SilverDoor Reviews

3.3

46% would recommend to a friend

(75 total reviews)

Marcus Angell / Stuart Winstone

82% approve of CEO

49% positive business outlook

SilverDoor has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 75 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The SilverDoor employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Hotel and travel accommodation industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

75 reviews
1.0
27 July 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

SilverDoor is bound by employment law. If they weren't who knows what they'd try to get away with. Google 'SilverDoor Tribunals' to see their recent activity in "unlawfully deducting" staff wages.

Cons

A major red flag came when SilverDoor acquired another company (and many more staff) at a time when existing staff pay was especially low, even for SilverDoor (for the drones - those in management were laughing all the way to the bank of course) and requests for pay rises were shirked off. This sort of contradictory thinking only became more prevalent as time went on. Having had enough of pointless 'meetings' with my then manager/head of department around the lack of professional development opportunities and inconsistent/unjustifiably low wages, I found a position within a company offering far better terms as well as a much healthier culture and submitted my resignation. My intention being to politely leave the company that no longer held any appeal whatsoever. This is where things suddenly took a turn. Firstly, my "Manager" began to behave strangely to put it mildly - refusing to acknowledge, talk, or look at me. To this day I'm not sure if this was purely out of spite, a side effect of the menopause, or simply a mental breakdown. It was then brought to my attention that the company wanted to deduct hundreds of pounds from my final wage slip for a work event - described as a reward from the shareholders - which they told me I could no longer attend as I resigned. Based on their own terms, I immediately pointed out this would be an illegal move. Despite my contestation and further meetings with the HR team, the company decided that even though the trip was a gift, paid for by the shareholders, they would force me to pay for flight costs. (All other attendees, including people who hadn't even joined the company yet, weren't charged a single penny.) For a supposedly successful, extremely profitable company, why they needed to charge resigning staff members exorbitant fees in the first place speaks volumes about their ethos. I continued to contest their decision, sending multiple emails over several months with specific questions about their deduction. None were answered by the available roster of supposed HR 'experts', whose unprofessionalism continued to sink to new lows. On the advice of an employment solicitor (and in my capacity to read English and have a fleeting understanding of basic law) I entered the Tribunal conciliation process. Eventually, the company refused the offer of conciliation, needlessly escalating the matter. And so the move to a Tribunal was set. Of course, the company delayed the trial date (stating the presence of the Shareholder was required and therefore, as they could not attend on that date, it needed to be moved). Trial date successfully moved, this added another several months onto the entire fiasco. When the Tribunal eventually took place (even though their 'much needed' witness Shareholder was nowhere in sight) over nine months had passed since my initial contestation of the deduction. The outcome - the company was found to have indeed 'unlawfully deducted' the amount and was ordered to pay the full amount back. For wasting my time, withholding my money, ignoring my repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably, and otherwise behaving in an utterly disrespectful and unprofessional manner, I say - shame on SilverDoor and all those involved. Of course, no apology has been forthcoming. If you are looking to work for a company with good moral values, a supportive HR department, and one that doesn't unlawfully deduct wages, SilverDoor clearly isn't a good choice. Other cons: Many "Managers" and above have only worked at SilverDoor in their professional life. Experience is therefore very limited (and it shows). Placements were encouraged 'not to shower' during the energy price rise last year. This being despite the fact that placements are made to pay an all inclusive rent fee to stay in the placement house.

1.0
19 Dec 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Despite my very long and negative experience, what i will say is.. they’re working on it.. I’ll give you an example below but before i do that i want to emphasise that people from a ethnic minority, don’t be a test for them, let them figure it out, let them get a inclusivity and diversity manager or something and then give them a chance, unless of course, you’re a coco… or don’t have much to strive for. Anyway moving on swiftly.. SilverDoor’s high turnover of staff appears to be linked to the array of challenges outlined in the cons: The discrepancy between promised wages and the actual work environment, the entrenched micromanagement practices, the outdated workplace culture, the repetitive nature of tasks, coupled with the expectation to attend work events that incur personal expenses and potential late hours, has likely worn down the workforce. The company’s response to a surge in negative Glassdoor reviews is attempt at an “anonymous” complaints service in which staff anonymously write their complaints to a third party website and it is fed back to HR. This proactive measure suggests an awareness of shortcomings and a recognition that employees may be hesitant to voice their concerns openly. It also makes me think, how many complaints really are there for HR to go through such a measure? On the bright side they’re working on it and we’ll give them their flowers for attempting to recover the company’s internal reputation. Additional pros: You don’t need to be skilled or knowledgable, it’s the definition of entry level. Some may be the perfect race, gender and personality to fit a “silverdoorian” it’s a very specific and robotic personality type, if you love football or you’re just really quiet and robotic it’ll definitely put you in front of a few people that have been there for years for a promotion, company events and nice office in both locations, you’ll get free food sometimes.

