There are teams within AbbVie that are not just toxic - they are psychologically abusive and operate more like a cult than a team in a professional workplace. From my first week at AbbVie, I was systematically isolated, manipulated, and gaslit. Meaningful accomplishments - recognized by colleagues across the company - were ignored or minimized, while inexperienced team members were constantly praised for minor actions to reinforce conformity and loyalty. Radical candor, psychological safety, and similar workshops and trainings were weaponized to criticize, control, and enforce obedience rather than genuinely develop employees.
Leadership maintained control through fear. Independent thinking, questioning decisions, trying to find process improvements and efficiencies, or seeking clarity was subtly punished, reframed as “defensiveness” or “not a culture fit.” Team members were elevated or disparaged based on loyalty, not competence. Positive contributions outside the manager’s view were discounted, creating anxiety, stress, and constant hyper vigilance.
This culture is not new. I later learned that the team has always had a revolving door of high turnover and even required that everyone sign a 5-page “culture contract” at one point historically to manage behavior. My predecessor also left under similar circumstances.
This environment encourages conformity, punishes dissent, and systematically drives out competent people while retaining those who pose no threat to leadership’s ego.
If you value psychological safety, merit-based recognition, independent and innovative thinking, and leadership that genuinely supports employees, please avoid this team entirely.
