Heron Foods
Why does Heron Foods get a rating of 5.6?
56 Heron Foods employees told us the following about their jobs.
56 employees told us the worst thing about this employer…
Find out what it is by taking the 3 minute survey.
Do your managers treat you with respect?
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Head office doesn’t understand the frontline
How we know this
21% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they workBased on information from 48 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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People are not paid enough to live on
How we know this
20% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they liveBased on information from 54 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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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How we know this
- 52% report getting one week notice or less
- 19% report getting two weeks notice
- 15% report getting three weeks notice
- 9% report getting four weeks notice or more
- 6% report having a fixed rota
Based on information from 54 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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People are paid below market rates
How we know this
14% of people are paid average or more than the typical pay for the type of work they doBased on information from 44 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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Breaks aren’t paid
How we know this
16% of people say they get paid breaksBased on information from 45 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 don’t get sick pay
How we know this
4% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to workBased on information from 47 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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Not good for parents
How we know this
47% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to workBased on information from 17 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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Hard to choose shifts
How we know this
49% report that their manager gives them enough choice over which shifts they workBased on information from 51 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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Uninformed about head office
How we know this
47% of people feel that they are kept well informed about how the company is doing as a wholeBased on information from 47 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 get proper breaks
How we know this
46% of people report that they get to take proper breaksBased on information from 39 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 feel stressed
How we know this
64% of people say they often feel stressed at workBased on information from 53 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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People recommend their team
How we know this
53% of people report that they would recommend working with their immediate team to a friendBased on information from 55 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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No short notice shift changes
How we know this
48% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minuteBased on information from 48 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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Opportunities to progress
How we know this
In the last year, 57% 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 49 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 enjoy their job
How we know this
56% of people who enjoy their jobBased on information from 9 job reviews
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People don’t worry about getting enough hours
How we know this
37% of people report they worry about getting enough hoursBased on information from 52 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.
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Easy to change shifts
How we know this
56% of people report that it’s easy to change shifts if they need toBased on information from 41 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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Easy to book holiday
How we know this
70% of people report it’s easy to book holidaysBased on information from 50 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 we know this
56% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sickBased on information from 41 job reviews
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Enough training
How we know this
56% of people report they got enough training when they started working hereBased on information from 52 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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Managers are respectful
How we know this
73% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managersBased on information from 51 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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Good for students
How we know this
78% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studyingBased on information from 9 job reviews
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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No unpaid extra work
How we know this
22% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid forBased on information from 45 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.
How does your job compare? Take the Breakroom survey to find out.
About
Heron Foods is a frozen food supermarket chain in the Midlands and Northern England.
How Heron Foods ranks
Heron Foods ranks 16th to work for in supermarkets
- 12= Lidl
- 16 Heron Foods
- 17 Iceland
Pay ranges at Heron Foods
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£5.35–8.90 per hour
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£9.15–9.36 per hour
Heron Foods job reviews
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Best thing
Weekly pay
Worst thing
Expected to do too much for rubbish pay
Nasty abusive customers
Never finishing in time
Other staff not sharing workload
Other staff not doing stocktake
No breaks if on a 6 hour staffSales assistant, February 2021
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Best thing
The job is easy to do and you don’t really get stressed
Worst thing
You do really get a break sometimes and you don’t get paid for it.
Sales assistant, December 2020
Jobs by location
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10 job openings
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1 job opening
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1 job opening
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1 job opening
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1 job opening
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1 job opening
Handy to know
How much notice do people get of their shifts?
Based on 54 employees
How are people paid?
Based on 56 employees
What contracts are people on?
Based on 53 employees
How does your employer compare?
Take the Breakroom survey to find out how your job and employer stack up.