Great customer assistants, poor commercial managers
M & S? More like S & M!
You don't receive your first two weeks salary until you've resigned from the company. So that may be years before you see it.
Typical day at work - coming in and preparing the staffing for the nights delivery. Invariably the delivery would be late and much larger than expected. Staff absence was fairly high so juggling was regularly done.
What I learned - I have a huge capacity for patience...probably why I stayed as long as i did - expecting things to improve. I also taught myself many of the things they were supposed to teach me but somehow never had the time.
Management - Upper management had no clue about what was actually going on on the shop floor as they rarely interacted with the customer assistants. You could only approach them for the needs of the business if your section manager was absent. Otherwise 'do not disturb'.
Co-Workers - very hard-working, going above and beyond what was required of them. I shall miss them
Hardest part of the job - not being thanked for my team doing a good job. I found it very dis-heartening as I believe praise is a good motivator.
Most enjoyable part of the job - Clocking out and going home at the end of my shift.
Like others, the first couple of years were great; so much so that I decided to stay. (Big mistake). From the third to fifth year we had a succession of managers on my department who changed the way things were done on a whim. They didn't bother to get to know the staff and wouldn't acknowledge them o
Pros20% discount on joining
Consno positive feedback, rely on managers to be promoted even when passing online interview/assessment, staff morale so low new starters leave after first month.
I began at M&S in November 2016 as a seasonal sales assistant in the FoodHall on a temporary 20 Hours contract. It was a particularly good season for the company and my contract ended up extended until April 2017. This was when the department began restructuring the permanent staffs hours and made temps apply internally for new vacancies which I, unfortunately, didn't.
I went back in August 2017 for a 12-hour contract but with overtime was more like 30 hours, this time to the Ladieswear department due to a pending clearance sale. This contract initially until the end of October was extended to end of December and furthermore until the end of January. I was later called back for the month of March 2018 for another sale and again in June 2018 for the same reason.
I worked constant overtime including the hours nobody would really want to and did numerous nightshifts to show my dedication and was trusted in all aspects of the sales floor including the intake of deliveries, fitting rooms, tills and so on. However, this dedication and commitment meant nothing to the company who ultimately decided the vacancies and the store managers regretted getting rid of me every time - genuinely.
During busy times miscommunication between managers wasn't uncommon and meant you were told different things all the time, but after the experience, I got my head around this.
Most staff were great and welcoming once I had got to know them which was a lot easier with the overtime on top o
ProsSubsidised Hot Food & Cold Food Canteen (Bigger City Centre Store), Staff Discount On Top Of Promotions (Sparks/ Clearance Sales), Great Pay (£8.00-£8.75 Per/Hour)
Various job skills required daily in a retail environment.
Carrying out daily health and safety procedures with key holder responsibilities.
Ensuring store opening according to company and trading standards regulations.
Booking in a variety of goods and commerce and selecting locations or relevant personal for processing.
Public safety through the internal CCTV system.
Extensive training was provided in all areas of business continuity, communication , health and safety and coaching requirements.
Daily interaction with management enabled on the job training and personal skills development.
An inner city store environment provided a wide selection of co workers, all of which had similar work ethics. Working with these staff was enjoyable and one of the better parts of the job.
More challenging aspects of the role involved deliverance of technical procedures and processes in group training environments. Ensuring all members were of equal understanding of such technical areas of the job was difficult after being provided with ever shortening timelines.
Staff development was critical and meeting required guidelines also provided self worth and a feeling of accomplishment on a daily basis.
Working for Marks and Spencer has engraved a professional work ethic within and a high attention to detail is one of strongest qualities.
Whilst my immediate colleagues were very welcoming and very happy to pass on their knowledge to the new boy, I felt the management only saw me(and a number of other older temps) as mere dogsbodies and had no intention from the outset of keeping us on, irrespective of how well we had performed during our temporary contracts. Almost everybody at shop floor level seemed to be temporary! It was a very heirarchical environment where various managers seemed to be competing with each other, rather than working co-operatively for the benefit of the business.
When I finished my contract I was not paid the statutory holiday pay I had accumulated during my time of employment as specified on page 17 of the employee handbook(and the law also !!!) I am currently engaged in recovering this which is made all the more difficult by the fact that payroll is handled centrally (by a company called Ceridian) for which there is no listed telephone number.
