What it’s like working at Great Western Railway
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Head office doesn’t understand the frontline
Do people think Great Western Railway 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
61% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they workBased on information from 69 job reviews
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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Hard to choose shifts
Do Great Western Railway workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Most people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work
How we know this
68% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they workBased on information from 78 job reviews
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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Easy to change shifts
How easy is it for Great Western Railway workers to change shifts?
Most people find it easy to change shifts
How we know this
69% of people report that it’s easy to change shifts if they need toBased on information from 51 job reviews
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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4+ weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Great Western Railway?
Most people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working
How we know this
- 11% report getting one week notice or less
- 4% report getting two weeks notice
- 0% report getting three weeks notice
- 74% report getting four weeks notice or more
- 11% report having a fixed rota
Based on information from 81 job reviews
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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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Great Western Railway?
People find it easy to book holidays
How we know this
86% of people report it’s easy to book holidaysBased on information from 79 job reviews
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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Easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Great Western Railway?
People find it easy to take sick leave
How we know this
98% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sickBased on information from 82 job reviews
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People enjoy their job
Do people at Great Western Railway enjoy their jobs?
People enjoy their job
How we know this
88% of people report they enjoy their jobBased on information from 17 job reviews
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Enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Great Western Railway?
People get enough training when they start
How we know this
95% of people report they got enough training when they started working hereBased on information from 82 job reviews
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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People aren’t stressed
Is it stressful to work at Great Western Railway?
People don’t feel stressed here
How we know this
85% of people say they don’t feel stressed at workBased on information from 81 job reviews
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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Good for parents
Is working at Great Western Railway good if you have caring responsibilities?
People say this is a good place to work if you care for a child or other relative
How we know this
86% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to workBased on information from 28 job reviews
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
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No short notice shift changes
Do Great Western Railway managers change shifts at short notice?
Managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice
How we know this
91% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minuteBased on information from 77 job reviews
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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Breaks are paid
Do workers at Great Western Railway get paid breaks?
Yes. People get paid breaks
How we know this
100% of people say they get paid breaksBased on information from 84 job reviews
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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People are paid enough to live on
Does Great Western Railway pay enough to live on?
People are paid enough to live on
How we know this
99% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they liveBased on information from 78 job reviews
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 Real Living Wage is currently £9.50 per hour, and £10.85 per hour in London.
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People are paid market rates
Does Great Western Railway pay market rates?
People are paid market rates
How we know this
84% of people are paid average or more than the typical pay for the type of work they doBased on information from 49 job reviews
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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Opportunities to progress
Are people given support to progress at Great Western Railway?
People are given support to progress here
How we know this
In the last year, 83% of people report 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 roleBased on information from 76 job reviews
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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People get proper breaks
Do people at Great Western Railway get proper breaks?
People get proper breaks
How we know this
93% of people report that they get to take proper breaksBased on information from 82 job reviews
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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People recommend their team
Do people at Great Western Railway recommend working with their team?
People recommend working with their team
How we know this
94% of people report that they would recommend working with their immediate team to a friendBased on information from 83 job reviews
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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People get sick pay
Does Great Western Railway pay sick pay?
Yes. People get proper sick pay
How we know this
98% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to workBased on information from 80 job reviews
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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Managers are respectful
Do people at Great Western Railway feel treated by respect by their managers?
People feel treated with respect by their managers
How we know this
91% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managersBased on information from 74 job reviews
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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No unpaid extra work
Do workers at Great Western Railway do extra work that they don't get paid for?
No. People don’t do unpaid extra work
How we know this
95% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid workBased on information from 80 job reviews
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.
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Well informed about head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Great Western Railway is doing?
People feel well informed about how the company is doing
How we know this
91% of people feel that they are kept well informed about how the company is doing as a wholeBased on information from 79 job reviews
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.
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People don’t worry about getting enough hours
Do workers at Great Western Railway worry about hours?
People don’t worry about getting enough hours
How we know this
100% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hoursBased on information from 21 job reviews
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.
Great Western Railway Q+A
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Join BreakroomPay ranges at Great Western Railway
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£29.73–34.34 per hour
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£17.55–20.93 per hour
Great Western Railway job reviews
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Best thing
The camaraderie of my team, the travel perks, and the continual training
Worst thing
Sometimes when things go wrong the abuse from customers can be horrible
Employee, March 2021
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Best thing
Holidays. Pay. Discounts/benefits. Free rail travel. 6 months of rotas so you can plan your life.
Worst thing
Occasional lone working.
Employee, September 2021
About
Great Western Railway is a train operator. They run train services across Wales, the South and South West England.
Handy to know
How much notice do people get of their shifts?
Based on 81 employees
What contracts are people on?
Based on 19 employees
How are people paid?
Based on 84 employees
Thinking of working at Great Western Railway?
Join Breakroom to unlock insights about Great Western Railway and thousands of other employers.
Join Breakroom