environmental test technician

scientist

laboratory technician

technologist

senior scientist

Eurofins

What is the best part of working at the company?
Potential employees should carefully consider these aspects before committing to a career with the company.
Senior Manager - Sunnyvale, CA
Compensation Woes
One of the notable drawbacks of working at Eurofins is the compensation structure. Company pays less than industry competitors, leaving staff feeling undervalued and under-appreciated for their hard work and dedication.

Outdated Management Practices
The upper management has been criticized for being stuck in the 80s, with outdated management practices that hinder progress and innovation. This lack of modernization may contribute to a challenging work environment for employees seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking workplace.

Limited Growth Opportunities
For employees not involved in office politics or those unwilling to "suck up" to higher-ups, the growth potential within Eurofins seems limited. Career advancement appears to be closely tied to political maneuvering rather than merit and skill, leaving many talented individuals feeling frustrated and overlooked.

Burnout Culture
The company's approach to work-life balance is a significant concern. Eurofins works its employees until they burn out, with excessive overtime and weekend demands. This lack of consideration for work-life balance is particularly pronounced for non-management staff, further contributing to a stressful and demanding work environment.

H1B Visa Issues
Eurofins places undue pressure on employees to conform to a servitude model for continued employment.

Departmental Cliques and Lack of Collaboration
While there are positive mentions of friendly employees, reports also highlight the existence of cliques within different departments. The compartmentalization and lack of team play may hinder effective collaboration, potentially impacting overall company performance.

Executive Disconnect
Corporate officers at Eurofins are disconnected from the general workforce. The focus on appeasing upper management, with little attention to the non-managerial individuals who contribute to the company's continued increase in revenue, raises concerns about the company's leadership priorities.

Dinosaur-Like VP's and Good-ol-Boys Club
The company's Vice Presidents have been likened to dinosaurs, representing an outdated and exclusive culture. The perception of a good-ol-boys club suggests that the upper echelons of the company may lack diversity and inclusivity, potentially hindering progress and innovation.

In conclusion, Eurofins appears to have a challenging work environment with issues ranging from compensation and management practices to growth opportunities and work-life balance. Potential employees should carefully consider these aspects before committing to a career with the company.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working with C-suite mangers that don't listen to their employees and have little common sense.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The employees are mostly very professional and friendly and want to do a good job.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Meeting after meeting. work hard to fulfill my prescribed duties between even more meetings.

I was offered a position in Eurofins under the promise of WFH within 3-6 months. When that time came, I was told that it wasn't true and we would have to wait two years unless it's an emergency. Then, when true emergencies happened, my job was threatened if I worked from home, causing me to have to put emergencies on the back burner, i.e. Getting hurt outside of work and being unable to stand or walk. I literally had to slump over my desk in pain until it went away.

Management doesn't train, they delegate to team members but discourage asking questions as it is considered disruptive and, I quote, "people have more important things to worry about."

The training consists of reading 260 technical documents not relevant to the job that is being performed (i.e. how to clean lab equipment for an administrative role), then told to "figure it out" after a day of shadowing someone. They'll also assign you high level projects with no instruction other than "ask people", but lo, when you ask someone, management will screenshot it and ask, "What was your thought process when bothering this person?"

They are not friendly to neurodivergent folks who need a little extra help despite having a whole "Neurodivergence Awareness Month", at least not in my department.

While you do get a generous one hour lunch, management will discourage you from taking said lunch and encourage you to eat at your desk. If you decide to take the lunch, management will be VERY passive aggressive in making their disappointment known that you stopped working.

The work life balance wasn't bad, though leaving work at work could be difficult because management will humble brag about how everyone "plows through work without stopping ".

Every morning our work was disrupted because our team lead wanted to tell bad jokes. No lie, we would sit around for 15 and listen to her terrible jokes when we could have been working. Speaking of our team lead, she wasn't qualified for the position, didn't know anything about half the tasks our roles needed (or would straight up tell you she didn't want to get into it). The only reason she was there was because she was besties with our manager.

