store manager

software engineer

senior software engineer

retail sales associate

supervisor

Holland & Barrett

This company is unbelievable in it's treatment of its employees.  There is blatant wage theft going on.  The company has so many daily/weekly and monthly tasks and not enough staff to complete them, it falls on the management team to ensure it's done outside of hours, and outwith the hours that they are paid for.

If you decide that your not going to do the tasks (and quite rightly so, because unpaid labour in the uk is illegal), due to not having enough staff or time to do it in, you will be met with a disciplinary for not doing the task. When you discuss this with ASM you will be told that you have poor time management, which is just really insulting to the manager's who have been in retail for decades and who have been successfully managing stores for other companies.

There have been a few reviews on here about attitudes of store management and how they are very poor.  You may find in some cases that the managers are really stressed and continually under-pressure.  They are just human.  In other cases you will find that other managers have been with the company for such a long time, that they don't know any different and they are following the company culture. It's actually quite frightening to think that companies still run this way. Basic tasks such as cleaning and replenishment are not being done.  Yes one of the most basic principles of retail, putting the stock out for the customer to buy, is not being done. Cleaning as well, considering you are dealing with food, makes you feel a bit nauseous. 

Commission is a joke.  it is based on getting a certain number of Customer Survey's returned.  If you don't hit the target, you don't get commission. Most retailers are doing these customer surveys, but I bet most don't base the staff wages on the results.  If customer's don't do these survey's you ain't getting commission.  Not only are you expected by this company to get tasks done, with no staff, you are now expected to control the actions of a customer in the privacy of their own home. We get memos 1 week before the end of the commission period stating that 2/3rds of the company DO  NOT have the required amount of surveys to get commission, then a few days before the end of the period, we now find that 95% of the company DO have the required amount of surveys.  Yep it makes you wonder how these stores managed to get these in such a short space of time?  Holland and Barrett prides themselves on being near the top of the uk retailers customer satisfication table.  They are deluding themselves and their competitors into thinking this is what customers actually think about H&B.  

The hourly rate is average for most retailers.  You get an increase and bonuses once you've passed your exams, over 3 levels.  If you don't pass your exams your commission is placed on hold until you do. The manager salary is less than average, you can top your earning up with commission (if you get any), but overall for the amount of stress you get, money in no way compensates for it. There are alot of retailers out there who pay more for less work. 

Expect your training to be done entirely at home.  So if you are a manager expect to work well over your contracted hours on a weekly basis ( and not just the usual getting in to set the store up and leaving a bit later to cash up), this is regular 5+ hours overtime, unpaid and no lieu time.  Ontop of this you have to study at  home.  So if you have no kids and no responsibilities and want to dedicate at least a year of your life to this company, by all means sign up, they've always got lots of positions open. 

This takes me on to vacancies.  You will find H&B advertising for alot of staff.  This is due to staff unwilling to put up with all of the above nonsense.  Also the company started their staff through a 45 day consultation period.  Consultation periods like this are done when there are possible redundancies. The company will wax lyrical about the fantastic investment they are putting into giving extra hours to the stores.  It's like this all stores have been given new deployments and extra hours, however some hourly contracts are being removed from the stores.  So if, for example you are a college/uni/have kids and can currently only work certain days because of these obligations, and you cannot work to the new deployment, you are being left in limbo until what is decided about your future with the company.  The company will possibly be not be adjusting the deployment for their long-serving loyal staff.  You really cannot make this stuff up.  They struggle to get staff to work for them, the stores are continually understaffed, and the staff that do want to work for them are could be shown the door. 

The staff do lone working, this happens alot.  Even with these new deployments, staff will still be lone working, up to 5 hours a day.  The extra hours are there for the more staff per customer and not about staff safety, infact some stores will be lone working more, with these new hours, rather than less. 

So basically this company is making a profit by not paying staff and rocketing prices. Health and Safety is non-existent, you will get your basic Health and Safety training when you start, and nothing after that.  It's hard to believe your safety is thought of when the Health and Safety Manual is over 10 years old and is still signed by the previous chief executive.  Welcome to life at H&B.

