Probably the worst place I have ever worked
Pros
Team culture and egalitarianism are the core values of Flight Centre and which for the most part were not just statements but actual working practice in the company. Theoretically, the lowest level employee was on the same level as their boss, or any boss in Flight Centre, and could speak to them if they needed too. Catchups with 'Team Leaders' were regular and monthly pay were based on performance of the individual, team and organisation so everything you did counted towards your own remuneration.
Cons
Best described as soul-destroying. Despite being the Senior and Team Leader, I was a cog in a wheel. My manager, despite having no qualifications or experience in web site related disciplines ie UI design, user experience etc. dictated to me and my team aka experienced professionals, on how to run both; and in a decidedly condescending way. The type of condescension, delivered daily, that was so subtle that it could only be delivered by a) a cunning expert with an axe to grind, b) by someone so awful at being a human being or c) someone so inept in a leadership role as to be wholly disruptive and counter productive to the wider team. Either way, Flight Centre seemed to be filled with these characters at various levels. The wider management in the UK 'marketing' department was a boys club. Real career development didn't happen and nor did salaries reflect the wider market. Set pay bands well below industry standard were non-negotiable. When I requested a pay review on my recent 'promotion' (promotion consisted of doing exactly the same role I had been doing for two years, but with the added bonus of filling in paper work to satisfy the bureaucracy of the company) I was met with a query to to prove salaries for similar roles were at the rate I was asking for. I produced proof of 8 similar roles (screenshots of job ads) within a day. This was met with delay tactics such as "we'll get back to you" and general avoidance. It culminated with me resigning my role 2 weeks later on the basis of their response and inaction and ultimate denial of my more than reasonable request. Further still, I walked out on them 75% of the way through my 2 month notice period after, as usual, they dragged their feet and failed to negotiate on my exit and hand over period and I wasn't prepared to keep my new employers waiting for 2 months. Their negotiation technique was to stone wall and avoid and generally to not negotiate. I left for a better role, in a better company, in a better location, all with a 28% payrise. And that payrise was just bringing me up to industry standard salaries for my experience level at the time. These reasons are why I left Flight Centre UK and why I couldn't recommend the company to anyone.
