Mission and MeaningPositive
The mission to advance precision medicine is incredible, and the people working alongside you are wonderful.
Tempus Company Culture
Health TechA health tech and artificial intelligence company where a deeply inspiring mission to fight cancer often clashes with a demanding, chaotic work environment.
Bias to actionEgo-less collaborationAggressive pursuits
Culture Index
72/100
Strong, distinctive culture identity
The Arena
Leadership
EL
Eric Lefkofsky
Founder & CEO
Tempus is a health tech company with 50-1,000 employees headquartered in Chicago, IL, founded in 2015. Aggressive pursuits in the name of precision medicine.
Tempus Culture Dimensions
Innovation
80
Process-drivenBoundary-pushing
Tempus leans toward boundary-pushing with a score of 80/100.
Hierarchy
75
Flat & fluidStructured & clear
Tempus leans toward structured & clear with a score of 75/100.
Collaboration
55
IndependentTeam-oriented
Tempus takes a balanced approach to collaboration with a score of 55/100.
Work-Life Balance
25
Always-on hustleStrong boundaries
Tempus leans toward always-on hustle with a score of 25/100.
Mission
95
Profit-firstPurpose-driven
Tempus leans toward purpose-driven with a score of 95/100.
Growth
80
Stable & steadyHypergrowth
Tempus leans toward hypergrowth with a score of 80/100.
What It's Like to Work Here
You'll find yourself immediately drawn to Tempus by its profound mission: bringing artificial intelligence into the fight against cancer. The life-saving potential of the work is a massive draw, and you'll quickly bond with deeply dedicated peers who share that passion. However, you'll also quickly encounter the company's official 'bias to action'—a mandate that frequently translates into a hectic, chaotic reality where overwhelming workloads stretch teams thin.
While the Chicago headquarters offers shiny amenities like an onsite barista and open floor plans, the cultural underbelly is often described by employees as 'high-school-esque', with opaque management and strained communication. Expect to navigate tenure-based promotion paths rather than strict meritocracies, and be prepared for compensation packages that notoriously lack a 401k match. In the end, you'll stay for the mission and your immediate coworkers, even as you battle the systemic burnout of a hyper-paced organization.
Tempus Culture Highlights
- Deeply meaningful work in oncology and precision medicine.
- Intense 'bias to action' pacing that often leads to overwhelming workloads.
- No 401k match and compensation frequently cited as below market value.
- High-end Chicago HQ with baristas and free snacks, contrasting with rigid tenure-based promotions.
Tempus Leadership
EL
Eric Lefkofsky
Founder & CEO
Founded the company in 2015 with the vision to bring AI into cancer care and drive the company's high-intensity culture.
How to work the culture
Do
- Lean heavily on your immediate peers and team members for support
- Embrace the fast-paced, hectic operational tempo
- Connect deeply with the overarching mission of cancer care
Don't
- Wait for consensus or perfection before taking action
- Expect rapid, merit-based promotions early in your tenure
- Count on robust retirement benefits like a 401k match
04
Fit & playbook
Who does well here, who doesn't, and how to actually navigate Tempus once you're in.
Thrives
You'll do well if
- Driven by a profound, life-saving mission in healthcare
- Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-intensity environments
- Motivated by high-end office amenities and in-person connections
Struggles
You might struggle if
- Seeking strong work-life balance and protected personal time
- Expecting competitive 401k matching and market-leading pay
- Frustrated by tenure-based promotion paths over merit-based advancement
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Discover your culture fitWhat People Say About Tempus's Culture
Synthesized from public sources · open to employees who claim their company
From the research
5 themesWork-Life BalanceCritical
The workload is overwhelming and you constantly feel stretched thin in a hectic, fast-paced environment.
Management & DynamicsCritical
There is a severe lack of transparency from leadership, and team dynamics can often feel toxic or like high school.
Compensation & BenefitsCritical
Salaries are below market value and the complete lack of a 401k match is a major frustration.
Career AdvancementMixed
Promotions seem to rely entirely on how long you've been here rather than what you've actually accomplished.
Community
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