Awful policies, even worse management - Sales Assistant Laura Ashley Employee Review

1.0
2 Nov 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

About the only good things are the team I work with, the discounts (although this brings things down to a normal price!) and that the training is standarised and there is a certificate for finishing that you could show other employers.

Cons

Training itself is not great, too much on the computer and too much expectation that having watched a video about something you will now be able to do it. Awful pay, but worse than that they con you out of holiday pay by putting you on part time contract and expecting you to work full time. Also means they don't have to give you full uniform allowance or many hours. But if they give them to you there is no discussion, you basically have to work them. No discussion over rotas, no choice over days off, not allowed to take one day of holiday and only given rotas couple of weeks in advance so forget having a life. Every week you work different hours on different days, different days off, really confusing. Awful assistant manager who doesn't know what she's doing and has been out into job with no training. Patronises staff, always speaking down to you in disrespectful way, telling everyone what to do rather than asking or there being any discussion. There is a break policy in place - but in reality you won't get to take your breaks properly. Customers and selling always comes before you, you are basically a robot. We are only given lunch breaks despite the sign in the staff room saying we should have 2 tea breaks a day. If it's busy breaks will be pushed back and back, if you're with a customer you will be expected to finish, despite the fact that could take hours. Nothing is explained, like how you get paid, pay,slips say,nothing. Holiday policy, rotas, how not to do a million hours over time, nothing is explained. They will only tell you (badly) how to do the job, they don't care about anything that is to benefit you. Forced into selling MasterCard's, and annoying customers who just want to look by over the top greeting and offering to help and showing them more things to buy. Your choice is to be snapped at constantly by customers who don't like the 19th century over the top customer service or told off by the manager for not following the policies. And you will be paid less than minimum wage. At least in my store, you will be paid until the end of your shift but if this is the end of the day, you will be expected to stay until tills emptied, takings phoned in etc. And there is always one arrogant customer who stays beyond closing time. So selfish. Unless you're in training for how to be a robot, dont work here as that's how you will be treated.

Explore other reviews about Laura Ashley

5.0
23 Sept 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice looking office and great coworkers

Cons

Too many days to work

3.0
23 Nov 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The job is amazing just always do good.

Cons

There are no downsides everything is good

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All