Great team, historically poor but improving benefits, but poor leadership and promotion opportunities - Scientist AbbVie Employee Review

4.0
Apr 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Not bad as pharma companies go. Relatively good job security. A lot of lovely, smart and hard working people. Benefits team are generally receptive and benefits have improved. Less likely to lay people off than other pharma/biotech.

Cons

Your experience is almost entirely dictated by your managers. Adherence to official policies is super variable. Site is relatively siloed from the rest of the company, top-heavy, and academic. Too many PhDs, not enough entry level development to support projects and execution. Sometimes a lack of clear leadership or direction and bizarre "old school" pharma opaque communication. Very limited, once yearly opportunities for promotion. Bizarre pay /compensation penalties for taking parental leave that saddles two different calendar years.

Explore other reviews about AbbVie

5.0
Jul 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great work life balance. Great team.

Cons

Been good so far. As with other companies, networking is important for more visibility.

4.0
Jul 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Solid benefits, good overall working culture. Irvine campus has nice benefits including a discounted cafe (with pretty good food), free tennis lessons and a free indoor gym (recently upgraded). Lots of opportunities to attend one-off professional development seminars or webinars. Everyone is a professional, who does their best to contribute.

Cons

If you're part of the Digital Lab, growth is lacking, and outside of the Media Strategy and Investment team, every other team or role in the Digital Lab is confusing. No one honestly understands their role because the way they structured everything from the start made no sense. The restructure that happened this past year has honestly made everything more confusing. I haven't seen or heard about a proper promotion with anyone in the Lab for nearly 4 years. And politically, if your team isn't sitting on the right side, you're constantly wondering if your team is going to get cut. The only way up is out (either to a different team or out of the company).

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