Don't work here if you want to move up. - Customer Assistant Marks & Spencer Employee Review

2.0
Aug 16, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

20% discount Colleagues are nice

Cons

They say they promote people from within but they don't. Their hiring teams are awful take over 4 MONTHS to decide. Their communication is lacking and the job role will say ' under consideration ' until the very end when they've hired someone even though they know you don't have it months before. They call the self check out area ' the pen', and ask you to stay in it like you're a pig . You never see a manager , the shifts are long and the work life balance is disgusting. They also tell you to book your holiday otherwise they'll pick random dates for you and if too many people book you get denied.

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Marks & Spencer Response
2y
Hi there, thanks for sharing your concerns. As a business we want to make sure that all of our Colleagues feel supported and enjoy being a part of the Marks and Spencer family, so we're really sorry to hear you’re unhappy. We’d recommend that you discuss your concerns with your Line Manager, or if you feel you cannot approach your Line Manager, then a more senior person or someone who you feel most at ease with, for example your BIG rep or your HR Business Partner to find a solution together. Marks and Spencer

Explore other reviews about Marks & Spencer

5.0
Aug 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I love how positive the working environment

Cons

I dont like some of the names of the bread

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Marks & Spencer Response
11mo
Hi there, thanks so much for leaving such a great review – it’s lovely to hear that you enjoyed working for us! We're so grateful for your kind words, so thanks for sharing your review with us and the Glassdoor community. Our success relies on the dedication of employees like yourself, so we thank you for all your hard work! Wishing you all the best, Marks and Spencer
1.0
Jul 27, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-20% discount -I must enter 5 words

Cons

Never before have I worked for a company where the threat of gross misconduct is thrown around constantly by management. Senior members of staff have been given wrriten warnings over sudden changes in policy. Instead of carrot and stick you're just given the stick. A sudden change in policy comes in and immediately a TM or TSM will tell you "if you can't do this you will recieve a written warning or disciplinary." That is a best case scenario, the alternative is nobody tells you and you continue to do everything as normal and you get punished for an absolute absence of communication. Regional managers pressure Store Managers to hand out punishments like quotas. Worst of all, the company promotes immature and lazy managers for the most part, who will happily stand around doing absolutely nothing, but drive workers aged 60+ like a cart horse. Sorting basic worker's rights like annual leave is a chore to them, and they act as though they are doing you a favour when you do the bare minimum. Favouritism in my store is endemic. Not all managers are like this, my store manager just happens to like a handful of staff and puts down everyone else.

2
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Marks & Spencer Response
11mo
Thanks for raising your concerns. We're really sorry to hear you’re unhappy and we want you to know that at M&S, we care deeply about doing the right thing and acting with integrity, building trust, supporting one another and taking the time to listen. You have already addressed the first step of voicing your views on here, and now we encourage you to talk to your Line Manager. If you feel you cannot approach your Line Manager, then tell a more senior person or someone who you feel most at ease with, for example your BIG rep or your HR Business Partner. Thanks again for sharing, - Marks and Spencer
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