Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions to improve health outcomes and improve peopleÛªs lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be the worldÛªs largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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I was a contractor and echo the above sentiments about contract workers being treated very differently to permanent staff. While I had no desire to become a permanent employee I did find out my daily rate was significantly lower than industry standard.

3 years ago
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I enjoyed working at Amgen, although I was only there for 6 months as a contractor so was not privy to the “real world”. Contractors were kept out of company functions. I was impressed with the many women in middle and upper management and in the labs. Although I noticed the real “brain” type jobs were given to men. It was the first company I worked for that really cared about office ergonomics with lighting and seating and the food in the cafe was fresh and healthy and subsidized! Overall – a great work experience.

3 years ago
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Amgen was a wonderful, growth-oriented and supportive environment when I worked there. Quality principles guided all activities. Amgen has a foundation of standardization and authentic commitment to serving patients and abiding by all rules/FDA regulations. It was my privilege to work there. Every company has their issues, and I was not immune; however, this is/was a company built on integrity, and I am grateful to have worked there.

Real life? Favoritism/Corporate nepotism. Countless HR mishandling of issues = inappropriate staff terminations. Promotion of incompetent employees. Inappropriate upper level management behavior (managers sleeping w staff – who cares – until that person was suddenly promoted over a qualified staff member). This goes on at most companies. Amgen turned a blind eye.

3 years ago
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This is from a long time ago, ten or fifteen years, so things may have changed drastically. At the time, though, it was one of the least enjoyable places I ever worked… especially toward the end. The work, proofreading package inserts for prescription drugs, was dull and repetitive, but I knew that coming in. The big problems were these:

1:
Not that this is at all unusual, but it was yet another company that circumvented having to offer benefits by calling many long-term full-time employees “contractors.” That this is still such a prevalent practice—even more so now than then—remains one of the more troubling things about working in this town, especially as an editor/proofreader. I’m pretty sure it’s still how they operate, too, based on emails I get from an agency I occasionally find work through.

2:
Contractor status there made you a second-class citizen. Case in point: They had a big annual company wingding for their employees. They held it in the parking lot, and they needed to co-opt some parking spaces so they’d have enough room. Guess whose parking spaces? Yep, the contractors. Because of this, we all had to park on the far end of the sizable lot.

That’s not a primary complaint, though; it’s just a tiny detail to set up the rest of the story. The contractors were not only not invited to the party, but forbidden to attend. As such, at the end of the workday, to make sure we didn’t flout the rules and grab a cheeseburger or whatever, they set up ropes like a cattle chute that we had to walk through on our long march to our cars. Walking through the chute past “real” employees enjoying the party was a particularly surreal experience.

Inviting us would have cost them very little in cash outlay. What it cost them in lost goodwill was considerably more significant.

3:
One night I was asked to work overtime, until around midnight, which I cheerfully agreed to do, because money. Here’s the thing, though: The editorial staff worked in a trailer outside the main building. There was no bathroom, so we had to go inside the building proper to use the facilities. After 7 p.m., they locked the front door of the building. Contractors weren’t issued key cards.

I went to the security office before the end of the day to ask if I could have a temporary key card because I was staying late. The woman behind the desk said no. I said, “But the company is asking me to stay late. How am I supposed to use the bathroom?” Sorry. “Seriously?” Nothing. So I said to her, “I realize this is policy and isn’t your personal decision and isn’t your fault, but can’t we at least agree that’s a pretty fucking stupid way to run a company?” Still nothing.

I went back out to the trailer and dived into the work. ‘Long about 10 p.m., I needed to use the restroom. With little optimism, I knocked on the front door of the building. Nothing. Buzzer. Nothing. I was literally S.O.L. I wound up getting in my car and going to a fast-food restaurant to use their bathroom.

The next day, I was summoned to HR, where I was told that there was a complaint against me. A fellow employee said I’d threatened her. Whaaaah? They told me the woman behind the security desk had felt threatened by my menacing behavior. I tried to explain what actually happened, but they not only weren’t interested, but kept their eyes glued to me with the kind of hair-trigger vigilance usually reserved for terrorists. When the “interview” was over, two security dudes escorted me back to the trailer, where I gathered my things and was ushered to my car. They kept the same watchful eye on me until I drove away.

I WAS FIRED FOR USING THE WORD “FUCK” TO DESCRIBE HOW WRONG IT WAS FOR AN ADULT EMPLOYEE TO BE DENIED BATHROOM ACCESS DURING REQUIRED WORK HOURS. My bad.

So how do I feel about this company? Every time I see a commercial where “Phil Mickelson, pro golfer” touts Enbrel, I flip the bird at the screen.

Okay, maybe not every time. But it’s not infrequent.

3 years ago
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I was an independent contractor officing within the MarCom Department at Amgen during my brief stay in California in 2001-2002. I would say they were very fair to me and I truly enjoyed my time there. As a contractor, I was not privy to employee benefits, however the other women who were employees and with whom I worked, seemed to be very pleased with the on campus child care, fitness center, cafeteria and other benefits. I would not hesitate to apply at Amgen again as an employee or contractor.

3 years ago

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