Givaudan reviews

Not many opportunities for people to move up the ranks. Demands from managment are often confusing/conflicting making for a frustrating environment. Very poor in recognition and offering positive feedback. Management often treats subordinates very disrespectfully. Still seems to be animosity with employees from another company (Quest) they recently purchased--somewhat cliquey. Communication between different internal groups can be very poor. General atmosphere feels negative, like everyone is stressed out all the time. Being a Swiss-based global company, there is frequent interaction with co-workers from many other countries/backgrounds which can be the cause for a lot of misunderstandings, confusion, etc.

Its frustrating because there is alot of potential with this company. Everywhere I turn there is someone who knows a great deal about their job. But the leadership is faulty - bording on disfunctional. There is too much focus on not screwing up and not enough on getting better and improving -not uncommon when you become #1 I guess. While the individual depts do good work the business practices and behavior linking them is either non-existant or at best so convoluted that you become exhausted. The responsibility for this disfunction sits squarely with the upper level management at the sites and through corporate. It seems they are all trying to protect their position and opinions. Working in a silo is the norm and even unknowingly enforced by their fear and protectionism. Put them all in one room to decide on a new way forward and you get a vacuum that swallows up innovation and creativity. If you are lucky you might end up with decision to buy something expensive because thats what you do when your #1??..(cough,cough)..its not what you have but what you do that the customers value! Often the result will be that they take the recommendation of one of the skilled underlings which is fine, but then what value are they adding?? And not surprisingly there is very little accountibility at the upper levels as there is very little that they do . In the end the average person spends an incredible amount of time and energy managing upward and if their suggestion to move forward is chosen by the "leaders" then it is their responsibility ONLY if it fails. Success is shared by the company. Failure is blaimed at the individual. And yes there are other issues - HR is decidedly un-human with an obvious allegience to "the leaders" and each other and golf. Gone are days when HR was required to understand the people and now their success is based on how many links to automated web sites can be set up and the how many powerpoint slides can be created about benefits. And team building excercises have been turned into afternoon martini meetings to establish who is IN...and who is OUT. Previously shared company perks are now collected and handed out to those that are IN or as a doggie treat for the rest of us. With all this said there is hope. There are just too many good people. A little pennicillin to fix the infectious business practices and people and a rededication to the company and it's employees coupled with an attainable vision...will turn these reviews into positive marketing material.