Here is my journey with the company
Start after uni really excited about my first job. You will join the company as MT which stands for management assistant. In you role you will be asked to sell EP / RAP excess protection, road side proaction. You will handle a lot of phone calls customer calling asking about when will I get my car delivered, Why is no car available and why was I charged £35 ( most of the time traffic violation). At a busy period you will notice a lot of stress. You will be asked to clean cars, deliver them and collect.
Here is an actual break down of how the day goes as MA:
1- Login in and check the reservation list ( most of the time it's the day runner who looks after the day).
2- Get's sent out to the road to collect car and deliver them.
3- Now it's 12 o'clock you will get your 15m break and it will be added 30m to your time sheet.
4- Rush to collect cars from other branches.
5- Day finish's at 18:00 ? no you will be asked to do more clean and do last delivery as " we have yes mentally" which is toxic.
This is just as MT, You not convinced enough with what I wrote so far. No problem.
You carried on with the job and got to AM ( assistant manger ):
Here is how your day goes:
1- Come at 7:30 to make sure you have all the cars ready until 10:00 o'clock.
2- Your Brnach manager attending a pointless online meeting while you are drowning and short so many cars.
3- struggling to find cars.
Here is why you shouldn't join:
The Hidden Reality: Toxicity, Unethical Practices, Stress, and Unfairness
1. Toxic Work Environment
The company's culture is a breeding ground for stress and dissatisfaction. Here's why:
"Yes Mentality": Employees are expected to accommodate every customer request, regardless of how unreasonable or inconvenient it may be. This often results in overwork and burnout.
Blame Culture: Mistakes are rarely treated as opportunities for improvement. Instead, employees are frequently blamed and shamed for issues beyond their control, like car shortages or policy misunderstandings.
Minimal Support: While you're running on fumes, senior management remains out of touch. They attend endless meetings or focus on targets, leaving the frontline staff to handle the chaos alone.
2. Unethical Practices
Some of the business practices could raise ethical concerns:
Pressure to Upsell: Employees are pushed to sell additional services like excess protection and roadside assistance, often to customers who don’t fully understand the terms or don’t need the product.
Misleading Promises: Employees are assured of growth opportunities and a supportive environment, but the reality is a repetitive grind with little reward or recognition.
Cutting Corners: To meet daily targets, you might find yourself rushing through safety or cleanliness checks for vehicles, potentially compromising service quality.
3. Stress Beyond Measure
The stress in this role is relentless, driven by factors such as:
Unrealistic Expectations: You’re expected to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously—customer calls, car cleaning, deliveries, and sales—without adequate staffing or resources.
Inadequate Breaks: Although breaks are logged on the system, in reality, they’re either shortened or skipped entirely due to the workload.
Constant Crisis Mode: There’s rarely a day without urgent issues—be it missing cars, late deliveries, or upset customers. You’re always in "firefighting" mode, leaving little time to breathe or plan.
4. Unfair Treatment
The disparity in workload and recognition is glaring:
Unequal Distribution of Tasks: While some employees are inundated with back-to-back deliveries, others spend their time in meetings or on less demanding tasks.
Lack of Recognition: Hard work often goes unnoticed, and feedback—if given—is more critical than constructive. Promotions are rare and don’t necessarily reflect an employee's effort or contribution.
Pay vs. Workload: The compensation does not match the intensity of the work. For the long hours, stress, and multi-tasking required, the pay feels unjust.
A Glimpse into the Day-to-Day Misery
Imagine being asked to:
Clean a car at the last minute after a long shift.
Deliver a vehicle to a customer across town only to find that they cancel the reservation upon arrival.
Handle a heated argument with a customer who was incorrectly charged, even though it was a system error outside your control.
You’re expected to do all this with a smile while knowing that any mistake will likely result in a reprimand, not support.
The Psychological Toll
The constant stress, lack of appreciation, and unfair treatment can take a serious toll on mental health:
Burnout: Many employees leave after a few months because the environment becomes unbearable.
Low Morale: There’s a pervasive sense of defeat among staff, as efforts rarely lead to meaningful outcomes.
Isolation: The culture discourages speaking up about issues, leaving employees to feel alone in their struggles.
Final Thoughts
This job may look good on paper, but the reality is far from ideal. The toxic culture, unethical practices, overwhelming stress, and unfair treatment make it a workplace to avoid if you value your well-being and career growth.
If you're considering a position here, ask yourself: Is this worth sacrificing your mental health and integrity for?
