10 of the worst companies to work for in the UK – Part 2
– according to their employees
6. Ladbrokes – 2.3/5
Betting firm Ladbrokes has a rating of just 2.3/5, with workers complaining of “lone working” and difficulty dealing with “abusive customers”.
On the other hand, staff members commended the firm for its “flexible working hours” and the fact that there is “a lot of room for progression”.
A Ladbrokes spokesperson said: “Working in the bookmaking industry is not for everyone but we regularly celebrate colleagues who have 10, 20, 30 and 40 years’ service so it does appeal to many.
“The beauty of democracy is free speech and the beauty of social media is freedom to air it, but we don’t think this fairly reflects the brand and would encourage anyone interested to come and experience the job before allowing others to make up your mind for you.”
7. Caffè Nero – 2.6/5
Caffè Nero’s rating on Glassdoor is a lowly 2.6/5, with staff members complaining of long shifts with only one 20-minute break in that time.
One employee wrote: “You are required to be at the store 20 minutes before your shift starts, otherwise you are marked as late. I was routinely asked to start work immediately upon arrival, so that’s 20 minutes of free labour you never get back.”
Caffè Nero said: “At Caffè Nero, we have a long history of creating a culture of career development – employing enthusiastic, hardworking individuals and equipping them with the skills needed to run a small business. We offer great careers, invest in our teams and they tell us that they have fun at work.”
8. Wyevale Garden Centres – 1.9/5
Wyevale Garden Centres, a garden centre chain with more than 150 stores, has a dire customer satisfaction score on Glassdoor, with just 1.9 stars out of 5.
Employees state that the pay is poor and there is a lack of staff. One staff member wrote: “Personally I do not feel I am going to have an opportunity to excel in anything other than customer service despite showing dedication to the company.”
Others, though, say the atmosphere is friendly and the staff hardworking, with generous benefits and a 30pc discount in store.
A spokesperson for Wyevale Garden Centres said: “Colleague engagement is critically important and we actively encourage two-way feedback across the business. We are committed to creating an environment that supports all our employees and recognise the need to get things right for them in order to deliver the best for our customers.”
9. Laura Ashley – 1.8/5
Laura Ashley has an even poorer rating – scoring 1.8/5 for employee satisfaction.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the retailer, with staff praising the generous staff discount (40pc), and relaxed working environment.
10. IWG, formerly Regus – 2.5/5
IWG (International Workplace Group), formerly Regus, is the global leader in providing flexible workspace, but it lags behind when it comes to job satisfaction.
With a rating of just 2.5/5, workers say there is “practically no training for new employees” and there is a lack of bonuses or perks.
On the other hand, employees say that the type of work means there is huge networking potential and that there is a “great, professional working environment”.
