Elsevier reviews

4.0

79% would recommend to a friend

(2,189 total reviews)

Kumsal Bayazit

90% approve of CEO

75% positive business outlook

Elsevier has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 2,189 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Elsevier employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Audiovisual y medios de comunicación industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
2.0
Nov 2, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's a job that offers at least average benefits - vacation time is pretty good.Good for someone starting out in the workforce. You can take some solace in the fact that the products that are produced are helping the global community at some level.

Cons

No job growth, no job security, management is totally incompetent, benefits package declining year after year, pension plan recently discountinued, outsourcing everything they possibly can to India. So much potential opportunity but no one at the senior level astute enough to realize it or know how to capitalize on it. Individuals that seem to know the most are generally folks who have come into the company from other industries. Unfortunately, these folks are usually ostracized and eventually leave or are fired because management doesn't like to be told they may not be right. Staff lives in fear that their jobs will be sent overseas or moved to another city with little or no warning. No department is safe and quality is less important than quantity of work. Internal departments enage in protectionism tactics and withhold information, resources and products in an attempt to protect their jobs. Senior Management is either totally clueless about the moral of the staff or doesn't care. Things have been much worse since the economic downturn as it has given the company carte blanche to layoff, fire and outsource people left and right and treat the remaining staff like cattle. If you are looking for a job to give you experience for 2-3 years and then move on, this is a safe company. Other than that, stay away.

2.0
Jun 15, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Talented people, and lots of job experience quickly. Because headcount is insufficient, you'll find yourself doing lots in various areas.

Cons

Elsevier is not good at developing talent. When I started here, there was almost no training offered to me. Management is consistently not developed as management--and the structures are such that particularly middle management cannot be effective. There is a disconnect between even mid-level management and those on the ground--there is a lack of understanding of what people are doing and an unwillingness to discipline or let go those who are not pulling their weight. Hiring is EXTREMELY political, particularly in certain groups, and criticisms are often personality-based. Elsevier is not a data-driven organization; there is little accountability for jobs done well and poorly, and lots of talk of "gut feelings" from senior management.

2.0
May 12, 2026

Good benefits but weak leadership and accountability

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits and can take time off whenever needed.

Cons

Weak leadership and accountability. Too top heavy and disconnected from their own teams, customers and users.

avatar
Elsevier Response
1mo
Thank you for your long-term commitment to Elsevier and for sharing your perspective candidly. We respect the experience behind this feedback. Eight or more years gives real insight into how an organisation operates over time, including where it falls short. The concerns you've raised around leadership visibility, accountability, and connection to teams and customers are themes we take seriously, and we won't dismiss them as isolated views. That said, we'd also gently note that leadership structure and decision-making are complex areas that are actively evolving, and we recognise that positive change can feel slower on the ground than it appears from above. That gap in perception is itself something leadership needs to own and address. We encourage you to bring this feedback into more direct conversations where it can be acted on, whether through leadership forums, HR channels, or team-level discussions. Reviews like this matter, but the most durable change happens through sustained dialogue. If you prefer, feel free to reach out to us at elseviergdrev@elsevier.com to provide more information. We appreciate your continued investment in the organisation.
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