Review - Anonymous employee Party Ingredients Employee Review

We have a great team that works together well. There is a can do attitude towards the events we cater for, allowing for creative freedom and a positive mentality. Good pay for the catering industry Genuine chance for progression and opportunities for learning and personal development Free lunches every day A 'genuine' approach to event catering, aiming to provide the best event possible at the budget agreed with the client - I've worked for dishonest catering companies previously and this is much more satisfying A company target based bonus, which is not just based on sales but on overall performance in each department, therefore everyone can contribute. An hour for lunch! Time in lieu if you work on a weekend - which is actually given to you Very hands on approach to events - which I like, it's true that sales people will be involved in operations and everyone is expected to help with the events directly - That's not a pro for most people but I've tried being a 'clipboard' manager and I hated every moment.

Not flexible on holidays (to an extreme level, I understand it's the norm in the catering industry to not be able to take your holiday in June but at PI you can't even get a day off in the busy period) Sometimes management can show a lack of understanding that junior people will not be as committed to the company as they are, it doesn't bother me but the expectations they put on some juniors is unrealistic

Great team of staff (minus the Directors) who had a real camaraderie. Pretty good pay for the industry

Where to begin?? - I have never been spoken to by a colleague as badly as the Directors at Party Ingredients spoke to me. It was horrific, constantly being yelled at, told off, bossed around and made to work long hours with early starts the following day as standard practice - management very separate from staff, us v them kind of attitude with lots of secret meetings and things being hidden from staff - no flexibility with holidays or time off (told to take it or leave it) - staff made to do multiple jobs (to save costs I imagine) meaning office staff serving at events, sales managers loading kit etc etc - I was spoken down to in front of a client and made to feel like a little child. To me, I wondered why I was hired if they thought so badly of me and my abilities!! - often little or no food provided during long shifts, especially for staff with special dietary requirements. For a catering company, their attitude towards gluten free, diary free, vegan diets was shocking, backwards and old fashioned.