Charles River Laboratories Reviews

Pros

You can learn a lot. There are abundant opportunities.

Cons

Can't think of any at the moment.

Advice to Management

Keep up the frequent and open communication.

Pros

They care about their employees

Cons

Overall some admin departments seem disorganized

Pros

Many opportunities to learn new things. Medical benefits are pretty good.

Cons

There is a terrible work life balance.

Advice to Management

Change the culture to have a true work life balance.

Pros

a good job in industry after a Ph.D. or Master.

Cons

No work and life balance, favoritism, and no support for your employee's career development.

Pros

If you're fresh out of school and need work experience, this is a good place to be. They don't shy away from hiring new grads or young people, and for most positions having a ton of experience isn't really an issue.

Cons

Pay tends to be a bit on the low end across the board, work-life balance was pretty bad for a while but has improved a lot. A lot of times it's hard to get past entry level. While it hasn't been my personal experience, I know some department heads don't encourage career development nearly as much as they should. The downside to Charles River being so open about hiring new grads is that, well... EVERYONE is a new grad...

Advice to Management

Keep focusing on employee satisfaction and keep asking for feedback! Your staff are your greatest resource. Consider sharing more benefits of the recent growth with the employees - a raise in pay will do wonders for employee morale, all across the board. Young, talented staff who've worked here since graduation will stay and become future leaders and managers in the company - but only if you give them development opportunities...

Pros

Good health and retirement benefits. OK vacation time off. Friendly coworkers.

Cons

Upper management only cares about mergers and acquisitions. No employee development. Cramped office and lab space. Low pay compared to industry standards. Poor work-life balance.

Advice to Management

Stop worrying about the next acquisition and focus on your current employees. Improve working conditions and pay. Stop trying to wring every cent possible out of your workers.

Pros

Good money, team oriented atmosphere, incentive to improve and grow within the company

Cons

Long hours, upper management has little idea what is going on on the lower levels and seems to not care

Advice to Management

Take an interest in all of the employees, not just the high paid, highly experienced employees

Pros

Benefits and growth opportunities are great.

Cons

Can get a bit busy

Advice to Management

Lower management needs an honesty policy.