Prestige Over Science
Arbeitsatmosphäre
Dead silence like in a library.
Kommunikation
Weekly meetings, mostly without useful input. You are usually on your own. Guests researchers, students (like me), and interns are widely ignored.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
Most colleagues are nice, but no teamwork. There have been several serious disputes in the past which were ignored by the management.
Work-Life-Balance
Some work late at night or on weekends; others don't take it too seriously.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
Strict hierarchies. Publication quantity over quality; prestige (H-index, furniture etc.) over science, and, finally, ignoring problems over solving problems.
Interessante Aufgaben
Mostly relevant and state-of-the-art fundamental research.
Gleichberechtigung
Some co-workers are in focus, some are ignored.
Arbeitsbedingungen
Modern facilities. The laboratory equipment is a bit old. The cafeteria is excellent.
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
Depends on the project, the output, and the relationship with the management. Some employees are not financed or underpaid for months, others receive 100% (+) for years. I witnessed that the same position was promised several times, probably to encourage competition.
Image
The show must go on...
Karriere/Weiterbildung
Some receive funding for seminars and conferences, some have to pay for it themselves.