Novartis reviews

4.0

80% would recommend to a friend

(9,039 total reviews)
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Vas Narasimhan

86% approve of CEO

70% positive business outlook

Novartis has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 9,039 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Novartis employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

9K reviews
2.0
Nov 17, 2023

Bad overall

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible working conditions (hybrid) Good 401k match (6%)

Cons

I had a disappointing experience with this company, primarily due to poor upper management. The leaders at the top seemed to lack essential technical knowledge and management skills, which was evident in their day-to-day operations. There was a noticeable absence of tactical or strategic contributions from their end, indicating a gap in effective leadership. It appeared that their main concern was maintaining a positive perception among their peers and higher-ups, rather than focusing on actual business growth or employee welfare. Another significant issue was the ever-increasing list of responsibilities being placed on the employees, exacerbated by the company's decision to enforce a hiring freeze. This decision not only added undue stress on the current workforce but also hampered productivity and morale. Furthermore, the organization is burdened with an excessive number of middle managers. These managers are supposed to 'oversee' various workstreams, but their involvement often feels more like interference than assistance, complicating tasks that could be completed more efficiently. This over-management leads to a convoluted and inefficient workflow, further contributing to the overall dissatisfaction with the company's management structure. Promotions within the organization appear to be less about merit and more about popularity or networking. It seems as though those who are well-connected or favored within the company are more likely to advance, regardless of their actual performance or qualifications. This approach to promotions undermines the value of hard work and talent, potentially leading to a demotivated workforce and a culture that does not prioritize true skill and dedication.

2.0
Apr 1, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice, smart people Culture of collaboration Helping people with innovative medicines that really make a positive impact in the world

Cons

Have been engaged in a re-org for the past 12 months and still the organization is in chaos. Working on ways of working and internal focus prevents true focus on customers despite the rhetoric otherwise. Not clear what the end goal or strategy is anymore as words and actions are not aligned. Not a culture of accountability at all.

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Glassdoor has 12,621 Novartis reviews submitted anonymously by Novartis employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Novartis is right for you.