If you're a lab tech at PPD, prepare to be the lab's janitors. The scientists cannot keep their lab benches cleaned nor maintain their consumables properly. The team I was part of was relegated to clean up after scientists in virtually all labs. And, we were definitely punished if something like a rinse bottle was out of date - because no one else cares about the state of the labs.
All departments operate independently from each other, and it takes an enormous effort to get things done if you're working across departments.
Managers: I had three different managers in the 15 months I worked there. Only one of them understood the inequalities that our group was going through and tried to work with other departments on our behalf. The other two spat out corporate catchphrases without hesitation.
The pay is dreadful. I had previous experience in a lab and was only offered $13.50 starting. About 9 months in all lab techs were given a raise based on education, which created inequality between some newer lab techs and the experienced ones.
Instead of actually advancing the current employees and making sure they're well compensated, PPD would much rather hire dozens of assistant scientists and pay them laughable wages. They would counteract the feelings of deficiency with "fun" outings or terrible events put on by the social event committee (whose members are toxic and don't understand what fellow employees would actually want to do).
Oh! And instead of closing the campus during the -50°F temperatures Madison experienced in January 2019, they decided that it would be fine to force employees to walk to other buildings outside. During the flooding in August 2018, no email or phone message was sent out to let employees know how to get into work. Most employees had 2+ hour commutes trying to find open roads. The only reason I knew which way to get in was because I read reports of what roads were washed on Reddit. That is despicable.
