VPZ Reviews

Huge caveats to every Pro, which outweighs any positives and makes it a difficult place to recommend. First, staff turnover is ridiculous and borderline childish. Firings occur often haphazardly and, while the logic does make sense, there's zero communication. This puts everyone on-edge. The flaws of management, the co-CEOs and heads of department, often shine through more than their strengths - largely due to the culture that's been created. In my (brief) tenure I have seen ALMOST every department head change, which results in few good people below staying. Second, the owners are like the two guys from Rainman: one is a talker and one is a thinker. This could work, but usually the inverse of what you hope is what happens: waffle; no trust; and no empathy. Across management, few experienced seniors with options would consider working at VPZ. Therefore, I often felt with the managers that VPZ is scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel when it comes to talent. This creates a lot of micromanagement by the owners which doesn't help. It's a shame that morale is often extremely low because the colleagues are usually quite good, fun, and helpful. Finally, the employee benefits: there is NONE beyond a 50% discount that may disappear due to the Tobacco & Vapes Bills. Couple this with ostentatious owners flaunting their wealth, it's easy to feel like they only care about themselves and not building a good company with good people. To pick one example, there's zero sick leave so often extremely unwell people work alongside people when they really shouldn't be. Things don't get thought about from a first-principles perspective.

Ostensibly the most anti-worker franchise on the high street. 1. No work/life balance. You are expected to dedicate yourself to VPZ and their twisted notion of work culture - even if you are only a university student looking for some extra cash to put yourself through school. 2. Poor treatment of ill staff - I witnessed a staff member literally poo themselves because of Norovirus and not be sent home. Staff members with severe respiratory infections were encouraged to come into work. This is despite VPZ claiming it is on the cutting edge of public health retail (they maintain a 'clinic' vibe in store to make more sales). It is not in the best interest of public health to force sick employees to come into work when they cannot work safely or with dignity. 3. Discrimination isn't taken seriously: I received abuse from customers about wearing an accessibility tool and my fellow staff failed to see the glaring issue. I also heard my fellow staff laughing about serious violence directed against members of the trans community. Need I say more? 4. You are forced to work alone for nearly every shift. Incredibly distressing when you first start. 5. Clause in your work contract that states that you must pay for your own training to work there if you leave within three years. Regardless of whether it's actually enforced, objectively disgusting and anti-worker. 6. You are encouraged to start vaping as an employee even if you already do not use cigarettes or nicotine. Public health anyone? Not a 'snowflake' by any means - I have worked all my life since I was 15 in various industries. Function work, cafe work, portering, sales, retail, admin, cleaning. I have never worked at a place as deplorable as VPZ, and I have worked for less than minimum wage before.