Holland and Barrett is a nice part-time job to have while at university. I would not see myself within the company if I were not working part-time, as it is extremely unsustainable. There is no chance for overtime in your store if it had full staff, but they will always ask you to travel to other stores that may be far away for overtime instead - this would not be a problem if they paid you for the time commuted, although they do reimburse your travel expenses. The pay isn't bad, with it being £11.05 for a store colleague; you may see differently elsewhere as store colleagues used to get more for completing specialised training, but this has been revoked, so you can only get a maximum of £11.05 as a store colleague which isn't bad at all in my opinion. Also, you're required to give four weeks' notice, even if you are just part-time, which is kind of crazy.

Although the pay is decent enough, you are given a LOT of responsibility and must retain a lot of information. There is an abundance of key performance indicators you must achieve, or you may be put on a warning; this means you have to ask every customer, even those in a rush, if they would like to sign up for an RFL card and also push a till line. 

If you are prone to illness, I would not recommend working at Holland and Barrett as they have a policy where if you call in sick three times within a six-month period, you get put on probation. As someone with a compromised immune system, I have been put on warning a number of times (this is even with sick notes from a doctor). This feels very patronising at times and may even result in you not wanting to call in sick for fear that you may be sicker in the near future and have wasted your only sick days on a stomach bug or something similar. I understand why this system is in place, as some people may call in sick too frequently if not, but as a company that is all about health and wellness, it feels like they sometimes fail to support their colleague's wellness. 

You don't really get any close relationships with colleagues at Holland and Barrett from my experience within my own store and what others have told me about their stores. Furthermore, the managers tend to be out of touch with the employees; for example, for our Christmas work-do this year, we were asked to put £50 towards it ourselves, which I wouldn't have minded if we were having a meal, but this was simply for a buffet, which as a student is absolutely ridiculous haha. Due to this, a lot of staff at my store were unable to attend, which isn't the end of the world, but it does mean we lack the opportunity to gain rapport with colleagues and managers. 

This isn't a big deal for me, but for some people, it may be worth noting there aren't any major benefits to working at Holland and Barrett. You may wonder what I mean by this. I am specifically talking about discounts and bonuses when I discuss the benefits of the company. While there is a 25% colleague discount, this is not much more than what students get, which is 20%; as most of the items within the store are quite pricey, this does not really benefit any purchase too greatly. On public holidays, there is no increase in payment, and you may even be asked to work Christmas Eve, as I am this year. This once again does not bother me, but I know that this may be a big deal to some; at previous jobs, I have received double pay on public holidays, and it feels a bit lacklustre that Holland and Barrett do not provide the same. Furthermore, there is no bonus or commission offered to colleagues, even if they reach all their targets. For a company that puts so much emphasis on reaching key performance indicators, you would kind of hope there would be some benefit to performing well in your job, but alas.

Now, the good part about the job is definitely some of the customers. Some days, you will get some amazing customers, and it's super fulfilling when you're able to meet all their needs and health goals! Even if this is something minor like giving them a skincare suggestion and having a good conversation, although your manager may roll your eyes if you only sell them one product instead of three (which is the expected amount), it can be really nice to provide a customer with a product that meets their needs and falls nicely within their budget. 

I once again have to reiterate that it isn't a horrible job, and there are definitely far worse jobs out there; it's just that sometimes the work environment itself can be particularly draining with the incessant push to drive large sales rather than meet the requirements of the customer. I know these may be very minor inconveniences, but I just thought they were worth noting for some people. 

