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Arena Pharmaceuticals

Acquired by Pfizer

Is this your company?

Uncertainty, confusion, toxicity - Anonymous employee Arena Pharmaceuticals Employee Review

1.0
7 May 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are some great people here, flex time off and holidays are great.

Cons

It feels like we've been in a massive limbo since the acquisition was announced last year. Now that we are under Pfizer, it's just pure chaos. Senior leadership disappeared immediately, more junior staff took over but they're not providing any leadership. Pfizer tagged buddies for teams but they're unhelpful, absent and not aligned. No one took their place. Everyone is receiving conflicting instructions, roles and responsibilities are changing on a whim, communication is painful and unclear. Alot of management has checked out and it feels like they're just hoping everyone will quit to avoid severance. Before the acquisition we were promised things would be better, but the acquisition just froze bad processes and toxic people in place. Everyone seems to be making it up as they go and there is alot of handballing. Being on limbo makes it so hard to plan life around work. We've lost the benefit of our flexible culture. It also feels like many of the staff will be let go in winter and miss the benefit of the good job market. This place is a hot mess and it's very hard to carry on through this.

Explore other reviews about Arena Pharmaceuticals

5.0
3 Oct 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It was a very inclusive working environment

Cons

This company was acquired by Pfizer

3.0
22 Aug 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Arena offers a great relaxed atmosphere and doesn't interfere with my personal life. The stress level is very low and management is usually pretty understanding of "life-matters" (doctors appts, vacation time use, etc.). Freedom to come in, take lunch, and leave when you want, as long as you get 40 hours/week in and get your work done. Benefits are decent, but could be with a better healthcare network.

Cons

The environment at Arena is awful. It is very dreary, and most employees keep to themselves so there is not too much interaction which makes for a very sad, depressing day. The pay is low compared to other bio-tech companies in the area, and there is absolutely NO room for employee growth, both in level of position, and salary. There are no incentives and no bonuses which also contributes to the sad, dreary work environment. The responsibilities and work load held among non-management employees is pretty much equal which makes the salary differences hard to understand. Harder working employees should be rewarded, but never are.

4
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