food and beverage assistant

warehouse worker

order picker

delivery driver

kitchen team member

IKEA

On paper IKEA looks like a great place to work. They have invested heavily on presenting themselves to themselves and the world as a great company and employer.

Unfortunately, the jobs are as good as their products. Look great, but don't usually last that long! I worked there for almost 4 years. I still ask myself how and why?

Training: just how many customers find the IKEA instruction booklets: inadequate. You are basically asked to sign that you have read and understood the definition of your role and you're handed over to a recent recruit who has just passed through 'training' themselves. You will be periodically pulled off your duties to run through a computer programme about your role. More concerning is that you are asked to sign that you have read a tome of approximately 400 pages of detailed health and safety 'training' and asked if you have completed it after around 30 minutes because you are needed back on the floor (yes IKEA is always understaffed). Many people do not want to read through all of that so they just sign. But management don't want you to actually read the H&S guidance either as you will discover that you and many of your colleagues are working contrary to the rules. You may notice for e.g. that you should not be working alone in certain situations or that you are entitled to claim for the cost of eye-tests/glasses if your role includes looking at a computer screen - which mine did. When I raised this with my manager, he insisted that I wasn't entitled, despite a colleague who had just received her reimbursement, being present in the room. This is just one e.g. of how if your face-fits, you will get what you are entitled to. If it doesn't you will be faced with lies. This was particularly annoying as before starting at IKEA I didn't need glasses, but within 6 months I did. I never got reimbursed although I was entitled, claiming was such a nightmare - unless your face fitted, when you would get a lot of help from a manager who didn't face doing their immediate tasks. If your face did't fit, they were too busy and would attend to your issue later - i.e. dispose of it.

Promotion: IKEA has lots of programmes to allow you to develop. If you have experience or qualifications from the 'real world', forget about them. IKEA want things done their way. IKEA would rather put an unqualified nodder in to a role than a qualified person who asks questions. They also want people who are willing to forsake their family for the company. You really have to be able to say yes when all the cells in your body are screaming no, and say it with a smile. In my 4 years there I saw lots of good peoples' progress thwarted, and lots of inept people progress. I saw lots of younger co-workers jump at the chance to 'step into the role of team leader' and use the experience to get a better job, with a different company rather than take the internal programme. The fact that lots of capable people chose not to take the 'Step Programme' is very telling. Those I saw 'step-up', often 'fell-off' or had the ladder pulled. Who knows?

The Wonderful Everyday: when I started at IKEA the intake were all brought in on a 16 hour contract, which suited me as I only wanted a part time job. However, what was not made clear at the start was that this would be made up of 4x4 hour shifts. You are expected to arrive at least 10 minutes early - other wise you are 'late'. If you are actually 1 minute late, then you lose 15 minutes pay. When your shift ends, you are expected to stay at your post until your shift ends. For staff who have a 'cash-out' they must pay-in before leaving. So often would leave almost 20 minutes after their shift has ended. But the managers will try to get you out just before the 20 minutes where you would need to be paid over time. So on a flat week you'd be paid 16 hours, but in reality they'd constantly be trying to get 18 hours out of you. This is all part of their plan to run an efficient operation - i.e. not have to pay you for a break and maximise productivity. Team leaders shoulder much of the burden dealing with disgruntled staff, customers and failing equipment. A Wonderful Everyday it is not.  Others who wanted a 24 or 32 hour contract would have to 'apply' and be interviewed for a new contract. New T&Cs would have to be accepted.

Work-life balance: if you are single and want to keep it that way, the work life balance is probably good because although you'll have plenty of spare time, it won't be sociable time as you'll be working 3/4 weekends, many evenings and almost every Bank Holiday. If you have a young family, forget seeing them. You will be working evenings, weekends bank holidays and the school holidays. If you are single parent, you will need a lot of support from friends and family, because it won't come from IKEA. They have childcare for customers, but not staff. Although IKEA's commitment to you is minimal, your commitment to them is intense. Expect to have limited opportunity to apply for holidays (can't apply before X date, can't apply after Y date) which limits your opportunity to plan your life. Some people on older contracts will be allowed to book their holidays before you book yours.

