the #1 worst medical device company to work for - Anonymous employee Abbott Employee Review

1.0
Jun 12, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I had worked for Thoratec for a few years before St. Jude Medical acquired it. Almost immediately, Abbott acquired St Jude Medical and that is how wound up working for Abbott. I was very impressed with the efficiency at which Abbott destroyed the place. Most original top performers and good managers left within the first year. The only "Pro" to speak of is that these acquisitions just about tripled the value of my original Thoratec RSUs.

Cons

Abbott management is very abrasive and condescending. As I mentioned above, many people left or were pushed out but they were not replaced. Abbott management expected/demanded that the work get absorbed by those remaining. Many people are doing the work of two or three with no additional compensation. In some cases, workers were expected to take on the work of their departed manager without additional compensation or even a title upgrade. It appears their business model as it relates to quality has four steps*: 1) cut cut cut costs obsessively for two years. 2) Earn an FDA warning letter 3) spend $ millions remediating two years worth of work 4) repeat * (for abbott lawyers, this is just my opinion and nothing more. Any appearance of disclosing trade secret is purely coincidental)

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 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong brand recognition and leadership position in diabetes technology. * Opportunity to work with innovative products that positively impact patients’ lives. * Talented and dedicated colleagues across many functions. * Competitive compensation and benefits

Cons

Leadership quality varies significantly across departments, with some areas experiencing challenges related to communication and transparency * Expectations and role priorities can shift without sufficient communication or alignment, making it difficult for employees to understand how success is measured * Employees may not always receive consistent coaching, support, or constructive feedback needed for professional growth. * Some teams may experience a culture that feels fear-based rather than collaborative (Market Access) * Concerns raised by employees may not always be addressed through direct, productive dialogue. * In certain groups, the work environment can feel exclusionary or politically driven, limiting opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All