I know others are similarly affected.
This is the last thing I would have expected from a company which so openly brags about the benefits of being an employee.
Prosprobably OK if you ever get made permanent
Conspayroll information can only be accessed via the internet
I have worked for M&S for 8 weeks as a Christmas Temp.
The pay and conditions are poor. Pay is £6.54. a hour. 30 minute break in 8 hours.
Felt pretty much like being back at school - you have your nose to the grindstone for every single moment of your working day.
The management are very poor indeed, they will hardly speak to the temps unless it is to tell you to do something.
The work is basic, unskilled and mind numbing ; i.e checking the expiry dates of mountains of frozen meat.
They didn't give me fleece to wear (they said they had none left as they were changing over the uniform shortly) so I provided my own (identical apart from their logo) they would not let me wear it, nor would they give me one. It was very cold. Eventually a colleague lent me one.
They asked me to work extra hours, but did not pay me for them - three weeks worth of extra hours. I would ask again and again. They still owe me 20 hours money.
They got my name wrong on my staff discount card and in all of my records.
My co-workers though, were lovely, and the only saving grace of this job, the worst I have ever had.
ProsLovely colleagues
ConsHorrible management, Incompetant payroll, mind numbing work
I applied for a customer service roll on line and got the interview.
I passed my interview with no trouble. In the interview they told me i would be doing late's so from around 1-2pm to 9-10 pm. This was great as I told them I use 2 buses to travel to work.
On my first day they changed my job roll to warehouse operations that was not the roll I applied or interviewed for and changed my hours to 6am- 2pm. on top of this you only get one brake every 8 hours and your working for 6:64 a hour. I told them I was unhappy with the changes and I cant work at 6 because the soonest I could get there is 7:25 using the soonest buses they let me work for the day and refused to change my shifts so I was forced to quit.
To top it off they also refused to pay me for my first day.
The ware house there is mind numbing and you feel your self getting dumber by the hour
Prosfree lunch toast big woop
Consone 30 min brake and changed job roll and shift times. and didn't pay
sly comments made by other staff members, very patronizing
Worked for Xmas temp (2014) at Handforth Dean; staff are very rude and made a lot of harsh comments making me feel useless and stupid ( I won't know everything straight away). Thrown in right at the deep end and expected to do everything right. Often found other employee's laughing and giggling to themselves at the mistakes I made. The two day training involved about 3 hours of watching DVD's about M and S and learning the money M and S makes and very basic till training. Only 6:70 an hour and very short breaks (had to rush my dinner and sometimes had no time to even eat it) got put on all the early shifts coming up to Christmas.
Would not recommend all the full time contracted staff think they are better than temp staff, very humiliating and belittling.
most enjoyable part: being able to put smile on customers face.
A typical day at work would involve the unloading of a delivery, clearing the shop floor and sorting out the warehouse.
I learned how to cope with stress a lot better!
Management was very poor, but this was probably down to the fact that our store seemed like a guinea pig store. Some managers lacked people skills, as well as decision making skills which brought their hiring into question. Some were flat out rude and very demoralizing.
Co-workers were hit and miss. Some were very fun to be around, where as others would try their hardest to make your life hell. The store I was at was very cliquey.
Hardest part of the job was having to content with awkward colleagues.
Most enjoyable part of the job was the discount, as well as overtime always being available.
A typical day at the Marks and Spencer, The Galleria is full of fun.
There is always so much to juggle.
I learnt about Health and Safety and the challenges of dealing with different people at work.
I got along well with the store manager. I was helping the store excel and she would let me know countless times that she does not regret employing me.
The hardest part of the job was handling stock. It could take hours to get the shop tidy after stock has been received and where there is a stock overflow then the shop begins to burst at its seams and it is very challenging to keep it looking tidy and bright all day long.
The good part of the job was that my manager always identified me and pulled me out for training opportunities that presented themselves. She believed in me. I made things happen.
The biggest tip I can give is Never work for M&S, or even apply.
If possible I would of gave a 0 rating
The staff are all very hard working, but receive zero gratitude or feedback from any managers, unless it's negative and they want your head on the blocks
The company stands for nothing and will take you for everything they can once you leave the company
I was there 2 years and on my last day not one manager came to say goodbye, thankyou or good luck, just ignored me
If you're looking for praise for your work then you will only receive it from the customers and M&S is not for you
Absolutely horrific experience, the things they get away with is diabolical.
