Nationwide Building Society Employee Reviews about "head office"

Pros

You get to know your colleagues and share a lot with them, your first hand experience is always desirable if you want to move to another role, senior management tend to stay in touch and do teams meetings/ blogs

Cons

Too much pressure, we are expected to sell and discuss products which aren't suitable for most people (like later life mortgages, online only accounts, loans, insurance), I understand we are a business but branch colleagues are expected to sell everything whereas head office/ contact centre aren't expected to sell like we are there is way too much observation/ assessments/ reviews, everything is so regulated and strict and the job can feel suffocating as there is so much to do as a cashier the pay is shockingly low for what we are expected to do and the stress we take on there is way too much micromanagement, silly initiatives and time wasting activities like mission promises, goal setting, diversity promises... our job is to serve the members who need us, and these other tasks just get in the way (we are also expected to do this while the branch is open, serving people and needing to do our own balancing etc) they will tell you that they focus on career development but more often than not you are denied internal roles and your manager will struggle to replace you, therefore creating a tension when you are trying to advance your career TLDR: don't apply if you don't like sales or are introverted, lots of unnecessary exercises and tasks, too much emphasis on digital and having to sell products as that shows you are competent

Pros

Company looks after you pretty well. Good colleagues. Most of the daily work is easy.

Cons

Miscommunication. Head Office make many mistakes that you will have to deal with in branch. Pretty boring job, very repetitive. Have to be very dependant on others e.g. Head Office and other departments. Outdated technology and systems Career progression is almost non existent, especially into mortgage roles

Pros

The people that work there really do care about their customers

Cons

It is now led by managing costs, as well who you know. Nodding your head seems a requirement in a head office led organisation. More like a PLC than a mutual !!!

Pros

Good job security. Flexible working arrangements available. Free uniform. Good benefits- generous pension contributions, option to buy and sell holidays, generous maternity/paternity leave, annual bonus.

Cons

The job is sales based as much as the company would pretend that it is not. There is weekend work involved, as a new starter you may be told a condition of working there is that you have to work every Saturday. You may earn less than your peers doing the same role who knew someone who worked there prior to getting the job, or people who worked there prior to pay caps being implemented on roles. Limited opportunities to progress if you don't work in a head office site. Some of the managers aren't nice to work with, you'll become a target if they don't like you. The pay doesn't reflect the stress associated with the work.

Pros

Generally my colleagues were good people and management were usually supportive and approachable. Life insurance and sick pay benefits were helpful. Pay is ok when compared to similar roles at other Building Societies/Banks.

Cons

Unfair advantages given to certain people when applying for promotions. Not paid for working Saturdays (given lieu instead). Not allowed targets so no commission - difficult to motivate colleagues to refer. Outdated role now that Nationwide have are moving to what they refer to as "The Digital World". Branches are remaining open, except some smaller ones that have closed already. Getting a job at the Swindon head office is a better idea than applying for a branch role - there are far more opportunities for progression. Perhaps this would be the case for the offices in Northampton and Bournemouth as well. There was also a slight nasty, two faced culture in a lot of the branches which could be uncomfortable. Technology in branches is terribly outdated and you have to work between 5+ systems.