Cons

Working at SilverDoor, I encountered concerning patterns that significantly impacted the workplace environment. Individuals may experience instances of perceived racism, sexism, and discrimination, creating an atmosphere that is not always inclusive or respectful. However, before we get to that, let’s start with the salary. There is a discrepancy between the promised pay and the reality of the work environment. While the company boasts about enticing bonuses, the actual salary did not align with the pressure and micromanagement experienced on a daily basis. The job, centered around simply booking apartments, was presented as way more complex and vital than it truly was in the broader professional landscape. The repetitiveness of tasks, from making the exact same phone calls and sending the exact same emails daily, created a sense of monotony that made the work seem far less substantial than the demands placed on employees. Micromanagement reached such granular levels that even lunch breaks need to be discussed and delegated by managers. Despite the seemingly low complexity of the job, the company expected attendance at work events in various areas of London. While these events only benefit the company and their exposure, they required personal expense for transportation, with no reimbursement from the company. Attending these events was not merely an option; it often felt mandatory, as opting out could severely jeopardize your chances of promotion. This expectation, coupled with events occasionally stretching into late hours or involving post-event activities such as clubbing, created an additional burden on employees’ personal time and resources, making the offered pay even less attractive. Secondly, the traditional nature of the workplace culture, coupled with a potential lack of understanding or accommodation for diverse values and backgrounds, could make it challenging for ethnic minorities to fully integrate and thrive at Silverdoor. There’s a noticeable adherence to outdated workplace dynamics reminiscent of the 1900s. The company’s culture, possibly influenced by its founder and current CEO, might be perceived as clinging to traditional norms. It’s crucial for individuals from diverse backgrounds to carefully consider whether SilverDoor’s workplace dynamics align with their values and expectations, especially concerning inclusivity and promotion opportunities. The office culture appeared immature, with a tendency towards favoritism in promotions. Advancement opportunities seemed to be more about personal connections than skills or job proficiency. Despite the job not requiring specialized skills, employees were still micromanaged and made to feel inadequate. This pressure, coupled with the idea that you life revolves around SilverDoor and serviced apartments, could create an environment where individuals might struggle to meet unrealistic expectations. This could be disheartening for those seeking career growth based on merit rather than subjective factors. During my time at Silverdoor i approached HR regarding my concerns and I encountered challenges in seeking assistance from the HR department. It seemed that expressing concerns was met with resistance rather than the expected support. The approach towards employees with concerns appeared to be dismissive, potentially making individuals feel as though they were being labeled as part of the problem rather than receiving the help they sought. I observed a workplace culture that thrives on gossip, socializing after work, and occasional excessive drinking. This dynamic may not align with everyone’s professional expectations, and those who prefer a more modern and focused work environment may find it challenging. i believe this is also linked to the fact that a considerable portion of management had been with the company for over 5 years. It was apparent that for many managers, this was their first job and perhaps the only professional environment they knew. Unfortunately, this long tenure appeared to contribute to a sense of robotic adherence to the established culture, which leaned towards toxicity. Managers seemed content with micro-management and often engaged in actions primarily for show, aiming to elevate their own image while potentially undermining their colleagues. The nature of the workplace, where individuals had spent the entirety of their professional lives, raised concerns about a lack of exposure to diverse work cultures and an understanding of what might be considered normal in a contemporary professional setting. The company culture, is rooted in outdated norms and seemed to foster discrimination rather than progress. On a positive note, the reason why i can now reflect on how disgusting and toxic my time at Silverdoor was is because I've found happiness in my new professional journey. I've transitioned into an elevated position within a team that genuinely celebrates diversity, not as a mere formality tied to public holidays or quotas but as an integral part of their culture. In this environment, I've experienced true inclusivity, free from micromanagement or discrimination. I'm grateful and want to let anybody looking to Silverdoor for a job know that i understand the job hunt is long and hard, but, do not do it to yourself, especially if you are apart of a ethnic minority. I promise you there are better spaces for you and your growth out there, just persevere.

1.0
30 May 2023

Not Great

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

staff stays were good that's about it

Cons

low salary, high stress, I saw a high turnaround which should have been a red flag when I started working there. HR are CEO's family therefore do not do anything to help you and don't care. Racism and sexism in the workplace at an all time high. If you do not enjoy excessive drinking with colleagues and work place gossip this is not the place for you. no progression unless you're a man.

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SilverDoor Response
3y
Thank you for your feedback however, it is regrettable to read your account of your experience. As a responsible employer we place our employee satisfaction, engagement, and providing equal opportunities as high priorities of the company. We work to provide our team members with a rewarding environment to build their careers and personal development with us. I am pleased to report that 51% of promotions within our company in the current financial year have been awarded to female team members. Further, we are proud to have 47% female representation across the management team, senior leadership team, and board of directors. Our commitment to providing opportunities to all our team regardless of how they identify, has forever been part of our success in building the incredible team that we are extremely proud of. Not everything goes smoothly and at SilverDoor we have processes whereby employees can raise any concerns that they may have during their employment. This does not have to be directly to our HR team and instead, employees are encouraged to discuss concerns and feedback that they wish to provide with any management team members. As part of our ongoing commitment to our team, and team members of the future, we evaluate feedback and will continue to ensure that we provide a progressive, engaging, and rewarding workplace for all our SilverDoorians.
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