Favoritism is a thing, as well. As long as you don't question the Almighty manager and praised her, you were good. But if you questioned her directions or asked for help, you were shamed at the next weekly meeting. Our manager liked to brag about how aggressive she was and how she would imagine other employees when she was at home on her punching bag.

That position, unfortunately, is a revolving door. They'll force people to quit if they don't like you (happened to me and two others on my team). Luckily, they offered me two weeks extra pay when I put in my registration but under the condition I left right away and didn't talk to anyone on the way out. 

All in all, other departments at Eurofins, from speaking to others, are well run, well managed, and pretty good. Client services, though, is not. Higher ups, if you're reading this, please revamp that department and replace ST. She isn't a safe person nor is she qualified to lead.

I recently had the opportunity to work with Eurofins IT, and my experience can be best described as a roller coaster ride of chaos and ever-changing expectations. While the company possesses some commendable qualities, the inconsistent nature of their expectations can be quite challenging to navigate.

Firstly, Eurofins IT showcases a diverse team of talented individuals who are knowledgeable in their respective fields. The company's workforce is equipped with a wealth of expertise, and their commitment to innovation and technological advancements is evident. The team's collective efforts often lead to the development of cutting-edge solutions and the successful execution of complex projects.

However, where Eurofins IT falls short is in providing clear and consistent expectations. The company's management frequently alters project requirements, deadlines, and priorities without proper communication or justification. This constant flux can be disorienting and significantly hinder productivity. It feels like one is on a never-ending pursuit to meet moving targets, which can be frustrating and demotivating.

Furthermore, the lack of effective communication within Eurofins IT exacerbates the chaos. Important information is often shared haphazardly, leading to misunderstandings and wasted efforts. Critical details and changes are not consistently conveyed to the entire team, resulting in confusion and delays. This chaotic environment negatively impacts collaboration and teamwork, hindering the company's overall effectiveness.

Additionally, Eurofins IT's chaotic expectations can create an unhealthy work-life balance. The constant pressure to adapt and deliver under rapidly changing circumstances can lead to burnout among employees. The lack of stability and predictability in project requirements can make it difficult to plan and allocate resources effectively.

On a positive note, Eurofins IT does make efforts to acknowledge and address these issues. They have initiated internal feedback mechanisms and started implementing changes to improve communication and expectation management. While these steps are commendable, it will take time for them to translate into significant improvements and restore trust among the team members.

In conclusion, Eurofins IT is a company with immense potential and talented professionals, but its chaotic expectations pose significant challenges. The lack of clear and consistent communication, combined with constantly shifting project requirements, can hinder productivity and strain employee morale. If the company can establish stable expectations, improve internal communication, and foster a more balanced work environment, it has the potential to thrive and deliver exceptional results.

Note: It's important to keep in mind that this review reflects a single individual's experience and may not necessarily represent the views of every employee or contractor at Eurofins IT

The Microbiology Lab has several departments that make it up. The technical skills aren't very transferrable if you wanted to move to a company with, say, chemistry-type positions or work. But you do gain an understanding of good laboratory practices, the use and importance of analytical controls/standards, etc. But that depends on the department(s) you work in. Most coworkers come and go, but most of those who have worked within the lab for a while genuinely care about you learning how good laboratory practices work. And they show it by training you on the spot.

