Pros
As far as my department goes, the culture is pretty inviting. I have yet to meet an outwardly mean/unpleasant coworker. I've never been required to do overtime, it's always been on a "if you'd like to" basis. There's additional overtime opportunities for those looking for extra money. Benefits are very good. PTO system is generous. So long as I've worked here, management/team leads have had a "We're in this together." type of attitude, and are always helping us on the floor. That's super appreciated, and I hope that attitude lives on once our current boss retires in the near future. Upper management is much more distant, but friendly. Meridian tends to promote from within. You'll meet so many people that've been with the company 20+ years and have worked their way up, very good sign for anyone seeking a long term career.
Cons
The base pay for this position is not reflective of the responsibilities. As we handle hazardous materials, dry ice and other sensitive materials, I can't see how the starting pay is competitive in this economy. Meridian is struggling as of 2024, the company was recently acquired by a Korean diagnostic company last year and the future looks uncertain. This review comes as our most recent round of bonuses have taken a steep cut from the previous year. This trend is why I've started looking for opportunities outside of the company and is something to keep in mind if you're looking for that long-term career, Things move slowly at Meridian. For a specific example, it can take up to 3/4 weeks to get a new-hire from the interview stage to their first day.
