Asking the right question before embarking on a certain adventure, project, or work is very crucial. Knowing what to expect in a company before applying for a job in the company is very important. Before applying for that job, it is good to know if the company you want to apply to is a good company to work for. Do you want to apply for a job at GSK or have you been offered a job at GSK and you want to know if the company is good to work for?
Although what we look for in a company to determine if the company is good to work for depends individually, it depends on what we want. But there are some general determiners to know if a company is good to work for and these are; company history, Company Culture, working environment, employee benefit, salary, and current employee review.
About GSK (Company History)
British multinational pharmaceutical company, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc) Is headquartered in London and it was established in the year 2000, the company was established as a result of the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. According to Forbes, as of 2019, GSK was the world’s number six largest pharmaceuticals company. Fortune 500 ranked the company as the tenth-largest pharmaceutical company in 2019.
GSK Culture
GSK culture is performance-driven, and this performance is enhanced by creating an environment where every employee will have a feeling of belonging, an environment where everyone is aware that their contribution is important, and their contribution is appreciated. The company culture supports the employees in their health and supports employee continuous development. According to the GSK website, the company wants its employees to “fulfill their potential and accomplish great things” and they are always ready to support each employee to accomplish that. The managers at GSK focus on helping employees to be themselves, they create an environment that makes the employees feel good and allow them to keep on growing in ways that work for each employee. The company culture focuses on three phrases; “Be you” “Feel Good” “Keep Growing”
Be You: GSK wants her employees to be themselves, they believe that there is beauty in diversity, they believe that when employees combine their different knowledge, experiences, thoughts, and styles it produces a unique result. If you are looking for a company where you can share your opinion and it will count, where you can express yourself, where you can bring in your idea, GSK is the right place for you.
Feel Good: GSK believes that when employees focus on their well-being, and when employees work in an environment that gives the flexibility to manage their lives, they can succeed in achieving great results both at work and in their homes. GSK states on the company website that “our business is health, protecting our people’s wellbeing is a priority for us”. The company is not just working towards making health care products for the public but is also concerned about its employee’s well-being. One of the ways the company has ensured this is through the “prevention program” which according to them gives their employees and families access to “preventive healthcare”. The company reports on the company website that 172,336 people have benefited from this program and it has given access to 125,414 services.
Keep Growing: We are in a changing world, where everyone needs to continue to learn and grow to be able to contribute positively and remain relevant. GSK believes in employee growth, they believe that when employees grow, the company grows simultaneously. This is why GSK Is a great supporter of employee development. According to what is stated on the company website, the company believes that “career development is not defined by promotion and advancement only, but it’s also about building relevant experience and capabilities”. GSK supports her employees all through their careers both through formal and informal learning.
The Company Working Environment
Knowing if a company’s working environment is safe for working is a good way to determine if the company is good to work for, a good company will ensure to provide a good and safe working environment for its employees to work safely and efficiently. Everything required for the employee to deliver efficiently must be provided. And this is what GSK does, the company is committed to ensuring the working environment at GSK is safe for work, this includes both the laboratories and the offices. Everything needed to work efficiently is provided for the staff. The necessary work safety precautions are taken.
GSK Employee Benefit
GSK offers many working benefits and these includes:
Employee Training: GSK is committed to the training of her employees to improve their productivity, the company invests in the training, support, and development of her staff. The types of training offered at GSK are 70% on-the-job training, 20 % informal learning, and 10% formal learning. GSK believes that “a blended learning experience helps their employees develop faster”.
Health Benefits: According to the reviews gathered by glassdoor.com, GSK offers health insurance benefits, dental insurance benefits, life insurance benefits, disability insurance, flexible spending insurance, occupational accident insurance, and supplemental life insurance to its employees.
Competitive Salary: Salary is one of the most important factors to determine if a company is a good place to work or not. How a company rewards its employees goes a long way to determine if the company is a good place to work. At GSK, the salary is very competitive and attractive. The salary varies from country to country and position. But in general, GSK pays high above the minimum wage for the lowest position. According to the review gathered by glassdoor.com, the GSK salary for a production technician is $70,427 while that of a vice president is $400,957. The hourly pay for a manufacturing technician is $21, and $41 for an administrative assistant.
Other Benefits: GSK offers other benefits such as an annual bonus which is based on company performance for each year, time off for employees for rest from work, child care support, and recognition programs to award employees with exceptional performance, etc.
Employee Reviews
Getting reviews from employees who have worked or are currently working in a company is a good way to know if the company is a good place to work. Here are some of the reviews from GSK employees on indeed.com; An IT service desk specialist who was a current employee as of 2018 says GSK is a “company passionate about the end-user of her product” with a 5.0-star rating, while a former employee who was an industrial trainee says GSK is a “fun place to work” with a 4.0-star rating, also a former employee who was an Account Manager says GSK is a “great place to work” with an also 4.0-star rating. These are a few from the reviews gathered by indeed.com, you can check the website to read more reviews by both former and present employees.
In conclusion, working at GSK comes with benefits and challenges, and in my opinion, it is a good company to work for. As the saying goes, “no one is perfect”, the same also goes for companies “no company is perfect”. All you need to do is to focus on how working in the company aligns with your career goal. That way, you can decide to work there or not. Thank you for reading this article, I hope you got value.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Question: Is working at GSK stressful?
Answer: Depends, from reviews gathered by indeed.com from GSK employees, 80% of employees complained about workload, meeting targets to maintain job position and deadlines, and some complained about working at different roles due to company downsizing, factors like these can contribute to stress, so if you are considering working at GSK, be prepared to face some of these challenges and build your time management skills to reduce stress.
- Question: What is the pace of work at GSK
Answer: Fast-paced and steady.
- Question: What are GSK working hours like?
Answer: According to the review, GSK working time is flexible, some staff work in shifts while some may be required to work overtime when the need arises.