Those are the only redeeming qualities I can think of. The company or specifically its management team leaves so much to be desired:
- Overtime is very likely. When I first started, there was a "work until we get everything done" mentality. It still goes on to an extent. Most of my coworkers tend to work more than 40 hours per week because they have no choice - they're either fresh out of college or attending college.
- The learning curve for doing your job: it would probably take no more than a week to learn the essentials. After that, it's nothing but repetition and you would only learn one or two new things every other week.
- Advancement or transfer opportunities are minimal. I once attempted to apply internally to another entry-level position within a different lab, but I got word that I had to be in my position for at least two years before considering a transfer. Two years to go from one entry-level position to another. I'll let that sink in.
- The management team is at the heart of these problems. The thing is, they make and implement changes with good intentions, but they keep going back for the sake of meeting quotas. I think I was six months into my position when it finally made moves to fix the overtime issue. They had stated that once we fulfill eight hours, we could drop what we're doing, clean up, and then pick up the leftovers the next day. That no longer seems to be the case.
I was moved up to first shift like a few others - that was good. Then most of us in first shift had been moved back to second-shift hours to help take a load off those who come in later - understandable. Then our hours were pushed to the right for the same reason - no one liked that. From my observations, leftovers from the previous day were no longer a thing and my third-shift coworkers who come in at around 5:30 PM would be done by some time past 3 in the morning - not good one bit.

My recommendation: stick around for six months to a year at most, get the laboratory experience, and then resign for a better position at a better company. You would be thanking yourself and be worth much more than when you started at Eurofins.

This workplace is a bit chaotic to say the least, but it has the redeeming value of having generally kind and diverse employees. Pay is significantly LOW, especially relative to the education required, as well as the hazardous nature of the job (eg, potential exposure to carcinogens and irritants!). There are many local jobs that pay more for less work and less health risk; the CEO is a multi-billionaire, which only highlights the extreme wealth gap. The job actually hires entry-level applicants unlike most jobs that claim to be entry-level, although training is not as effective as it should be since it’s not uncommon for people to run methods without understanding what they’re doing. There are occasional educational presentations, holiday events, and opportunities to join event and safety committees, even if you are new. However, turnover is high because of burnout and low pay. Workloads can be unpredictable and days can be very long, especially if someone is absent. Using PTO is encouraged, and hours are semi-flexible, but the culture is still very workaholic / stay ‘til everything is done due to being understaffed. SOME managers will work with you within the limitations of the company to accommodate you. Work can also be very tedious and not as mentally stimulating as you might hope, so if you get bored of repetition, it might not be the job for you. Also might not be for you if you are sensitive to strong sounds (from construction) or smells (from samples). The building has infrastructure issues that might interfere with work at times (eg, ceiling leaks can damage equipment). Decent benefits and PTO, but raises/promotions seem rare. 

Advice to NEW HIRES: Familiarize yourself with common lab hazards, proper fume hood operation, and pay attention to early signs of burnout. Focus on being as transparent with issues as possible, and don’t be afraid to ask multiple people for help if you are confused or concerned about something. If you are desperate for a job / work experience, you can make it here; just prioritize your wellbeing. But probably work elsewhere after 2 years if you are not promoted.

Advice to MANAGERS: Ensure proper training on methods, safety, and waste disposal. Teach workers proper troubleshooting. Don’t assume workers (especially new hires) know all hazards within the lab (since they may have to deal with hazards outside their own methods). Have adequate staff so that employee burnout can be minimized. Always consider more ways for the lab to be safer and eco-friendly. I don’t know what ability managers have in advocating for their employees, but employees deserve better work-life balance, safety, and higher wages. Eurofins as a company does not have great reviews overall, but make this the location that changes that if you want the lab to prosper.

Although I cannot speak about all of Eurofins since they own numerous labs throughout the world, the Lancaster location (ELLI) is definitely not a good place to develop a serious scientific career. The company itself (Eurofins) however, actually seems to actually care about employees but all the downsides about this place seem to stem from the way Lancaster Laboratories was run way before it was purchased by Eurofins.

The lab itself is pretty impressive and entry level analysts have excellent opportunities to gain new skills and knowledge about working in an industry lab, especially since everything is GMP-regulated. The training is especially slow and tedious though since ELLI hires almost anyone, even those who have no knowledge of or interest in science... which describes a lot of the analysts here. The pay is also pretty low compared to the amount of work you put in and the health insurance is not very good (but expensive!) They do offer a generous amount of PTO though, even for entry level employees, and also have frequent company-wide events, usually with complimentary buffets.

