Question 1

Do workers at Thorlabs get paid breaks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most people get paid breaks.
76% of people say they get paid breaks.
Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and April 2026.

Question 2

Does Thorlabs pay people when they’re sick?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most people get paid when they’re sick.
100% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.
Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 3

At Thorlabs, are sick days and vacation days separate paid time off?

Accepted Answer

Sick days and vacation days are used from the same paid time off.
100% of people say they have to use vacation days when they’re out sick.
Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2025 and April 2026.

Question 4

Is the health insurance from Thorlabs affordable enough for their workers?

Accepted Answer

Most people say the health insurance costs are okay.
94% of people say the health insurance costs are okay
Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2025 and April 2026.

Question 5

Do people get paid time off at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Most people get paid time off work.
100% of people say they get paid time off.
Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2025 and April 2026.

Question 6

Do workers at Thorlabs worry about hours?

Accepted Answer

Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
87% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.
Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and September 2025.

Question 7

Do Thorlabs workers get to choose the shifts they work?

Accepted Answer

Some people don’t get to choose which shifts they work.
38% report that they don’t have enough control over which shifts they work.
Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and September 2025.

Question 8

How easy is it for Thorlabs workers to change shifts?

Accepted Answer

Some people find it hard to change shifts.
40% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.
Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and September 2025.

Question 9

How easy is it to get time off at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Most people find it easy to get time off.
80% of people report it’s easy to get time off.
Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 10

Do Thorlabs managers change schedules at the last minute?

Accepted Answer

Most managers don’t change people’s schedules at the last minute.
93% of people say their manager doesn’t change their shift schedule at the last minute.
Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and September 2025.

Question 11

Do jobs at Thorlabs spill into time workers aren’t paid for?

Accepted Answer

Rarely. The job doesn't usually spill into unpaid time.
0% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.
Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and September 2025.

Question 12

How easy is it to take sick days at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Most people find it easy to take sick days.
95% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.
Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 13

Do people at Thorlabs feel treated with respect by their managers?

Accepted Answer

Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
79% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.
Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and April 2026.

Question 14

Do people at Thorlabs get to take their breaks without interruption?

Accepted Answer

Most people get breaks without interruption.
90% of people report that they get to take their breaks without interruption.
Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 15

Is it stressful to work at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Most people feel stressed out here.
85% of people say they often feel stressed out at work.
Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 16

Do people at Thorlabs enjoy their jobs?

Accepted Answer

Only some people enjoy their job.
56% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.
Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and March 2026.

Question 17

Do people at Thorlabs recommend working with their team?

Accepted Answer

Not many people recommend working with their team.
73% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.
Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and April 2026.

Question 18

Do people get enough training when they start at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
58% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.
Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 19

Do people get support to advance at Thorlabs?

Accepted Answer

Only some people are given support to advance their career here.
In the last year, 35% of people report not being given support to advance their career here.
Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 20

Do people think Thorlabs’s headquarters understands what’s happening where they work?

Accepted Answer

Most people think headquarters doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
94% of people think that this employer’s headquarters or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.
Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

Question 21

Do workers feel well informed about how Thorlabs is doing?

Accepted Answer

Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
42% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.
Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.

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What Thorlabs employees say

Get the real story on frontline employers

Pay

Most people get paid breaks

Most people get paid when they’re sick

The job rarely spills into unpaid time

Benefits

Sick days use up paid time off

Most people say they can afford the health insurance

Most people get paid time off

Hours and flexibility

Most people don’t worry about their hours

Only some people can choose their shifts

Can be hard to change shifts

Workplace

Most people feel treated with respect

Most people get breaks without interruption

Most people are stressed out

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