Upper management lacks proper direction in the industry and understanding of their employees. There is a very transparent hierarchy, especially if you are Swiss-based.
Results and targets are number-driven; it's always about Research Topic postings and nothing else. Ideas and personal projects always get pushed to the side, and company OKRs are never aligned across departments, making it hard to complete multidisciplinary team projects. Often, these OKRs push for products that lack quality and integrity in publishing, despite leadership preaching it differently.
Recent layoffs have shown the true colours of the company. Communication was so poor and lacked true empathy by the leaders. While layoffs for company benefit are understandable (it is business after all), the way employees were treated during the process is not.
If you are thinking of applying to work at Frontiers, consider staying at the company for only 1 year, max. 2, to gain some experience. You will notice the struggle a few months in, especially if it is on the Publishing Development side. And following the mass redundancies, it's very apparent that the working environment is no longer healthy and sustainable.
Despite the attractive option of fully remote roles and relatively competitive salaries, there is very little opportunity for growth. And with nepotism in the air, it’s hard to move into positions that are not only career progressing but also within your actual interests and expertise.
