Very political, very hierarchical. - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

3.0
Sep 10, 2010
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Many smart, motivated employees - Interesting work - Desire to provide a work-life balance - The espresso machines

Cons

- Hierarchical - you simply had to understand that it was a caste system. When I joined the company this dynamic was becoming status quo, part and parcel of the company's absorption of "big pharma" culture. - Tendency to hire very overqualified people for roles, and keep them there for long periods of time - Limited array of roles - Bureaucratic - Highly decentralized HR with absolutely no power - The reality of work-life balance wasn't there for a lot of people. The travel demands for some roles were really gruelling. - Roche's entry has put a different type of pressure on the company, and is generating a lot of fearful and duplicitous behavior - including at senior management levels.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All