R&D is very top heavy. - Research Assistant Sanofi Employee Review

2.0
26 Feb 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It's a reputable company. There are many very capable scientists. Experiences/recommendations helped me get into graduate school. It's a job.

Cons

Little room for advancement without PhD. As someone with a bachelors degree, I competed for the same job as many with a masters degree. On filling new positions, we struggled to fill roles because those with masters degrees were looking for more than contract work. Not a social environment (at least my location). Competition for project leads often results in scientists unwillingness to share data with other scientists. Very little feedback received on job performance. Work load is feast or famine: I often go 2-3 days of being so busy I skip lunch and then 3-4 weeks of sitting at my desk reading research papers to pass the time. At least at my site, I can count on one hand the number of non-PhD R&D employees that are not contract workers (meaning no benefits, no pay on federal holidays, no sick time, no vacation time - hell I don't even get paid when the company tells me I cannot work due to the snow). As a recent college grad, this is an inconvenience but I can understand and appreciate that I am on the bottom of the totem pole. However many non-PhD employees are 28+ years old with families and advanced degrees, which presents a more serious problem. Finally, this issue results in high turnover in non-PhD positions. Most stay until they have enough experience to achieve a more secure position at another company.

Explore other reviews about Sanofi

5.0
25 Feb 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits (9% 401k match, company car, solid insurance). Huge company with many therapeutic areas you can choose from. I like my coworkers.

Cons

Employee stock purchase plan is nice in theory, but stock has treaded water for many years. A very big company with lots of big pharma metrics to meet. Pay is maybe slightly below industry average.

3.0
1 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Extensive and active employee resource groups, strong leadership development opportunities, clear company mission, gig opportunities that support career development, strong employee support through the ombuds office and compliance help line, and stable company portfolio.

Cons

No work-life balance considerations with hybrid work model, contradictions in company mission compared to policies (i.e., target to reduce carbon emissions with employee commuting to office as one of the top 5 causes but yet still requiring employees to commute to office 3 days a week), some office sites are not conducive to in office productivity (not enough privacy or space), compensation package is not competitive for MA pharmaceutical companies, long-term incentives have almost no value once they are vested, health care benefits require employees to jump through hoops to maximize discounts or qualify for coverage of certain medications, and accountability for department leadership to follow the corporate leadership pillars is inconsistent across departments.

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