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Thermo Fisher Scientific

Engaged employer

Thermo Fisher Scientific: Pretty crust, but the pie filling is spoiled. - IT Director Thermo Fisher Scientific Employee Review

1.0
2 Apr 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I am really digging to try to find positive feedback. They have some good products and some really good people on the front lines. A good place to learn a little about business (good and bad) if you are lucky enough to find one of the few good managers in the company. Not for long term growth by any means.. under two years.

Cons

Thermo began as a holding company and still has never realized their dream of being an global manufacturer in reality. The Corporate management has unfortunately developed an "ivory tower" view focused on profit and the stocks and not on products. Communication and support is so poor. Thermo does not value any of their talent. Often good results are not as important as improving the bottom line. Whistle blowers, Innovators, and Long term employees who are perceived as a threat to a manager are laid off. Self promoters move very quickly up the management ladder. Training does not exist. Employees are left to their own devices.. this is considered good to "weed out"inferior employees. Pay starts out slightly below market, but them remains there since all bonuses are based on "unrealistic" stretch goals (you enter your stretch goal, and then it gets "upped" 10%). Culture is growth through promotion only. Promotion is based on face time more than results... making a good show of it and self marketing is rewarded highly. Turnover is high, VERY high. It is a result of little opportunity and constant threat of layoff. There is a major disconnect between Products and Management. This is culture based. Focus is on money only and not on how to create the best product FOR the money. Layoffs are a yearly or quarterly reality. Often used to remove higher paid employees to trim bottom line (regardless of talent and contribution).

Explore other reviews about Thermo Fisher Scientific

5.0
7 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The work culture is positive

Cons

There are usually so many studies and few people to work on them

1.0
20 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If you're stuck in the Greenville area for some unfortunate reason, it's a job.

Cons

This place is functionally a mafia. The same rotating cast of "old head" people that have been at the site for decades watches each other's backs, and overworks everyone else. God help you if you're actually capable or smart, because they will overload you as much as possible, while ensuring that they, and their pals, do as little as possible. They really have no concept of capacity management at all. There is no math, metrics, or even mild logic that goes in to how they define R&R or distribute work. No one really knows how to do anything at all. Things that sound simple, like shipping a sample for instance.. Well, clear your afternoon. It doesn't help that all of their systems are completely antiquated. I should also note that you won't get any support on anything really, from training to execution. No one wants to be here, and it's so obvious. The place looks and feels like a prison because it is. It doesn't even pay that well compared to other pharma companies! That barbed wire isn't there to keep people out, it's to keep them in.

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