Basically, I wouldn't see it as a career, but more just as a part-time job until something better comes along, or whilst you're at university! Anyway, happy job hunting and good luck! :)

Where do I even start? Interview process was easy and everything seemed fine. I was 16 when I began here in 2012. A lot has likely changed since then, but my treatment there was so awful I would never give it a second chance.
The assistant manager at the time was the nicest woman I've ever met, would always care about the workers, if you had a personal problem she would do everything she could to help. When she left, it went downhill. 
With no assistant manager for a year, everything fell on the manager himself, who is the worst manager I have ever worked for. Rude, narcissistic and treats employees like dirt.  Due to being in college, I was contracted and could only work weekends. I was constantly hassled by the manager to work shifts during the week, something I couldn't do when I was at school at the time. If I didnt  he would make horrific comments to other staff about how 'useless' I was. Constantly put me on the tills, wouldn't let me do any other work and if we were busy he would stand around doing nothing but shouting at staff in front of customers because of how many customers were waiting. No one could have a break before him and he would award himself breaks that were over 2 hours long so he could go to the gym. Some staff ended up never having breaks because their shifts ended before he returned. He treated older staff nice, but the younger staff he treated like they meant nothing. I had constant comments from customers about how rude he was. He reduced me to tears on numerous occasions, as well as a 21 year old lad who was great at his job. Whilst at work one weekend, my parents came in to give me news that my grandad had unfortunately passed away. Instead of sympathy the manager responded with 'well hes only your grandad, you're not going home'. I was devastated, so went to the doctors and got 2 weeks off sick so I could actually grieve my loss and attend his funeral, something my manager refused to give me the day off for. Staff rarely spoke to each other, always keeping their mouths shut as they were too terrified to talk around him. I ended up getting aces involved and had a meeting with the area manager and my manager, who sat there smirking at me the whole time I declared I was 'just a typical young teenager who doesnt know how the working lifestyle is'. I eventually left but it didnt stop there.  When I got a new job I had to make sure the manager sent off my reference before handing in my notice, due to not being able to start my new job until the beginning of each month due to their training dates  the manager told me he sent my reference so I handed in my notice. A week before my notice ended I found out from my new employer that the manager had not sent it off. They had to constantly hassle him for it, resulting in my notice ending and not being able to start my new job until 2 months later. I had phone Bill's and moped payments to make which my parents had to form out in the 2 months I had no income.  No chance for making anything od yourself there and pay was dismal. 

The only fun thing about it was the training. Every 6 months or year I had to go to cambridge for training. Train fare, lunch and time there was all paid for. The training was actually enjoyable and I loved having the break away from the shop, and the hour lunch break to explore shopping in cambridge. 

Overall, the most awful store to work for. Commission was a bonus as I did not expect it from somewhere like that but it wasnt a lot. Only got commission on certain products and always had to make sure you recommended own brands as commission was higher on them. Commission was decided equally between staff depending on how many products were sold, unfair for those who sold more than others but gave people like me, who never had the chance to come off the till, to get a little extra cash. I was very happy to find out that the manager no longer works there.

PRESSURISED ENVIRONMENT

I was expected to pass a number of tests within strict time limits. As there wasn't enough time to do the workbooks during the working day because staffing was so poor, I spent a huge amount of my own time after work and on days off doing the work. Bear in mind, this is all for bog standard minimum wage. There was a huge amount of pressure on all of the staff to pass these tests or face getting booted.

I was a supervisor and did a test called an RMP which qualifies you to open/close and run the store. Holland and Barrett are all about "progression", so what you may initially think is a 16 hour a week job, soon becomes you being pressured to take a management course and so forth. Great for some, but not for all.   

LONE WORKING

"Hello, I'm looking for this product."
"I've checked on the system and it says we have one in stock. As it's not on the shelf, it must be in the stockroom."
"Excellent, can I have it please?"
"I'm afraid as I'm the only member of staff, I can't leave the shop floor to go and get that product, so you'll need to come back when my associate starts their shift."
Expect to have to apologise for something you know doesn't make any sense and it's your fault. Utter nightmare. 

UNPAID HOURS

During a full time day (of which I did at least three a week), I was paid between 08:45 and 18:00. I was expected to start work at 08:00 and often didn't finish until well after 19:00. (Even later if the Area Manager was coming to visit the following day or if there was promotion change.) That works out roughly 2 hours unpaid per day. Multiply that by weeks and then months. You get the drift. 

