research associate

logistics technician

shipping and receiving clerk

associate scientist

project manager

Abcam

What is the best part of working at the company?
The job started off wonderful! I really enjoyed learning about what I was physically working with and just how the chain of command worked. 

But after acquisition, it was hard to really enjoy the work. People were laid off out of nowhere and the management became increasingly toxic. 

The managers spread the most gossip. Women of color applying here should be wary especially in the logistics department. 

The pay is subpar and the culture is toxic. If you can find another opportunity take it. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The frequency of the layoffs coupled with them not hiring more employees to aid in the increasing work load. Some of the men there tend to be very inappropriate with no repercussions. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very welcoming at first then it was hostile. The managers have their favorite employees and will do what they can to make you increasingly uncomfortable if you’re not one of them, until you leave. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A lot of work. If you’re assigned a task for the day just expect to be in the shipping area after 2.

I applied to work at this company several times over multiple years before I got a job as a temp. I was hired onto a permanent position after the encouragement of my coworkers, BUT I was fired several months later for not being a good fit. At one point Abcam had an accurate reputation of being a place with an amazing and inclusive work environment. This was only because of the extremely hard work of the supervisors and managers. This was ruined after multiple visits by VPs, executives, and CEOs. They were corporate and being fairly impressed by themselves they wanted everything to be like them. That’s how creativity was stifled. Hard workers became bitter and clicks formed based off of job satisfaction. It became hard to believe in a company that didn’t care about your well-being. This job became the biggest disappointment in my career, and let me feeling that science is a maze of rules that does not encourage discoveries. You will be too distracted by checking your email to fix any problems at Abcam. 

This company doesn't know how to manage its people, its supply chain, or its culture. Too much time is spent trying to find the new way to work, and no time on figuring out if it actually works. Whether or not you are promoted is based almost entirely on your personality, and if the current management likes you or not. This isn't coming from a disgruntled employee. I worked there for over 2 years and was happy for the majority of my time there. That being said, this company has almost no direction, and almost no ability to improve in its current state. Fair warning to current employees, and prospective employees alike. Look elsewhere. Abcam is not a place you want to build a career and not a place you want to be employed by. They have no problem getting rid of folks they don't think fit into the culture, for whatever reason, and the management will not offer any coaching or developmental guidance.

There is a lot of talk here about advancement and a lot of meetings with middle-management and HR people, but HR are the only ones to benefit = They use the culture of helping you improve, supposedly, to keep changing - If they don;t there simply isnt anything for them to do. When the process is over, they say they have reviewed it and need to start it agaiin otherwise they're unemployed.

For junior management, there is no genuine advancement, just going thru-the-motions, and you are expected to keep to the company line that things are under review etc etc - Reviews take 4 PLUS MONTHS - A third of the year, meaning all you ever do is review, there is no real meaning to putting anything into practice, just pretence. No meaningful review process should be three months long as it leaves no time for actual WORK.

Performed routine laboratory procedures such as cell fusion/hybridoma production and its maintenance. Running ELISA immunoassays. Contributing in IgG cloning. Maintenance of simple laboratory records and inventory for supplies and reagents. Maintenance of laboratory equipment and supplies. In charge of producing and updating SOPs. 

Working at Abcam it gave me a deeper understanding as to what research means and how it assists on further medical discoveries. It gave me the capacity and knowledge to think outside the box and to help evolve, and at times establish, ways in which research could be done more efficiently and productively.

I truly do love my job and working for such an amazing company with a strong mission. Leadership really does care about employees and wants us to be successful. Plus pay/benefits package is outstanding. Indeed is the number one job site so the solutions sell themselves! The culture is fun and they really do promote team collaboration though it has been a challenge throughout the pandemic. The only drawback is the timeline and ability to get promoted in sales. We are growing and expanding and I know things were slightly haulted throughout the pandemic so I am hopeful for a better process towards upward mobility.

Execs come from big 3 consulting and it shows. Execs are flailing about without a clue. Leadership personally enriches themselves with acquisition, while setting employee metrics at impossible levels far above the rest of the industry robbing hard-working employees of pay and shares.

Everyone below leadership is great to work with though. People are smart, work hard, help whoever needs it. The benefits are great. Can sometimes feel overly corporate, and make you roll your eyes.

Turnover is high, for good reason. Avoid at all costs until leadership changes.

A typical day begins with an out of touch manager who has poor communication and people skills.  The work missions change often and there have been several reorganizations within one year that further muddy the waters.  Pay is not caught up with the market and employee turnover is high.  Workload is very high because leavers are not always replaced.

Multiple false rumors were spread about me and on my first day management claimed I was lying about having a learning disability and flat out refused to switch me to a different shift to accommodate it (which has been considered discrimination since ‘95). The “managers” are hardly ever in the room and relay on team leads to do everything and only get to know you through gossip. 
CNN



 After 4 weeks of working there, my manager still couldn’t pronounce my name gossip more than a middle school.

Abcam Burlingame provides many learning opportunities for those coming up in the industry, but it has a lot of problems to sort out before it can realize its full potential.  There is a high turnover/burnout rate, low morale, poor direction from corporate headquarters, and misleading statements from management.  Compensation is inadequate given its proximity to South San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Research associate 3 salaries reported	$20.88 per hour
Logistics technician 3 salaries reported	$19.82 per hour
Shipping and receiving clerk 5 salaries reported	$20.05 per hour
Associate scientist 5 salaries reported	$64,000 per year
Project manager 3 salaries reported	$106,667 per year

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