micro dept in general is currently understaffed. The job also involves lab work once you are done with your daily environmental monitoring tasks. The work never ceases and the Technicians as a whole has several responsibilities. Promotions seem to come very slowly here.

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