They talk the talk but stumble when trying to walk the walk - Anonymous employee Otsuka Employee Review

2.0
Jun 16, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Office is pretty nice - Work/life balance is mostly good - There are a few dynamic leaders who are really making things happen. Get with one of them and you'll be fine - as long as they stay.

Cons

- Touts "innovation" but most (not all) parts of the organization are too conservative to actually do real innovation. - Parts of the organization are very "cliquey" and if you're not one of that senior leader's group of insiders you can pretty much forget getting very far. - Culture of company is bizarre and driven by Japanese HQ, less so since previous CEO passed away on a business trip at a young age but still rather bizarre. Head of HR personally told me it takes two years to really understand the company. - Pipeline of new products is suspect even though senior leadership constantly talks about how "robust" it is. - Company is struggling to regain its groove since Abilify patent expiration. Budgets have been slashed, first layoffs in company history in 2016. 2017 is expected to be the "trough" year before things move back into growth but that depends on the pipeline, mentioned above. - HR is pretty clueless and reactive for the most part.

Explore other reviews about Otsuka

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Highly collaborative environment with intelligent colleagues. Senior Leadership are supportive and encourage ownership.

Cons

There are a lot of meetings, some of which can feel redundant.

5.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I've been a full-time employee for about three months after converting to an FTE role, and I don't regret the decision one bit. The company culture is outstanding, and it's clear that leadership genuinely cares about the success and development of its employees. There are plenty of opportunities for learning, growth, and career advancement. The people are supportive, collaborative, and invested in helping one another succeed. It's a place where you feel valued and encouraged to do your best work.

Cons

The company has been somewhat slower than some competitors in embracing AI and driving AI-related innovation, although meaningful progress is being made. Change can also take time, particularly among more tenured employees who are accustomed to established ways of working. That said, the growing mix of experienced employees and newer talent is helping accelerate positive change and bring fresh perspectives.

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