Worst workplace I have ever encountered
I worked in Marks & Spencers for 3 years and through out my time there I switched between job roles to try new and different things. I first started in Marks & Spencer in October 2008 as a Christmas Temp working Braehead Shopping Centre in the Food Department. My job roles were Customer Care, Service and Focus ensuring that I gave every customer 100% focus and attention as they are priority and that I gave them best quality of service as possible to ensure that their shop was easy and pleasent. I also had to deal with cash handling and Lisencing Laws whilst working on the tills. When working on the shop floor I had to stock shelves according to the Seasonal Plan to ensure that it followed the Company Policy and layout. Also in this job role I had to be able to follow tasks and instruction from the Department Supervisor, to work well with others and be very sociable and approachable. Not only did I have to be able to work well in a team I had to work using my own inititave as I had my own department to look after and there was not always a supervisor avaliable to instruct me. My department was a reflection on me so I always worked to the best of my ability to ensure it was layed out as it should be and that all tasks were completed before store opening. I had to have excellent product knowladge, stock control and manual handling abilities.
In May 2009 a permenant position became avaliable in the Food Department in Paisley Outlet Store which I applied for and was given the posi
Working at M&S at Castle Donington is a bit of a curate's egg really.
Pros
- It's a great place to work. Magnificent facility, jaw dropping. Everything is new, canteen is excellent, and the ethos of the management you just know it's going to be well maintained in years to come.
- The pay is excellent. Most other warehouse operative roles are minimum wage. Here, pound an hour more (after 12 weeks). £37 extra a week? Yes please.
- M&S management keep it real. They take the rough with the smooth, very considerate, they expect you to work hard (like in all jobs) but don't set totally unrealistic targets for you to hit. You get the odd miserable manager, but on the whole they are thoroughly pleasant.
- Colleagues are mostly good too. Previous places I've worked you get your fair share of undesirables. The screening phase usually weens out most of the riff raff. Quite a lot of eastern europeans work there, they are honest, hard working etc but a hard to relate too, banter with. They usually form their groups. Brits hang with Brits, Poles with Poles etc etc. Awkward. It gets especially 'entertaining' November time as workers are bused in from EVERYWHERE. Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Peterborough, Stoke. It is unbelievable, literally 2 hour coach journeys! Quality control goes out the window.
- Overtime pay. Time and a half after 37.5 hours in October, November and December. And there is LOTS of overtime in the run up to Christmas too. If you want to work 70 hours
ProsGood pay compared to similar jobs, overtime at time an a half
Worked for m&s for around 3.5 years. Absolutely loved it for the first month then I saw the wolf in the sheeps clothing. The staff working in m&s are either 50+ or late teens to early 20s. Everything went downhill when I realised being a Christmas temp meant if someone had to go cover on a different department it would always be me because I was the newest. They didn't take things in turn it was always about hierarchy.
I started off working on lingerie which I really did enjoy as I had made a few friends.
Even though my contract was only 20 hours per week, the overtime was flowing in. I ended up working 11 days on, 1 day off sometimes 2 days off because no one else wanted to work they would always make me do all the rubbish jobs. They will try to persuade you to work overtime so you feel like you don't have a life.
After Christmas I had to apply for another job in m&s and got it, still on lingerie. However I found out that they could keep extending your temp contract up to 3 times before making you permenant.
My contract changed yet again and I ended up working in the warehouse in A&A. I hated it with a passion and I didn't get on with my new colleagues. After complaining I wasn't enjoying it, I was moved onto menswear/customer service. I got on with the colleagues more but I just wasn't enjoying it anymore as the management referred to us as 'bodies' when they needed you on a different floor 'I'll send a body down to cover for an hour' I realised none of us were being
5.0
Customer Service Representative | Aberdeen | May 2, 2014
A Fun Workplace
Having worked two separate temporary contracts in completely different departments, I have enjoyed working for M&S greatly.
I first worked within Customer Services, which includes processing refunds and exchanges and consequently either marking damaged/discontinued items to be sent to Head Office or placing returned items orderly on racks for returning to their designated department.