Students: IKEA loves you, you are young, fresh faced and naive. Expect to be given longer days than the older staff but don't think that will give you any leeway when you need time. You will advise your manager that you will need to drop down to your basic hours because you need to revise, but you will be rostered in anyway. Why, because IKEA expects to be busy and needs you.

Older people: IKEA will give you a job, but you will probably not be taken seriously. Your life skills and experience elsewhere will be ignored. 

Management: the structure of IKEA is like this - co-worker, team leader, sub department manager, department manager, store manager. I saw helpless frustration in the faces of people at all levels within the company. Managers are fearful of each other and those biting at their heels. They do not like people who speak out or ask questions. These people will not be promoted as they are marked as trouble causers. Rather, compliant nondescripts who develop narcissistic paranoia climb the ladder. In turn they promote those they feel will be no threat. Occasionally 'experienced' managerial talent is 'recruited' from another firm - usually later to be found out for some misdeed. Rations between management and staff are disjointed due to irregular working patterns. Managers have to manage twice as many staff members due to short shifts/minimal contracts. Nightmare for them and staff.

Freebies: You get an Xmas present. Sometimes these are quite good. I believe most staff either give them on, or sell them on eBay. 
If you are rostered for a shift when the staff canteen is open, you will have some choice over the food you eat. The 'healthy option' is free. But do not think 'healthy' means healthy in terms of your diet. Healthy means 'healthy' for IKEA's budget. In other words, whatever they found at the back of the freezer that cannot be used in the main restaurant before it goes out of date. Still most of the time a free option is available if you are entitled (i.e. on a 6 hour or longer shift). 

Breaks: I found meal breaks to be problematic. The staff canteen was not always serving food for various reasons - often due to staff shortages. In this situation you need to go to the main 'restaurant' and jump the queue and take your pick of the food ahead of the customers - which doesn't go down too well. Especially when you might have to deal with those very same disgruntled customers yourself later on in the store. Ill considered rules thought up by managers who do not have to face the consequences themselves are commonplace at IKEA. Of course it makes sense that a skeleton staff is returned to it's post asap, but it does little for customer relations. 

Customer relations: often antagonistic. See above. The principle of the store is self-service. However, the stores are confusing and the products are heavy. The stores are understaffed. Finding someone to assist is a real effort. Then, when customers arrive at the checkouts, there are long queues. That's when the customer you pushed in front of at the restaurant kicks-off and the team leaders and managers are all hiding in the office or cash-room. The customer is always right is not always the case at IKEA and how certain policies are interpreted changes from day to day depending on which manager is on duty and which way the wind is blowing.

Social Media: Do not link your social media account to your employment at IKEA. People have been sacked because of comments they have made on social media 'for bringing IKEA into disrepute.' The comments may not be about IKEA, but the fact you have your employer as IKEA, or there is a picture of you in IKEA uniform - watch what you say because if someone wants to get rid of you, they will search your social media to find something. Best policy - do not make the link!

Pay - just a bit more than minimum wage.
Breaks - Some paid breaks on certain shifts.
Holidays - a nightmare to book and get during school holidays.

Working at IKEA is very unique and unlike other jobs in the Retail sector. Day-to-day, Co-workers will be doing anything from ensuring that stock is presentable and available, checking stock levels, and assisting customers, to creating new displays, managing deliveries and steering sales. There are lots of resources to allow you to perform well at your job, and extra reading will help you to perform exceptionally in your role and get recognised as future talent.
 
Management within IKEA varies between units and departments. Managers and seniors often progress, both upwards and laterally, and roles change regularly. This means that there are good opportunities for progression, though it also means that some managers may not have the experience necessary to facilitate their roles. Mostly, managers are approachable, and any sales department managers (Shopkeepers) will work on the shop floor. Store-wide duties are rotated between Shopkeepers which means that occasionally they will be less able to support on department as they have other responsibilities to fulfil. Shopkeepers also generally help Co-workers, both day-to-day on the shop floor, and in terms of progression and responsibility. Most managers are receptive to feedback and treat their teams with respect.