Certain tasks could only be completed after the shop was closed, such as the tills being counted and the safe being checked. The floor needed swept and mopped every night. Because I was invariably lone working for the last hour or two before the shop closed, I couldn't leave to go to the kitchen and boil the kettle and make up the water to do the mopping. So, I'd have to wait until close of business and do it unpaid.  

I wasn't salaried, I was paid an hourly rate and I never got any time back. I was contracted 30 hours a week. On an average week,  I worked between 40 and 45 hours a week and I was paid for 37 of them. 

It was also common practise for my manager to cut hours that staff had worked. Say the manager had been given 80 hours for that week and at the end of the week, they'd used 83. Staff would lose an hour here, a half hour there to pull it back down to 80 hours. (The father of one of my colleagues was an Area Manager in another part of the country and told us to beware of this practise.)

My manager would sent off our hours to the Area Manager, who would revise them before they were sent to payroll. If I tried to put the correct hours in that I'd worked, the Area Manager would simply change them and I'd never get paid for all the extra hours I'd put in. 

During my time in Holland and Barrett's employment, we set up and opened a new shop. Several of us were working 12 - 14 hours and getting a couple of 20 minute breaks per day. We were being paid as though we were working an 8 hour day and getting an hour long lunch. 

COMMISSION

I was pulled in by being told all this extra money I'd earn just by selling products that I'd be selling anyway. I worked there for 5 months and never once received the proper commission rate. I chased it up with my manager and the Area Manager and heard from numerous other members of staff at various other stores that this was standard. I left before it was ever resolved, so never got the money I was entitled to.

These are just a few points as to why they were such an awful company to work for, and I could add many, many more. They are constantly hiring, and most staff leave within 3 months of being employed. Within the weeks before and after I left, I knew of 5 other staff at my own and different stores who left the company. Doesn't that say it all?

It's very clear that all the positive reviews are obviously manufactured from Head Office/Area Managers/Regional Managers.

I suggest to Holland & Barrett some Management Tips from Roman Slave Owners.

'The Romans understood the household as the basis of their society, and well-functioning households needed slaves. And just like employees at corporations, slaves responded better to reasonably good treatment and opportunities to improve their standing in the house than they did to abject beatings'

I worked at Holland & Barrett Retail  'Paid' Part-Time 28 hours for a 'Unpaid' Full-Time job  (for nearly 2 years )

At one stage I was alone covering the manager who left the company, with no staff or help from area manager (I had been there a few months with very poor training) to run a store by myself for 10 weeks. I surprisingly did very well and the store did brilliantly and people noticed! I was best in the region in all the sales tables for the 10 weeks and mentioned CEO monthly blog. I was very proud of what I achieved. 

I kept asking for Manager positions all over the region without any luck. My Area Manager really didn't like me is the blunt of it. I was fully capable and with all my experience plus my passion for people. I felt very dissatisfied.



Pros:
Some of the staff are lovely.

Cons:	
Managers take home just over £1000 a month. A Supervisor about £650. I don't think this justifies the vast amounts unpaid overtime and the considerable amount of Learning and Training outside of work time that needs to be done.
Constant targets to be met (they try and pretend that the 'services' we provide are for the benefit of our customers and we are doing a disservice if not offering 5 items for each condition from a different parts of the store (for higher mystery results) 
They expect you to meet these targets working under busy, stressful conditions (short staffed 99% of the time because they refuse to give us anymore hours unless you want to work for free

Working over time and not getting paid.
Work by yourself for long periods of time without breaks.
Working in other stores and not getting paid.
Helping open new stores and refits and not getting paid.
If you don't like it leave attitude from Area Managers and some Managers.