It also includes processing M&S's in store collection/reservations. As I worked here over the Christmas period, there were plenty of packages waiting for collection! It was fun to do, as a lot of customers had only seen what they had ordered in pictures online.
I adored working in CSD, and wish that I could have worked there longer, but my manager was so busy that she forgot to give me an extension!
A month or so after I finished at CSD, I was hired within the Cafe. This was a totally different experience. It was constantly busy, which meant that we had to work harder. This job worked on a constant hourly rotation. One hour, I was serving customers on tills, the next, I was preparing dirty dishes for the industrial dishwasher.
Within the Cafe, there are 6 written roles:
-Hot Food - Where you prepare the toasties, baked potatoes, soups, other hot meals and cold drinks such as smoothies.
-Delivery - Where you serve the hot food and cold drinks prepared by those on Hot Food to the customers who are waiting for their order.
-Tables - Where you clear tables, place dirty plates, cup
A typical day at work starts with me counting stock using an RFID system. Once that is completed I would probe that count manually for any discrepancies between the system and what was counted. This is followed by everyday tasks such as sending stock back to our distribution centre, processing damaged stock, general tidying of the stockroom, training colleagues on the in house systems we use for stock control. Also daily we liaise with management, head office and distribution centre via emails, phone calls etc about current stock issues, promotions, upcoming events. Also general customer assistant duties such as helping customers on the floor, taking payment through the tills and using our iPads or hubs to assist customers with online purchases.
I have learnt how to give great customer service as our in house training has given me the tools to insure I assist customers in helping them find exactly what they would like. I have learnt how to use multichannel applications such as iPads to assist customers in purchasing items they require and how important that aspect of sales is to business. Working there has also helped me to develop the skills I need to be able to communicate with management and those of a senior role effectively. Also as I work in a small team I have learnt the importance of building strong communication between everyone to become an efficient team to enable us to complete tasks to tight deadlines and also allowing me to prioritise workloads so when worki
they always kept you on your feet and because we were temporary customer assistant workers, we didn't have a permament department so we went from working in the gift shop, to helping womens, going to home and helping the gift shop again, all in the span of 3 months but i guess that made it stimulating because we didn't get bored of one area and got a feel of most of the departments.
Some management was racist and one even belittled me because of one of my A-level subject choices? LOL I was so confused and I still am. But despite that, most of the other employees were really nice and made me feel comfortable.
We all expected a little more structure to the training and induction so I think improving that would be helpful as we all expected more form M&S training.
There were some periods where there were no customers and then out of no where you'd get a huge line. so it was quite stressful at times.
The most enjoyable time I had was lunch time when I could sit and eat (although sometimes we were placed to work in the other store but my locker was in the other store so I had to waste some of my lunchtime to walk over and get money lunch etc which was really annoying (there are 2 stores in merry hill with different departments)).
-a funny but scary experience I will never forget is when it was closing time on a Sunday night and everyone was going up to the lockers but our stuff was at the other store which was at the other side of the shopping centre but that store h
3.0
Customer Service Representative | Winchester | Jul 30, 2019
Unforetunately, not as great as it was made out to be...
I had always shopped at my local Marks and Spencer ever since I was little; and when I was eventually given the oppurtunity to apply for a position with them I was 'over the moon'...
Before applying for a role with Marks and Spencer; I was led to believe that it would be a fun and rewarding expeience to finally work for such a company where it seemed all the employees were friendly and helpful.
Unforetunately; although I applied for a job in customer service/ till work and filled in the application as such; it was only made aware to me AFTER I was hired that they never intended for me to work on the tills; instead I was to sort out/ scan and bring down stock from the 'cold room' (fridges)
On my induction day I completed various quizzes and tests on 'fire safety/ emergency solutions" and was even told what it wouldf be like to work on the tills (see above!) when all of that was done I was given a 15 minute (at most!) explanation of the aforementioned role in the cold room; but was told "you'll probably not be in there at all; but just so you know what happens behind the scenes" (see above, again!)
