Unstable, long hours with good career prospects - Manager Abbott Employee Review

3.0
Nov 9, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As of November 2016 three are lots of open positions at mid-management level in many countries. The company is open to relocate employees with the appropriate skills. No "pointing fingers" culture, non-authoritative management, there's overall very good relationship between peers, up & down the management chain in all divisions Many employees remaining in the company have 10+ years of experience, meaning there's load of knowledge to tap on. Good non-salary benefits, eg gym on many facilities, car leasing & home loans @ lower rates Nice head-office (Sydney) with loads of space. Flexible work-hours

Cons

Relocation to other countries receive a one-time relocation bonus to cover 2-3 months of settling down. Salaries are readjusted to the local currency, so one might actually lose salary depending on exchange rates. Abbott has been playing corporate chess, buying and selling large companies creating a snowball effect of day to day operations. As a consequence, employees have ridiculous hours (50-60+ /week at least 2/3 of the time) due to major transformations, lack of proper processes and not enough staff. On top of this, lots of outsourcing happened in the last 3 years. More than 2/3 of local back-office and 1/3 commercial employees were fired (displaced is the jargon used) and replaced with cheaper workers in India & Philipines. Due to this, morale is low and although older employees are approachable and helpful they are also tired and demotivated or just simply passive. This situation will continue in 2017 as Abbott just bought ST Jude, a very large healthcare company with large presence in Australia and many countries. Career path is not clear and one can stay in the same job on the same salary for many years with no more than CPI readjustments. (allowances are not CPI readjusted). Senior management plays communication by the Corporate book which is very USA oriented and not culturally adequate for Australia. Most employees don't believe on what upper management says.

Explore other reviews about Abbott

5.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance is great

Cons

Remote work opportunities are minimal.

2.0
Jun 15, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

• Strong brand and market position • Talented individual contributors and subject matter experts sprinkled throughout the organization • Opportunity to work on products that impact many patients

Cons

These comments reflect experience within Abbott Diabetes Care. • Culture can feel political and risk-averse, with difficult issues often addressed indirectly rather than transparently • Decision-making is slowed by multiple layers of management, many of whom appear focused more on managing upward than enabling teams and execution • Long-tenured management structures can create limited accountability, discourage new ideas, and make modernization difficult • Some leadership styles feel hierarchical and dismissive of dissenting viewpoints, making it risky to challenge the status quo • Strategic thinking and decision authority are concentrated among a relatively small group of senior leaders, creating bottlenecks and limiting innovation • Office environments and ways of working often feel outdated compared to more modern organizations • Organizational responsiveness can be frustratingly low. Routine requests, decisions, and communications often require multiple follow-ups, creating unnecessary delays and reducing accountability • Promotions and performance assessments often lack transparency, leading employees to question whether advancement is based on impact, visibility, DEI, or internal relationships • Employees navigating significant career or life transitions may experience varying levels of support, visibility, and development opportunities, making career continuity and progression feel less predictable than they should be

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