Poor pay (I've worked here for 2 years on minimum wage, attempting to do my courses but my store is so busy I don't even get 5 minutes to look at it.. I've done everything I can at home out of work hours but I need the help of the manager or need reference from something in store. I'd be better off working in Tesco on the checkout but I like the job (only because of my colleagues and customers) and didn't want to leave.. I was torn between job satisfaction and being able to live comfortably!)

I could rant on for hours about the cons..

I left the company after I got bullied out by my Area Manager.

I didn't get my lasts months pay.
It took me over 3 months to be paid after 5 letters and dozens of phone calls to head office. always saying they are in meetings and we'll call you back but they never do. or they would say they are investigating it.
I got ACAS involved and got paid eventually but I honestly think they had no intention of paying me if I didn't get ACAS involved.

I am still owed traveling expenses which I have to speak to a ACAS about. £30


Advice to Human Beings who are thinking about joining:
Challenging means its hard work, but enjoyable. There is nothing enjoyable working there.

Advice to Management:
Take a running jump.

MANAGEMENT
Ignorant, bossy and know-it-all behaviour. It didn't feel like working in a nice environment or feeling like a big family.

WORKING HOURS
As Supervisor, I was almost forced into over 50 hours a week by the manager as this was 'expected from a Supervisor', while all other employees were kept Part Time, apparently because 'too many people are leaving too often and this is risky for the company'.

WORKLOAD
On delivery days, the store was messy, not up to health and safety standards, and we were forced moving heavy boxes upstairs and downstairs sweating like crazy. 
All while asked to reach certain sale targets daily (if not met, we could risk our jobs). Not to mention how the manager would make us work with and delivery, while he was standing on the till taking sales under his name. 

FACILITIES DEPARTMENT
Fridge temperatures were wrong as thermometers and fridge were constantly broken. These issues were reported to the facility department, who always ignored us.
We also constantly reported other issues, from staff broken toilets, store shelves broken, top cupboards broken and falling down (which endangered customers and us while working). So the store was kept a hazard environment. 

TECHNOLOGY
Slow, messy and not up to date technology. Several times, there were issues for the system used at the till as it wouldn't work, connect to internet, turn on, load etc.. Many times we had to work writing down customer details or product purchased, or had to stay 1 hour longer after work (UNPAID clearly) to wait for updates on PCs or to allow IT team from the central office to connect to the computers and fix the issues. I got never paid for those every extra hours.

SECURITY
We had constant people stealing from our store - nothing was done about it as nobody cared. I got assaulted once, and got the police involved too. Did the store or area manager come to me to make sure I was fine? Not at all. Instead, the manager was annoyed that I got interviewed by the police about this and that I spent 1 hour making them see CCTVs record. Apparently, money were so important that staff safety didn't matter.

MEMBERSHIPs
Company obsessed by membership cards registrations. Apparently, this was on of the KPIs. You either register a specific amount of customer daily, or you risk the job. All while customers were pushed away and not coming back as we were forced into obsessively proposing membership card registrations, sale after sale, even when customers were clearly not happy or interested about it.

ALL ABOUT HEALTH
Half of the products sold are NOT scientifically demonstrated to be beneficial. However, as by the law they're not dangerous within a certain amount of intake, the 'advise' Customer became more a job of 'let's see how many we can fool today'. We were also trained to push sales and chain-link certain products advising that 'one doesn't work without the other' which is basically lying. 

TRAINING
Product training wasn't about understanding how things work for real, but instead was all about being able to tell people big words and memorised lines, so we all look knowledgeable.
Retail training instead, like till, money handling, health and safety etc.. was non existent.

PEOPLE
Some people I've met have left a nice memory in my heart, people with a big heart and kindness, really willing to help others, and sadly fooled to believe that this company cares about people health. 
Many other people instead were just as awful as the company, especially my last manager, ignorant, bossy and selfish. These were eventually the people who made it ahead through the years, becoming managers. So the Company generally has ignorant, selfish, mean stupid management teams, and kind sales assistants. There are exceptions obviously, But if you have a heart, stay away from this company.

