Marks & Spencer Benefits FAQ

Pros

All of the staff were really friendly. They welcomed me in and taught me everything I needed to know. The pay was good The staff areas were really clean and they provided free fruit, bread, tea, coffee etc which was a nice touch. It was overall a really positive place to work and I enjoyed my time there!

Cons

As a student, completing exams, I made it clear that I wouldn't be able to work loads of hours. They said they understood this, however every week I was having to talk to my manager about my hours, as they would schedule me in for almost 3 x my contracted hours. It was always a fight to get time off, even for events such as exams.

Advice to Management

Please consider the fact that some of your "fixed term" workers are fixed term for a reason. As students it's really hard to balance work and studies so to be putting us in for full time hours when we need the time for revision/exams is particularly unfair. Aside from this, I really enjoyed my experience there and the management were always pleasant and helpful.

Pros

I have worked in various M&S departments and stores I would say you are always considered a valuable member of staff whichever level you are at and there is always the feeling you are really part of a team. I believe the management within M&S really set the standards when it comes to managing people which improves their organisation culture. They regularly switch up the team dynamics by recruiting temporary staff as well which can improve the culture. Additionally M&S offer a great benefits package with a 20% in-store discount and other perks such as being able to buy expensive holidays or products via monthly instalments off your wage. With considerable experience and hardwork I think it would be pretty easy to advance your career at M&S. Another advantage of working here is the ability to trade your holidays for payment which is good for work-life-balance but also a good incentive if you don't require that and are trying to save. Overall great work environment and best place to gain the correct retail experience, 100% recommend.

Cons

The only cons I would say are some of the old-timers who act like managers but are not.

Advice to Management

Keep doing what you are doing.

Pros

Knowledgeable colleagues, great working environment (london office), good professional development opportunities, generous pension scheme, 20% employee discount

Cons

Top down sign off is clunky and impedes efficient functioning within business unit teams,the business is often slow to implement commercial decisions (not uncommon for a business this size), business cases presented for necessary upgrades and system investment often held back. Learnings from previous periods of trade not wholly taken on board year after year

Advice to Management

Empower staff more, invest in systems/tools to facilitate better handling of the job, localise certain decision making, constant restructure within departments can be negative towards morale

Pros

Great pay, Good benefits, Good colleagues

Cons

I wish there was more on the shop floor training I had to learn a lot of things on the go and on my own.

Pros

Employee discount, pension scheme, benefits and discounts website. Good colleagues

Cons

Increased responsibility and workload, policies not implemented consistently across regions. Difficult to maintain career progression in management following having children

Advice to Management

Be open to looking at women returning from mat leave being able to reduce hours on a case by case basis as currently all management told must return on full time hours. Not sure if this is applied across the business or just a blanket policy on certain regions.