There is a good culture within IKEA, and people of all identities and background are celebrated. Special events and awareness days occur for occasions such as International Women's Day, Eid, Easter, Christmas etc. and Co-workers are encouraged to engage in open dialogue to grow themselves personally as well as professionally.

There is a difficult work-life balance, though this is due to the demands of retail and our encouragement for lean working; full-time Co-workers usually work 5 days a week, usually 2 lates each week, working alternate weekends. This might not suit everyone's schedule.

The most enjoyable part of the job is the rewarding feeling and the sense of togetherness. Co-workers generally pull in the same direction and there is a real feeling of achievement. Everyone contributes in different ways, and they all help to create a good experience for customers and colleagues. 

Basically working with a bunch of chavs on checkouts (who've moved up to supervisors) with chavvy attitudes, and if you do have class and are polite and say "hello" they instantly dont like you, they look at you and treat you like you're stupid just for being respectful. 

If it wasn't for the Ikea uniform you'd spot the chavs a mile off. You only learn who they are once you experience their attitude and hear their slang.

Very clique-y. 

Most of the customers look down on you, made it even more hellish. 

You're expected to do security while doing your own checkout tasks - watching customers at a full 360 degrees while working on a till, while the security guards chat and joke around amongst themselves sometimes. (Having said that the security guards were all really lovely and friendly guys - I think they made the job more bearable)

Ikea also want you at work 10min before your shift starts to prepare etc (fair enough), but you only get paid from your stated shift time BUT if you get there exactly 'on time' you're classed as 'late'. AND if you are only 1minute late you DO NOT get paid for 15minutes - FACT!

AND if you're made to work over-time you don't get paid for it - UNLESS you've done more than 20 mins! 

At your induction when its all friendly, fun and games you get told that if you want to move departments and 'try something new you are welcome to do so'... BUT when I tried to apply for another job role in Ikea in a different department my manager sabotaged my application by not sending it off to HR and withholding it in her possession which caused me to miss the vacancy deadline only to question me about it in a meeting as if I did something wrong. She said I couldn't leave because the checkout department was too busy - she also said because I was one of the most productive cashiers. So the moral i guess is - if you work at Ikea and want to move departments - work as slow as you can and DO NOT work your hardest - your department won't appreciate it and they WILLL NOT let you go unless you hand in your notice and leave the company altogether - which is what I did.

Worst job ever and the most depressing 18 months I've ever experienced. 

The salary was good but not worth the stress.

I love Ikea PRODUCTS but a terrible place to work.

You know even writing this view gives me a tinge of sadness for what I initially thought was a fantastic company to work for. Sadly over time it has just become worse and worse and hasn't been helped by the company policy specifically facilitating people making nefarious claims about others just to get them in trouble. I will be planning on finding a new Job soon

some of the issues revolve around what you're responsible for on a day to day basis, now I like a challenge and the ability to learn things but as a res specialist (internal role) my opinion is that we were sorely underpaid for our responsibilities. Our pay (salaried) broken down works out at approximately £12.30 an hour and we're responsible for coaching, training new starters, delivering onboarding, managing the information system used as reference for generalists on calls. So to summarise we are the equivilant of 

1. training and development specialists
2. team leaders
3. customer experience specialists

all rolled into one and for the princely sum of 30p more an hour than the basic adviser, or 1 hour overtime for them to earn more than us to put it another way. 

The management is hit and miss, its really a coin flip as to whether you'll like them. Personally i've had one really good manager and a few mediocre ones due to promotions internally. 

The worst of the worst however has come from the workplace culture, which has slowly degenerated from what was a pretty cohesive unit to a backstabbing mess of degeneracy, double standards galore and consistent micromanagement. Basically if your face fits you'll be fine. Personally  I was probably asking too many questions and have a bit of reputation. I think they've been after getting rid of me for a few years and finally found the excuse to be the straw that breaks the camels back. Snitches everywhere and fundamentally you cannot trust ANYONE.

