Was once the best but now has terribly toxic work environment - Engineer BASF Employee Review

1.0
Nov 1, 2023
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Good place to start in the chemical industry to get your foot in the door but don't stay too long. Pay and benefits are good but lagging in the industry now as they have stagnated for long-term employees. The company in general is too big to fail. Diversity and Inclusion is great but Equity is not (one size fits all).

Cons

Used to be run like a small family business locally despite being a huge global company and had seasoned and supportive managers. Those days are over. Constant job eliminations, reorgs, cost-cutting, and turnover over the past 5 years or so has made the workload overwhelming and the environment hostile and cutthroat. Engineering department was disbanded so interplant learning, development, and communication was eliminated. The technical engineering roles became stale, dead-ends. Pay increases are negligible so you eventually have to leave before inflation eats you alive. The competition among employees for meager raises has destroyed all sense of teamwork. BASF has a dim view of modern flexible hybrid schedules so multiple hours of infuriating gridlock in construction zones every single day in urban areas like Houston metro was strictly mandated. Absolutely zero remote/hybrid work balance was the norm for much eligible staff despite a barrage of messaging and policies to the contrary. The focus is on lengthy hours on-site instead of accomplishments. Most promotions are not home-grown BASF and come from other companies. Offices and production facilities are badly run-down from years of budget and staff cuts.

Explore other reviews about BASF

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits and management were great

Cons

Environment and location of office

4.0
Jun 12, 2026
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Hybrid work schedule and vacation accrual is great

Cons

Promotional decisions most times reflect internal networks as much as job capability.

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