Skip to contentSkip to footer
      employer cover photo
      employer logo
      employer logo

      Elsevier

      Part of RELX

      Engaged Employer

      Elsevier reviews

      4.0

      79% would recommend to a friend

      (2,189 total reviews)

      Kumsal Bayazit

      90% approve of CEO

      75% positive business outlook

      Ratings by demographic groups

      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
      Sep 18, 2024

      Strong Financials, But Concerning Trends in Workforce Management

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Good balance between work and home life

      Cons

      While Elsevier continues to deliver impressive financial results, with increasing profit margins year after year, the company has implemented hiring and promotion freezes in recent years, despite its strong profitability. The focus seems to be on squeezing the current workforce to maximize shareholder returns, creating an environment where the growth of the majority of the team stagnates. Moreover, Elsevier's hiring approach often results in employees being brought in who may lack essential soft skills, leadership qualities, or cultural fit. This has led to teams that are skilled technically but may struggle with collaboration and communication. One of the most frustrating aspects is how difficult it is to achieve a salary increase or promotion. Even when promotions or raises are given, the increases in recent years has been minimal. There is also a notable lack of female representation in leadership roles, and a company culture that tends to overlook or inadequately address issues raised by employees, While the company's financial performance remains strong, these internal dynamics raise concerns about the long-term impact on employee morale, satisfaction, and retention.

      avatar
      Elsevier Response
      1y
      Thank you for your detailed review. We’re committed to sustaining strong financial performance while fostering a culture where employees can thrive both professionally and personally. We understand that while decisions around hiring and promotion freezes may have raised concerns a few years back, we want to emphasize that these measures were implemented thoughtfully. Our goal has been to ensure that the organization remains agile, resilient, and well-prepared for any economic fluctuations, safeguarding long-term job security for our employees and ensuring sustainable growth. We're actively working on refining our hiring and development programs to prioritize candidates with the soft skills, leadership qualities, and cultural alignment that help teams thrive together. Furthermore, we are addressing diversity within our leadership pipeline with targeted initiatives aimed at fostering greater representation and inclusivity at every level. We know career growth and recognition are crucial to employee satisfaction. In recent years, we have implemented new frameworks to make advancement paths clearer and more attainable and are continuously evaluating our compensation policies to ensure fairness and competitive benchmarks across the industry. Overall, we are committed to making strides that both honour our workforce and uphold our reputation as a leading employer. Thank you again for your review.
      1.0
      Sep 4, 2024

      Bad Experience

      Content development specialist
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      There are no pros that come to mind.

      Cons

      Narcissistic leadership. Indian Managers hires sycophants from their home state to tip the balance in their favour. Work hours are insane and there have been complaints about workload globally. It doesn't end well for whistleblowers. Sycophants are promoted and hardworking employees are left behind. This company is always hiring for CDS and EPM for the same reason. There is no work life balance.

      avatar
      Elsevier Response
      1y
      Thank you for leaving your review. We’re sorry your experience hasn’t reflected our values of inclusivity, fairness, and respect in the workplace. We’re actively working to build an environment where employees feel valued and supported, regardless of background or location, and we are committed to ensuring that all employees experience equitable growth opportunities. The concerns you raised around workload and work-life balance would have been prioritized through ongoing initiatives to improve resourcing and wellness support across teams. Your input when you worked here would have been vital to making the required improvements, as we encourage open dialogue at all levels, including anonymous feedback channels, to create a culture where everyone feels heard. If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact our HR team confidentially or email us at -elseviergdrev@elsevier.com to provide more information.
      2.0
      May 27, 2024

      Let go the day I got back from a medical leave

      Narrative designer
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Good benefits, remote work, mostly decent group of people to work with, interesting product to work on

      Cons

      During a company restructuring, they let go everyone within my company with my particular title at the start of the year. I was on a medical leave and I didn’t know about this. They pushed me over the phone to come back part time while I was receiving intense treatment, but there apparently wasn’t even job for me to come back to. They just needed me to come back so they could let me go. I’m glad I trusted my gut and took the full time I needed to get my health in order. Had a really dystopian company-wide meeting about AI and how it wasn’t going to eliminate jobs. It’s painfully difficult to get ahold of HR or Payroll, even for off-boarding information. Had me relocate across the country for a remote job, but never asked me to go into the office.

      avatar
      Elsevier Response
      1y
      Thank you for leaving your review. With the business world changing constantly and so rapidly, virtually every established business feels the imperative to improve and innovate continuously. Executives, managers, and employees across our business work hard to figure out how to best and strategically address the genuine needs of our customers and partners globally. We always strive to ensure that we cater to the well-being of our employees and support them through any change that may arise.
      Viewing 295 - 297 of 2,189 Reviews
      Related searches: Elsevier jobs | Elsevier salaries | Elsevier benefits | Elsevier interviews
      ReviewsElsevier reviews

      Glassdoor has 2,534 Elsevier reviews submitted anonymously by Elsevier employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Elsevier is right for you.