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      Harvard University reviews

      Low pay, low benefits - Anonymous employee Harvard University Employee Review

      1.0
      Sep 17, 2017
      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Fascinating people work in and around the GSD at Harvard University, and the university relies on its famous name to acquire talented hires.

      Cons

      As an employer, Harvard has had a terrible reputation for generations. Buttons were produced in the 1960s saying "I can't eat prestige" and Harvard has recently been the site of massive complaints by cafeteria workers that jobs are unstable and incomes and benefits insufficient. While I worked there in 2016, graduate students and PhD students who work part time for the university were voting to unionize as a way of protecting themselves from abusive hours and insufficient compensation. My colleagues and I were told to expect better hours, better pay, and insurance which never materialized.

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      5.0
      Jul 13, 2026
      Peer advising fellow
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Light work if you have the right team

      Cons

      Low pay for amount of work

      2.0
      Jun 30, 2026
      Coordinator
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Great Union and benefits for non-profits/higher ed. Wonderful colleagues outside of leadership!

      Cons

      GSD Development and Alumni Relations (under current leadership) is an incredibly toxic work environment. I didn't realize the intensity of the toll it took on my until after leaving, and I am not one to leave a negative review, but as they are hiring for several positions currently, I wish to share words of caution with applicants. Cons: - Absolutely not a safe space for anyone who is Black, brown, trans, queer, working-class, or disabled - 100% top-down direction. No room for personal exploration, initiative, or creativity. - Minimal guidance from leadership - Frequent pivots, even in the late stages of projects - Petty, immature talking behind your back by leadership - No upward mobility unless the Associate Dean or Dean like you - Deeply disingenuous comments, reflections, and feedback from leadership - Complete lack of transparency on direction, goals, etc. - Small mistakes are made cornerstones of performance evaluations, while leadership routinely missteps. Leadership never takes accountability. - Top-down policy decisions, completely lacking detail, thought, and care outside of legal ramifications - Ever-changing in-office requirements

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