Working in retail can be a dynamic and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here's a review that covers both the positive aspects and challenges of working in a retail environment:

**Title: A Dynamic Retail Experience**

**Positive Aspects:**

1. **Customer Interaction:** Working in retail provides ample opportunities for customer interaction. Engaging with diverse customers on a daily basis hones interpersonal skills and fosters a customer-focused mindset.

2. **Team Collaboration:** The collaborative nature of retail encourages teamwork. Coordinating with colleagues to meet sales targets, handle busy periods, and resolve customer issues fosters a sense of camaraderie.

3. **Product Knowledge:** Retail employees often develop a deep understanding of the products they sell. This not only enhances job satisfaction but also equips employees with valuable knowledge for potential career advancement.

4. **Adaptability:** Retail environments are fast-paced and ever-changing. Employees learn to adapt quickly to new products, promotions, and customer demands, enhancing their adaptability and problem-solving skills.

5. **Opportunities for Growth:** Many retail positions offer opportunities for advancement. Employees who show dedication and strong performance may have the chance to move up the career ladder within the company.

**Challenges:**

1. **Peak Hours and Weekends:** Retail often involves working during peak shopping hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. This schedule can be challenging for maintaining work-life balance.

2. **Customer Service Challenges:** Dealing with difficult customers or resolving customer complaints can be emotionally taxing. Retail employees must develop resilience and effective conflict resolution skills.

3. **Workload During Sales and Promotions:** Sales events and promotions can lead to increased workloads and high-pressure situations. Employees need to manage stress and perform efficiently during these busy periods.

4. **Physical Demands:** Retail jobs may require standing for extended periods, lifting heavy items, and handling various physical tasks. This can be physically demanding and may lead to fatigue.

5. **Wage Pressures:** In some cases, retail positions may have lower starting wages. Balancing the financial aspect can be a challenge, and employees may seek additional income or benefits.

**Overall Impression:**

Working in retail is a dynamic experience that fosters personal and professional growth. The positive aspects, such as customer interaction and team collaboration, contribute to a vibrant work environment. However, it's important to acknowledge the challenges, including demanding schedules and customer service pressures. Overall, a career in retail can be fulfilling for those who enjoy a fast-paced, customer-centric, and adaptable work environment.

I began in a small store as an associate. There were enough staff members, good targets, just a few KPIs and focus was on customer care not selling unnecessary products. Over the 8 years I was with H&B I progressed through the company. The training when I began was reasonable, adaptive to learning styles, considerate of learning disabilities and reflected in the pay. Now it's restrictive to one particular learning style, colleagues are rushed through and pay is not competitive and suitable for the level of training expected. Stores are not given adequate resources, there are stores with no common areas or facilities for the disabled, places with just a sink in the stockroom with a cupboard and this is designated the staff room/kitchen, no tables or chairs for lunch breaks. There were expensive changes with new back office systems and hand held scanners (both of which were implemented too soon and took months before they functioned properly) and yet stores were suffering a recruitment freeze (staying understaffed), told they couldn't cover staff holiday/sickness and told they couldn't even order toilet paper to save money. During my time as a manager I was strict with rotas and adhering to hours allowance, yet staff had incorrect pay and I had to chase this up with payroll and it would take weeks sometimes months to correct the error. Staff safety and well-being is not considered at Holland & Barrett. Staff are expected to lone trade, this will sometimes be all day in a busy high street stores. On our area, managers/assistant managers were working 8-12 days straight, many of those days lone-trading as there were too few staff per store and too few staff on the area to get the necessary cover. When reporting the stress and exhaustion to their area managers and employee support desk they were given no additional support. Head office departments, particularly payroll and merchandising, frequently made mistakes that stores were expected to rectify, such as incomplete or incorrect promotion kits, incorrect shelf plans and staff paid too little or missing supplements and bonuses. These departments never apologised for the mistakes and it was always the stores staff who had to fix these errors despite this being their responsibility and what they are actually paid for. For a company with health and well-being as one of it's values it doesn't extend that to it's staff. To anyone thinking of applying you will be rushed through training, made to lone trade, be underpaid, be underappreciated, be unsupported and have to deal with the company's incompetence and disregard for it's retail staff.

