Best Western
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DismissBest Western is a hotel operator. They have hotels in the UK and internationally.
bestwestern.co.ukBased on responses from 144 employees at Best Western.
About jobs at Best Western
Pay
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Bad
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Most people aren’t paid a living wage
Do Best Western pay a living wage?
Most people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
80% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 70 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The new Living Wage rates were announced on Thursday 22 September 2022.
The rates are now £10.90 per hour, and £11.95 per hour in London.
Employers are expected to implement the rise as soon as possible but by the latest 14 May 2023.
On the 14 May 2023, employers’ Breakroom Rating will be updated to reflect this.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Best Western pay market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
61% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 51 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
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Under 23s get paid less than everyone else
Do Best Western pay the same regardless of age?
No, people under the age of 23 get paid less than those above 23.
See what Best Western pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 23s is less than those who are over 23.Based on data from 113 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2020 and June 2023.
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Best Western get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
71% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 70 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Best Western pay sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
91% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Best Western do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
69% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 86 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2022 and April 2023.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Best Western?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 93% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 6% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 1% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 72 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
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Some people worry about their hours
Do workers at Best Western worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
55% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 66 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Best Western workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
36% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 72 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Best Western workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
38% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 60 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2022 and May 2023.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Best Western?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
72% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 67 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Best Western managers change shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
59% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 76 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2022 and May 2023.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Best Western?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
36% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 58 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
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People work a lot more hours than their contract
Do people work the same number they are contracted for at Best Western?
Most people work a lot more hours than their contact..
How we know this
77% of people report working 8 hours or more than their contract.Based on data from 61 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
At a good job, you should expect to work about the same number of hours that your contract guarantees you, most of the time.
It’s useful to pick up or drop a few shifts here and there, but if you often work a lot more hours every week than you’re contracted for, a good job should guarantee them.
This means you’re more likely to know when you’ll be working and how much you’ll earn in advance.
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Most students say it’s good
Is a Best Western job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
76% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2022 and April 2023.
Why this matters
A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.
Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.
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Only some parents say it’s good
Is working at Best Western good if you’re a parent or carer?
Only some parents and carer say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
61% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2020 and April 2023.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Okay
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Only some people feel treated with respect
Do people at Best Western feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
34% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 67 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do people at Best Western get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
68% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Best Western?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
77% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 74 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Best Western enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
69% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 64 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2022 and May 2023.
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Best Western recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
48% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 77 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
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Most people don’t get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Best Western?
Most people did’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
69% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Best Western?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 64% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 66 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Best Western head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
81% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 62 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
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Most people don’t feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Best Western is doing?
Most people don’t feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
70% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 63 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2022 and June 2023.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
How Best Western ranks
Best Western ranks joint 36th to work for out of hotels.
- 36= Mercure
- 36= Best Western
- 39= Greene King Farmhouse Inns
Rankings are based on Breakroom Ratings for employers with 30 or more quiz responses, accurate as of 8 June 2023.
Pay ranges at Best Western
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£4.81–9.10 per hour
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£6.24–11.02 per hour
Best Western job reviews
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Best thing
Shift timings are good to work around life outside of work
Worst thing
Living in and being made to stay in on a night if your in a night call which is unpaid for
Best Western Receptionist, February 2023
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Best thing
The friends I have made through working in the same place
Worst thing
I don't enjoy it. It's physically very exhausting
Best Western Food and beverage assistant, December 2022
Handy to know
How are people paid?
Based on 77 Best Western employees
What contracts are people on?
Based on 65 Best Western employees
How much notice do people get of their shifts?
Based on 72 Best Western employees