Merck KGaA reviews

3.9

79% would recommend to a friend

(2,084 total reviews)
avatar

Kai Beckmann

100% approve of CEO

62% positive business outlook

Merck KGaA has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 2,084 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Merck KGaA employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Farmacéutica y biotecnología industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
4.0
Apr 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong product focus, exposure to latest technologies, and good work-life balance

Cons

Compensation could be more competitive

avatar
Merck KGaA Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at our company. It is encouraging to read that you value the product focus, exposure to modern technologies, and the work-life balance within your team. We also note your comment on compensation competitiveness. Pay is reviewed regularly against market benchmarks and internal principles, and feedback from employees is an important input in that process. If you would like to discuss your perspective in more detail, we encourage you to raise it with your manager or HR, and to share it through our Employee Engagement Survey (EES) so we can continue to improve.
3.0
Apr 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* Opportunity to work on global projects and gain international exposure * Strong collaboration with cross-functional and international teams * Positive and supportive relationships with peers across different countries * Collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork

Cons

* Limited career growth opportunities, particularly within support functions * Lack of clear and consistent guidelines when handling sensitive employee situations (e.g., health-related conditions), which may impact employee experience * Compensation is not as competitive compared to other companies in the pharmaceutical industry * High workload and poor work-life balance, with employees frequently feeling overwhelmed * In support functions, when employees leave, roles are often not replaced, and the additional workload is absorbed by the remaining team members, leading to sustained overload

avatar
Merck KGaA Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at our company in detail. We genuinely value all feedback — it helps us reflect on what we're doing well and where we can continue to grow. We're glad to hear that your time here was marked by meaningful global exposure, strong cross-functional collaboration, and supportive peer relationships. These are experiences we deeply value and actively strive to cultivate across our organization. We hear your concerns around career development, and want to acknowledge that this is an area we have been actively working on. The recent introduction of our myGrowth platform is a step in that direction, offering employees more visibility into their development journey, internal mobility opportunities, and clearer growth opportunities. We are committed to ensuring these frameworks are consistently applied, and also may need a bit of time to fully take hold in a large organization like ours. Regarding the handling of sensitive employee situations, we do have guidelines in place to ensure empathetic and respectful support — including dedicated policies such as caregiver leave and health-related accommodations. On a related note, we understand that market fluctuations and organizational changes can place additional strain on teams and temporarily affect work/life balance, particularly when roles are not immediately backfilled. Thank you again for your thoughtful and constructive review. We wish you all the best in your next chapter and are grateful for the contributions you made during your time with us.
3.0
Apr 22, 2026

Mid

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Competitive salary and benefits, location, engagements

Cons

Frequent reorganization, some leadership team not effective, no work life balance in our dept.

avatar
Merck KGaA Response
1mo
Thank you for sharing your feedback and for highlighting the aspects of your experience that you valued, including the competitive salary and benefits, location and team engagements. We are glad these made a positive impact during your time with us. Regarding the perception of frequent reorganization, we understand that periods of change can sometimes feel unsettling. As a comparatively stable, family-owned company with a long-term perspective, we are committed to making thoughtful and deliberate decisions. At the same time, in an ever-evolving global market, adapting our structures and ways of working is essential to staying relevant and competitive — and to continuing to deliver on our purpose for the long term. On the points raised around leadership effectiveness and work-life balance, we take these seriously. Experiences can vary across departments, and we continuously work to ensure that our leaders are equipped to support their teams effectively and that workloads are managed sustainably. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and thank you for your contributions to our company.
Viewing 13 - 15 of 2,084 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,889 Merck KGaA reviews submitted anonymously by Merck KGaA employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Merck KGaA is right for you.