A typical day at Holland and Barrett involves restocking the shelves, tidying the store and helping customers find products suitable to their needs.
Advising customers requires a great deal of specialised knowledge which is gained through massive amounts of training. The training can be divided into two parts: Workbooks which must be taken home and completed in your own time, you are not paid for these workbooks. The other part is training updates, these come down from head office every few weeks and must also be completed in your own time, except you cannot take these home so expect to be working on them through your lunch break.
Considering that the job requires such huge amounts of knowledge and training, it is very low pay with store associates earning minimum wage until they are more qualified, which earns you a pay rise of 17p per hour. Associates also earn 1% commission on all sales, this may sound like a lot but that 1% is then divided between all members of staff working that day. The commission is also dependant on customer service reviews provided by customers. If the store's total review score is lower than 50% then you will not earn any commission, and if it is lower than 70% you will only earn half of your commission.
You will also be required to travel across the country to attend three training courses. These training courses are paid, travel will be paid back and a £4 lunch allowance is given.
Management is often very poor. Managers have very little idea on how to communicate with their staff. Expect your shifts to be changed with no notice, and to be called in on your days off. Do not expect to be allowed to have a life outside of Holland and Barrett.
Management will also treat you as though you are less than human.
There have also been numerous problems with pay day, often you will find that money is missing from your pay slip because they have not added up all of the hours that you have worked correctly, or forgotten to pay your holiday time.
The store associates are generally fantastic, colleagues are very friendly and welcoming.
The hardest part of the job is either dealing with difficult customers, of which there are many, trying to stop shoplifters, or meeting the unrealistic demands of staff at head office.
Customers also seem to have great difficulty understanding the promotions in store and will often try and argue with you that the items they want should be discounted for them.
The job has some upsides, regular customers are likely to be friendly with you.
For the most part, working for Holland and Barrett has been a soul crushing experience which I would not recommend to anybody.

A typical day at H&B Hailing involved handling a steady stream of customers, ensuring timely and efficient service, and maintaining high safety and quality standards. The work was often fast-paced, requiring attention to detail and strong communication skills. Depending on the role, tasks could range from coordinating logistics to interacting with clients and resolving any service-related issues.

What I Learned

During my time at H&B Hailing, I developed a strong understanding of time management and customer service. I learned how to handle high-pressure situations, communicate effectively with both customers and team members, and adapt to last-minute changes. Additionally, I gained insight into the operational side of the hailing industry, from dispatch coordination to compliance with company policies.

Management

Management was generally supportive and provided clear expectations. While some supervisors were highly engaged and willing to offer guidance, others were more hands-off, which sometimes led to inconsistencies in communication. Feedback was provided when necessary, but a more structured approach to employee development could improve the overall experience.

Workplace Culture

The workplace culture at H&B Hailing was dynamic and team-oriented. Colleagues were often supportive and willing to assist when needed. However, due to the demanding nature of the job, stress levels could sometimes be high. A stronger emphasis on work-life balance and employee well-being would be beneficial.

The Hardest Part of the Job

The most challenging aspect of the job was dealing with unpredictable situations, such as last-minute scheduling changes, difficult customers, or technical issues. The fast-paced environment required quick thinking and problem-solving skills. Long hours and occasional back-to-back shifts also made maintaining a work-life balance difficult at times.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job

The most enjoyable part of working at H&B Hailing was the camaraderie among colleagues and the satisfaction of providing excellent service. Successfully resolving customer concerns and meeting daily targets provided a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, the experience gained in customer service and logistics was invaluable for future career opportunities.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

H&B Hailing provided a valuable learning experience and a fast-paced work environment. While there were challenges, such as inconsistent management and demanding work hours, the teamwork and skill development made it a worthwhile experience. With improvements in communication and employee support, it could be an even better place to work.

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