Pros
Due to the ongoing and voluntary mass exodus of employees from the company, multiple positions are most likely available. This has allowed new researchers/scientist at all levels the potential opportunity to learn a variety of new skills including: procurement, biosafety hood repair, technical support, and facilities maintenance. On a slightly different perspective, the free coffee in the break room is not monitored as much as the snacks management provides.
Cons
The most unprofessional work environment I have ever been apart of. Employees are treated as objects with zero regards to their health or well-being. This atitidue was on display during the Covid pandemic when multiple employees feared for their job safety when voicing concerns about continuing to work over 40+ hours a week despite Governor Baker’s mandates throughout. Instead of implementing and adhering to social distancing, shift work, or alternative scheduling, management deemed it better to provide Vitamin-C gummies and continue as though nothing was happening. More recent efforts to address company culture and the work place environment have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. Lengthy “town halls” filled with vague terms and highlighted words from someone’s “Human Resources 101” textbook have left many wondering if they simply don’t understand how to run a company or if they don’t care enough. Investment in employees is also shockingly absent. From looking for ways to bypass 401K matching to instructing employees to search YouTube instead of hiring field application scientists, if something does not directly contribute to the overall image of the company it won’t be considered. When looking for new career opportunities I was asked why I was looking. I found it hard to summarize or adequately relay some of the events that transpired... -Everyday common stock lab supplies routinely running out due to invoices not being paid. -Having your time in the office “secretly” noted by HR despite staying well past normal working hours to complete experiments. -Being reported as “late” for arriving at 9:10 and being asked to take PTO. -Cherry picking of data to exacerbate project success. Or even just the general disrespect towards researchers. If the BIC wasn’t backed by a large Chinese pharmaceutical company, I don’t believe they would have made it this long. Incompetence runs rampant among most of the company (including researchers) and many employees are just waiting for their promised 20% bonus. While they may offer slightly higher compensation for a given position, I would strongly consider weighing all the options before joining on.