For two of my shifts I was with another employee in the cold room; one was nice/kind/ willing to show me the ropes; while the other frequently lost their temper with me for making such (quote) "stupid mistakes" and how (Quote) "I should know different; even if its only your second day!" - this led me to realise not all staff are as friendly as the customers are made out
ProsSome staff were nice, 15% discount
ConsLong hours but short breaks, unsupportive management, was often underpaid
1.0
Customer Service Representative | United Kingdom | May 9, 2013
The Waiter Who is loosing faith
Start at 11.00, jump straight into the morning rush until 13.00 when the lunch time rush starts. Meet and greet customers, inform them of items out of stock and/or additions to the menu while seating them on a table that i will have to clean as turn around is so fast and staff sadly are not as fast therefor the table will not have been cleaned. Leaving the customer (to look over the menu) i have just seated i will go to another whom i sat about 5 minuets before and take an order from them, selling up and recommending something to suit there needs. After taking the order i will place it on the till and await it to be made for hot or cold station then take it to the customer in the hope that everything is to there satisfaction.Repeat this over the day and insuring customers in my co-workers sections are being looked after, paying attention to the regular customers who know me and have trust in me to insure there orders are completed and to there satisfaction.
During my time at M&S Kitchen i have learned that i can restore faith in even the most hardest to please customers and this makes for a good day.
I would say the hardest parts of the job are:-
1. spending 8-9 hours a day running around cleaning up after coworkers who find there time is much better spent on planing their social life than making sure the business is running smoothly.
2. When one of the stores many managers/head of departments comes in i find it frustrating that the my manager/supervisors and the re
The work culture of M&S is difficult to describe succinctly.
You might think the staff groups are: Foods, Womens wear, Menswear, Kids wear, Home wears and Lingerie but this is not the case.
There are two groups; those on "old" contracts who have job security, better pay, unsociable hours pay, set shifts, permanent contracts, a massively decreased workload & respect.
Then there's the other group; those on new contracts. The people on new contracts don't have set shifts, don't get unsociable hours, get looked down upon and in some cases bullied by the older staff and just generally treated like throw away objects.
I worked for for the Forestside branch in the Warehouse department from July to December 2012; my temporary contract was extended once during that time.
While I worked there, I pretty much held up the loading bay while fat, middle aged dossers walked around doing nothing. I also got bullied by one fat, grey haired individual because I was "Stealing their jobs" (context; I am English, living in Belfast, have done for 18 years, spent more of my life here than there).
There are too many managers, again on much more "fulfilling" contracts and again, even the most useless ones are protected by paperwork and nepotism.
Once they were done with me, they offered me another contract with hours they knew I could not commit to (overnight shifts when there were no busses) and it was so totally obviously on purpose.
To add insult to injury, after workin
ProsStaff Discount Card
ConsThe whole back area is disgusting. Go into the loading bay, ambient warehouse, walk in fridges, back yard etc. You'll see.
Questions And Answers about Marks and Spencer
How often do raises occur at Marks & Spencer?
Asked Aug 18, 2018
no rise in 2020
Answered Sep 27, 2020
Extra time isn't even paid
Answered Mar 24, 2019
If you were to leave Marks & Spencer, what would be the reason?
Asked Jun 26, 2018
The company decided to leave European market
Answered Sep 22, 2019
My reason for leaving is that they no longer wanted me. They had found somebody better to fill my space. Although I was working hard and trying to make an effort, I found some of the staff a bit posh and pretentious. Maybe they were looking for someone a bit more like them, who fitted the company's posh image?
Answered Aug 18, 2018
What is the interview process like at Marks & Spencer?
Asked Dec 14, 2016
There was no interview made, because I was sent there by an Agent And I worked really hard, i was very punctual, I helped customers to get what they needed and customers were happy, at the end of my 3 months contract I was not given the job, I was treated unfairly, that really got me sad, I love M&S, is my dream place to work.
Answered Apr 4, 2020
There was no interview made, because I was sent there by an Agent And I worked really hard, i was very punctual, I helped customers to get what they needed and customers were happy, at the end of my 3 months contract I was not given the job, I was treated unfairly, that really got me sad, I love M&S, is my dream place to work.
Answered Apr 4, 2020
How long are u supposed to work at cash till in one shift
Asked Jun 14, 2019
They world keep the same people on everyday so no one else got to have a relaxing day
Answered Oct 31, 2020
Whenever required .
Answered Oct 18, 2019
What questions did they ask during your interview at Marks & Spencer?
