EPFL

Stimulating and supportive environment for development. Pleasant working environment.

HR non-existent and no support if necessary. No general vision given to employees.

The place is great; it's big so you meet a lot of people and it's very lively. There's also a lot of nice places to eat and above all there's Sat ;)

Like everyone says, HR doesn't exist. Then, a lot of policy and a corporate culture that relies on consultants rather than valuing skills internally. Let's face it, a lot of department heads are like rainbows who don't make any decisions (that's why they hire consultants all over the place; to be able to say "Ah, it's not me, it's the expert who said"). Moreover, to avoid competition they break most individual initiatives. Suddenly, the dynamic young people leave quickly. Another problem: Only fixed-term contracts! Having an open-ended contract is a real obstacle course, even for people who have been there for 3-5 years (yes, it's also illegal). To say that it's the confederation is a shame. The picture I am painting is very gloomy but is obviously not representative of all the EPFL staff and managers. There are pearls. But generally speaking, it's really loose.