Almac Group Reviews

Buckle up because this is going to be a ride: 1. Flexible Working aka you must be in by 9 or you can't get parked and when you try to leave at 4 you're stuck in queue in the carpark (excess of 20 mins). 2. Micro Management -The only thing Almac is world-class in, be prepared to be treated like a school child. It is humiliating to say the least, my single biggest issue with the company. 3. Leadership - Backward and old school, think middle management suit and tie. It may be 2020 but in Almac land it is 2002 at best. Work from home not a chance sure how could they micromanage their staff. The IT system perfectly reflects Almac Leadership – Old, beyond repair and not fit for use. 4. Bureaucratic - It is an artform at Almac, Whitehall in London couldn’t compete with these guys. The only thing lean about Almac is it pay scales. There are supervisors, team leaders and managers for everything (Roughly one manager for every four staff – crazy in the 21st century). The problem is there is that much middle management they have to go looking for issues/problems to make themselves look busy. Lots of middle management creates unnecessary bureaucracy which leads to micro management. 5. High Turnover - little being done to rectify the above so staff turnover is extremely high, if a large American multinational pharma company ever located to NI there would be a stampede for the door. 6. HR are pathetic - They even write fake review on this

Where can I possibly begin.... Clock in and out system is akin to a prison. Right away it tells you that you're not trusted as an adult. Managers will act like prison wardens around this, and if you are one minute late, then prepare to be "dealt with", no matter how much overtime you have worked, it could be days and they still won't care. Any overtime you have worked up must be taken within the week as well as it is not accumulative. You are also paid the standard rate for overtime at weekends (no time and a half or double time here, they're that greedy). Anything you do extra will never be enough.. there's no give and take as you would expect from normal management. Nepotism and sectarianism are rife within the place. Only certain individuals from the right backgrounds are promoted. Decent scientists fall by the wayside while "yes men" are the ones that scale up the ranks. You may be penalised for not having certain qualifications, i.e. PhD as it may not meet their expectations of what they call "job specific knowledge". This is completely contradictory, ridiculous and downright insulting given the fact they advertise for bachelor's/MSc university graduates. Managers will use underhanded practices to suit their agendas and call it "protecting the company". You will be judged from the moment you walk through the door. If you do not walk and talk a certain way and say yes to every little thing then your cards will be marked and this will be brought up when your appraisal rolls around. It is completely irrelevant to the work that you do, no matter how hard you work and how many results you pump out, you will be pegged based on what they think of you. You're also expected to complete "high level chemistry in their state of the art facilities" with an LCMS that is over 30 years old and never works, and broken and outdated pieces of equipment. Managers want to keep their overheads down so that they look good to their bosses no matter how much their staff are struggling. The most toxic work environment I have ever had the displeasure of working in. I urge any aspiring scientists to stay well clear.