If you do plan on working here keep yourself to yourself, do your job come and out un-noticed and you'll be fine. Annoy the wrong people and you may as well hand in your p45 


What is the best part of working at the company?
Not much apart from the very low pay

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The managers are never around,some coworkers are untrustworthy, you have to be careful what you say,do,act,even have a laugh and a joke with good coworkers. The amount of work you do shifting tons of weight and steps around the warehouse is paid very poorly for. The breaks are not long enough for work done. No  help. The way they try and scare you and push you into getting getting work done otherwise you are kept under scrutiny,warnings,scaremongering no encouragement,no acknowledgement for your hard work,no motivation. The managers & supervisors are worried about is hitting their targets. There's not much decency,good communication skills with coworkers,push/bully everyone who is so worried about keeping their job,work so hard physically then beat down mentally unless you are strong character,not much chance. Environment is poor. You can't be a good coworker. They put you on warnings for talking to each other,pressure for constant physical turnover and its heavy duty physical work,not much repertoire amongst managers and coworkers,ask anyone there who works on the floor especially in truck.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
If you find good coworkers and friends that's good but a lot of people feel like it's their job to tell on people and feel.like they own the company and never tell you anything to your face but will go tell supervisors and managers. The environment is very sensitive.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Stressful and trying to get your list or work done is pressure. Customers can be very rude even with lots of help. Support and help is very low. Having good coworkers is the only way to get through and doing the hard physical labour without a break everyday will wear anyone down. To the point of lots of injuries.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Adversity brings people together. Our team certainly faced adversity and it bonded many of us mainly because we had to rely on each other to get the job done.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Everything that wasn't our team. We were managed by people who didn't understand role we were employed for and enforces S.O.P like law. They also changed the operation with out consulting anyone who had greater experience despite having people on the team with over a decade in both logistics and within the store.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Poor, at least on night shift; Ikea flatters to deceive. They will tell you a great deal about their culture and compassion and it means nothing. They operate a 3 strike policy for time off regardless of the duration, so i would avoid getting sick or injures while employed with them. Though day shift got a rotating menu, night shift wasnt even provided with food beyond a vending machine. They continually expect more from you while reducing the things you need to do the job. They plaster over all the faults in their management with fake smiles and enails about utter nonesense from self important people paid more than those who keep the place running I.E line managers down.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
We would start clearing a loading bay that is too small for the work expected and is filled by overstocked products because of poor stock evaluation and ordering policies. We were then relied upon to decide which of the products on our list of stock to be picked on the truck, is actually needed on the floor. This is because of the poor stock monitoring/evaluation and should not be the responsibility of the fork lift drivers who are not paid for the duty. We would also be blamed if the item we deemed un needed was 'oversold' despite it being a problem which began much higher up the ladder.

I worked at my store for 4 years whilst I completed my studies. I initially enjoyed the job, however after a change in management and in the store's steering team the job became unbearable.

The store manager or sales manager walk the store several times a day. If were not visible on your department, you'd receieve a phone call to ask where you were and why you had left your area. I found this particularly annoying, as there were never enough staff to get cover if you needed to leave your department for any reason (for a break, to go to the toilet, even to go take a product to a customer at checkouts if you'd been asked to do so).

You will need to be fit to work to the standards they expect of you, especially when you will need to walk to other parts of the store to complete your tasks and to recover the department on an evening shift. You also won't have much help if you are asked to rearrange heavy pallets of stock or to move products around. 

The hardest part of the job is the weekends and dealing with the customers who come in. The majority of customers are rude to you, and are often upset that they can't find their way out. You need to be a patient person and comfortable with giving directions at least 50 times per shift. The customers are messy and you will spend most of your shift cleaning up after them. It was not surprising to find discarded food and drink on a busy day. One customer had a poo in the middle of a department, so you need to have a strong stomach. 

Your experience will depend on the quality of your management and the type of coworkers you work alongside, as well as the department you are given. If you aren't micromanaged, and don't have catty co-workers, perhaps the subsidised food while on shift and the 15% discount will be worth it to you. They are also a living wage employer.

All in all, you will never be able to plan much in advance, as the rota changes every week, and you only get 1 weekend off out of 4. It's not terrible as retail work goes, but there are much better jobs out there.

