Pros
Merck is such a massive beast of a company with many brilliant minds. They offer competitive pay, but recently that comes with a price. The folk at the West Point site characteristics range, but most are very professional even within the union. If you are at the manager-director level there are many areas for career advancement/lateral movement.
Cons
As I mentioned Merck is a massive beast, when it comes to communication or changes you are met with stubborn heads. There is a direct disconnection between what occurs on the shop floor and the directing level (some areas managerial level). Unless there is a FDA or a post inspection observation, there is a low change of change being implemented; and if it is implemented it's a painfully long poorly communicated process. Due to lay offs the work environment has become pretty aggressive within the past 2-3 years. Not much opportunity for forward career growth Most Worker come in, do their time and leave; very little unity or outside work inclusion. I've been told, in the past this was very different. People would be so close to their coworkers they'd be at each others weddings. When I first started at Merck, the work flexibility was second to none. When it snowed my manager would recommend to work from home. Only one year later that changed dramatically, as I was so overwhelmed with work, I would miss family events, planned events on late week days, and even Dr appointments purposely scheduled very late in the day. If you have no children and are just breaking into the biotech world this is great place to gain experience, skills and networking.