Despite all of this, there are essentially two reasons why making a long-term career at ELLI is not worth it. First, their focus on negative reinforcement produces a lot of low-quality work and stressed out employees. Instead of helping analysts overcome obstacles and learn ways to reduce errors, management is constantly developing new and creative ways to track and punish analysts for making errors, which doesn't even solve the problem. This seems incompatible with the way a lab that produces high-quality data should operate. 

Second, while there are a lot of friendly people working here, there is also A LOT of favoritism and double standards between management and employees. Ultimately, success at Lancaster Laboratories is mostly determined by who your supervisor is, how sociable you are, and how many people you can throw under the bus. A lot of people here are petty and immature and the entire atmosphere is very cliquey and high school-esque. While some employees are scrutinized up and down and punished for every mistake they make, there is little to no accountability or consequences for friends and family members of the management.

Essentially, there are two routes to take with Lancaster Labs; for a long term career, learn to kiss-up a lot, become friends with the right people, and make yourself look better by bringing everyone else down. This job is more about politics and favoritism than about actual results produced. The other path is to get in, gain experience, and find a better job.

Short version: great place to be if you are not very educated, want to mentally check out for 8 hours/day, and do not want to pursue promotions. Bad fit if you are an experienced scientist, want to do big things at work, and want to climb the ladder.

This is a great place to build your resume for your next job. They are very open to hiring people with no experience and working with you to help teach whatever role you are hired into. However, keep in mind that a lot of things are done incorrectly/not industry standard. What you learn will not transfer to a role outside the company, period. They can be very supportive and for the most part treat their employees with respect and encouragement. With that said, management and shot-callers share the same lack of experience as the rest of the staff. It is definitely a blind leading the blind scenario. However, generally management is kind/supportive to their workers (most of the time) as long as you don’t outperform them or step on any toes. The moment you become viewed as potential competition, the demeanor changes. If you do get into management it becomes a little less supportive and turns into a competition where everyone is pushing their personal agenda and trying to secure their own footing. My advice is stay low on the totem pole and build your resume for your next job. If you are absolutely bent on a position in management, do so knowing you will be frustrated and stressed if you take your job seriously. If you can mentally check out and not invest yourself, working in management will be tolerable. The best approach is to keep your success and accomplishments minimal. Being the “it” person puts a target on you from your subpar coworkers and will also lead to new expectations/responsibilities that will not be reflected in your paycheck. 

Their strongest asset is a general lack of accountability. The fear of losing your job is non-existent. You literally won’t get fired unless you go out of your way to make an enemy in management and then purposely do things to repeatedly irritate them while also not doing your job. Even then, the likelihood of it being noticed or acknowledged is low. 

In summary, if you have read all this and are still considering working there, give it a try. However, do so knowing that the turnover rate is over 60%, this speaks for itself. The majority of your coworkers will be nice. It’s a small handful that make the company painful to exist in. Based on my time and personal experience there, 3/10. 

Over the past several years, it has been Eurofins mission to double/triple/quadruple it's footprint in the laboratory testing industry globally. They are buying companies right and left. However, we as employees have witnessed first hand they are expanding so rapidly that they can not manage the growth. So much so, that in June 2019, they were attacked by the RYUK Ransomware that shut down hundreds of their laboratories globally for several weeks. When management was asked "why was there not a disaster recovery plan in place", employees were told "this was a once in a lifetime situation that was unexpected". However, the RYUK ransomware had already attacked several large companies and was in the media 6-9 months prior. This was not unexpected and a very real threat. Our computer systems and overall ability to function in our positions still suffer, as we continue to experience several server issues to this day. Our mailboxes don't connect, our online portals don't recognize credentials, there are delays in paychecks or we can't access the timekeeping/benefits/HR website all together. Each Eurofins location is more of a separate entity and can be looked at as it's own business with its own management team, however this affected (and still affects) the entire Eurofins network. 

