Great team, historically poor but improving benefits, but poor leadership and promotion opportunities - Scientist AbbVie Employee Review

4.0
Apr 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Not bad as pharma companies go. Relatively good job security. A lot of lovely, smart and hard working people. Benefits team are generally receptive and benefits have improved. Less likely to lay people off than other pharma/biotech.

Cons

Your experience is almost entirely dictated by your managers. Adherence to official policies is super variable. Site is relatively siloed from the rest of the company, top-heavy, and academic. Too many PhDs, not enough entry level development to support projects and execution. Sometimes a lack of clear leadership or direction and bizarre "old school" pharma opaque communication. Very limited, once yearly opportunities for promotion. Bizarre pay /compensation penalties for taking parental leave that saddles two different calendar years.

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5.0
Apr 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company culture and supportive team members

Cons

No benefits as a contractor

1.0
Apr 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Part of abbvie so there is hope to save Allergan

Cons

CDSI-SC leadership is deeply misaligned with team and organizational priorities. There is a clear double standard in how budgets are managed. Team members are routinely denied conference attendance even if they provide detailed business justification, yet leadership frequently travels internationally—often multiple times a month—with entourages, raising serious concerns about unnecessary spending. Despite being in a US-focused role, leadership has been based in the UK since 2018 with no apparent effort to relocate, resulting in avoidable costs and limited accessibility to the team. This physical and operational distance is reflected in a lack of engagement with ongoing work. Leadership contribution to core scientific and operational activities is minimal. There has been no meaningful involvement in study design, trial troubleshooting, or execution support. Long-running initiatives such as “science of aging” have consumed significant time and resources over the past six years, yet have failed to produce any tangible outcomes—no product ideas, no clinical strategies, and no clear value to the organization. These efforts feel disconnected from real business needs. It is well known within AA, that CDSI-SC leadership is primarily focused on personal visibility, networking, and self-promotion rather than supporting the team or advancing organizational goals. Team development, mentorship, and advocacy are lacking, which has negatively impacted morale.

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