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Tulane University

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Love the work, love the benefits, hate the bureaucracy - Anonymous employee Tulane University Employee Review

3.0
28 Feb 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Tulane offers extensive benefits - a tuition waiver is the best of them. Tulane also offers challenging and interesting work. I can't think of a position that would be afforded interesting opportunities at least sporadically if not regularly. The location is fabulous, the working conditions are very good and for the most part, the staff is congenial. There are plenty of benefits to employment at this university.

Cons

My experience has shown me that the biggest flaw of the academic administration of Tulane is unneeded bureaucracy. The structure of my department of seven people includes four managers. There are more managers than subordinates in my office. While soothing to the egos of those incapable of doing the work, there is no reason to have that much bureaucracy in such a small department. In addition, I've found that many promotions are proof of the Peter Principle. Employees tend to stay at the university for a very long time, resulting in promotion beyond their level of expertise simply because they are the most senior. This is certainly true of my three direct superiors. It has resulted in a toxic environment that runs off of fear and lies, gossip and back stabbing. The purpose of the work is ignored and the manta of "cover your ass" has been adopted. It is truly unfortunate because I love my job, the work itself. But detox will be necessary eventually.

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5.0
29 June 2026
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Pros

Great boss and flexible hours.

Cons

Not much to say here.

2.0
18 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Flexible work schedule (if in the right lab, not guaranteed) Really great coworkers. You can generally learn anything you show an interest in or need in other MRS in the center. We all tend to stick together. Additional paid leave through winter break on top of generous amount of PTO. Tuition waiver to Tulane

Cons

Truly falling apart, both physically and systemically. Physically the place is a disaster and borderline unsafe. Im surprised OSHA hasn't been called due to instances of unknown chemical inhalation, people autoclaving things they shouldn't, high CO2 levels with no functioning alarm. Not only that but the water quality is wildly unreliable. Systemically, you are underpaid and overworked, not appreciated and chronically strung along by a dangled carrot. You can out perform everyone on the team and be passed over for promotions because of a million different excuses. By design you are shoved down until you stop hoping for better. Management all around sucks because for many the only way to move up or forward is to go into management. These are Scientist that are just shoved into management roles and told to do their best. Everyone suffers for this. They have no training, and despite being good people, tend to completely mismanage teams until only the favored are left. This is true for the lowest managers but all the way to the top.

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