When Eurofins buys your company, it is just like with any other buyout. Difficult transitions, lack of coordination, we didn't have access to the most basic email system, Microsoft Outlook, for 9 months. Staff had to use Outlook Web App, to manage their several hundred emails a day. Reorganizations continue to increase; two entire satellite labs were just closed. This is not a secure or pleasant working environment. Turnover is extremely high, we lose about 1/4 of our staff a year to turnover especially in the last couple years. Change happens often (every few months) and is drastic. 

There are several factors when it comes to reviewing a business, but I wanted to discuss the most important one - whether you will have a job with them the following year or what that job will look like. I would recommend staying away from this company until they start to slow down growth, as they are ill-equipped at managing their current situation. It will continue to go down hill from here for a while.

Eurofins has an interesting business model: They hire folks from outside industry with relevant qualifications, train them, then put them to work in the pharmaceutical/biotech/biomedical industries as contractors at companies within those industries. I worked in what is known as PSS, their Professional Scientific Services Here's a bit about my experience there:

The Pros: When I got hired at Eurofins, they flew me up to Pennsylvania where they trained me (paid) at their corporate headquarters for 4 days.They put us up in a pretty swanky Amish inn. By working as a contractor with Eurofins, I was guaranteed my position for as long as I wanted it, which is different than most contract positions. This allowed me a rare chance to work for a top 10 pharmaceutical company, a company which likely would not have hired me directly without any experience. They provide good benefits, actually better than the full-time employees get at the company I work for. And they have frequent training events where they teach us relevant skills and pay us for training. They've invested a lot into my training, and the client has as well.

The Cons: The pay compared to working directly for the client is just very poor. There's a lot of turn over: I've seen most of my colleagues who worked here when I was hired come and go. The supervisor who hired me was gone before I arrived on-site, and the next manager lasted about 6 months before taking a job with another company. The fatal flaw in their business model is that, by taking their "cut", they reduce employee salary to the point where it's difficult to retain people. The pay is definitely a livable wage, but when people who do the same work as you make as much as 60% more than you do, that becomes tiresome over time. In practicality, it seems most people working with PSS for this company are just biding their time until a position with the client becomes available.

All in all, working for Eurofins has been a good experience, if they could just raise employee salaries to where they're competitive with the client, even if it cost some of the other benefits, they'd really have a great business model.

When I first started, I enjoyed my job. I liked my hours, I thought my pay was good, my new co-workers were friendly (although not entirely professional), and I was learning a lot. I even developed some new processes that remained implanted for all the near 2.5 years that I been there. 

However, this company has a high turnover rate, and I could why after working there for at least a year. If you are looking to advance yourself up in the company, sincerely, good luck. There is no department better than the other. Frustration, exhaustion, burn-out exist in virtually every lab, and from what I have gathered from others - as well as experienced first hand - promises such as leadership opportunities, better pay, better hours, getting better instrumentation and equipment, getting more staff, etc. Those promises get broken, and rules made by those that do not work in the lab change too much with little to no say from the lab personal affected by them. 

Ironically, because of these constant problems that my co-workers and I faced on a daily basis, the level of work ethic, quality, ingenuity, and confidence in my expertise has developed exponentially. I have never been more confident in my capabilities than I am now, and for that, I am grateful to have been a part of it. 

Now, if you want to gain experience in a professional lab setting just to see what is out there, go for it. If you are looking for a career starter, well this may be the ideal place for it. Bottom line, just be prepared for some hard times if you decide to work for this company. There are good people there, I can promise you that.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Environmental test technician 23 salaries reported	$20.48 per hour
Scientist 19 salaries reported	$65,756 per year
Laboratory technician 21 salaries reported	$20.77 per hour
Technologist 3 salaries reported	$24.17 per hour
Senior scientist 8 salaries reported	$56,125 per year

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