Some benefits at IKEA are great such as some food being free, christmas gift was nice to receive and also get easter eggs etc. Job itself if pretty boring and repetitive and customers ask you rubbish half of the time you won’t know what they are on about. However I feel there’s more downsides to it, at the start of your interview and induction they will make it seem so amazing that you feel agreeing to the job is the best thing ever, i’ll start of with the hours you’re contracted to do, be prepared to do more hours than you’re scheduled to do just because it’s half term or busy without being asked so therefore any plans have to be cancelled. 

But to be honestly my main problem with IKEA that I have complained about and still no action has been taken place is actually with my fellow colleagues and managers. Literally no one will even lift their head to smile at you from other departments, the older staff are unbelievably rude to the younger staff members maybe they are jealous they still have there whole life ahead of them to consider a career whilst they are stuck at IKEA? idk. Managers and colleagues will talk about you behind your back, but make up lies to get you in trouble, for example i got accused of being on my phone when i wasn’t and got in trouble. Oh but it’s okay for the managers to be on their phone though, it’s just double standards within ikea and it’s frustrating that managers are allowed on their phone and allowed to go on break together and stand in a group talking, but when we do it they react as if i told them i murdered my family. So yeah not allowed to talk or be seen within a 2 foot radius of another colleague, if management was better ikea would be a better place to work, they preach about treating everyone equally which is a load of rubbish as i have mentioned earlier as managers are hypocrites 

I have been with IKEA since i was 16 years of Age and since the Southampton store has been opened. I had never been to an IKEA in my life before i worked here so this excited me. I was ready fro the challenge and a challenge i got. It was busy, friendly, fun, exhilarating, electric everything it was basically overwhelming.

I started off in Checkouts and stayed here for a little over 3 years the only problem with C/O's is you tend to do the same thing day in day out and i could not deal with this so i went into Sales and i have not looked back.

I am currently in Sales in IKEA after realizing that being in a bigger team that it would be hard to get further up the management ladder.

IKEA has taught me never back off from a challenge, strive to achieve reality, be an individual, step up take responsibility and if you have an idea that you think could work, approach management they always listen and give professional feedback.

The hardest part of the job has to be the brick walls that you constantly hit in regards to stock levels. There are loads more but i love the company and would not want to damage its reputation.

The most enjoyable part of my job is that of my fellow co-workers. We are essentially one big family, we may not all agree but at the end of the day if one of us is in trouble you can bet you have an army to back you to the hill and back.

The co-workers are for me are possibly one of the only reasons i still work there, without them and the support they give you i would not have lasted this long. When its busy and you have not sat down for 6 hours because you keep getting called away it will take one co-worker to just smile and say hello and you realize that your all in the same boat

Working at IKEA for 2 years, I have learnt so many skills and experience so much they will remain with me for a very long time.

A typical day would involved me designing a few kitchens and really getting to know my customer and their needs. Depending on how long is left, I may tidy another department or cover one. Or standing on our quick sale desk, where I organise who will design a customers kitchen, book appointments, answer questions or place an order.

I have learnt a huge amount since working here, but the main would be how to designer a kitchen. From previous jobs selling the items has not been an issue, but learning the products is key. So by learning what kitchen units are and what can go inside etc, has been a big part. Similarly about different appliances.

The management team are fantastic to work for, give great advise and help your needs (May that be a certain day off or dealing with a customer question I may not know the answer too)

A lot of the co-workers are great people, but can lack that drive forward. together we can create great things and have done many of times. The team does lack some form of spirit, but at times when it is strong. We work together to meet all needs.

The hardest part of the job is designing or selling a kitchen to someone who has a set idea and are stuck with it. Trying to convince them that yes, there idea is great, but also giving them advise on how it can be expanded or changed to suit their needs in a greater way. Sometimes the customer doesn't realise this and goes for the look, rather than the practicality.

Besides the food, the most enjoyable part is seeing how happy the customer and management team are when both needs are met. You meet some fantastic people In this job role.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Food and beverage assistant 46 salaries reported	£13.47 per hour
Warehouse worker 18 salaries reported	£13.45 per hour
Order picker 32 salaries reported	£13.82 per hour
Delivery driver 30 salaries reported	£30,290 per year
Kitchen team member 4 salaries reported	£27,541 per year

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