Sainsbury’s
Good news! Sainsbury’s has claimed their Breakroom profile.
They care about what their frontline employees think and want to be a good employer.
DismissSainsbury’s is the third largest supermarket chain in the UK.
sainsburys.co.uk
Rating based on 5,793 employees who took the Breakroom Quiz
About jobs at Sainsbury’s
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Sainsbury’s pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
95% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 412 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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 current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
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Most people are paid market rates
Do Sainsbury’s pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
92% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 367 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Everyone is paid the same, whatever their age
Do Sainsbury’s pay the same regardless of age?
Yes, people under the age of 21 get paid the same as those above 21.
See what Sainsbury’s pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 21s is the same as those above 21.Based on data from 488 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2024 and March 2025.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Sainsbury’s get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
90% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 422 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people get sick pay
Do Sainsbury’s pay sick pay?
Sometimes. Only some people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
50% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 381 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Sainsbury’s do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
71% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 426 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Sainsbury’s?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 22% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 36% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 32% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 10% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 314 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at Sainsbury’s worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
80% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 422 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Sainsbury’s workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
45% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 442 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Sainsbury’s workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
63% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 324 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Sainsbury’s?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
68% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 403 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do Sainsbury’s managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
69% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 427 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Sainsbury’s?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
51% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 383 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Most students say it’s good
Is a Sainsbury’s job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
89% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 140 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some parents say it’s good
Is working at Sainsbury’s 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
46% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 103 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2024 and March 2025.
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 Sainsbury’s feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
37% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 407 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do people at Sainsbury’s get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
75% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 399 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Some people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Sainsbury’s?
Some people feel stressed here.
How we know this
67% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 432 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people enjoy their job
Do people at Sainsbury’s enjoy their jobs?
Only some people enjoy their job.
How we know this
50% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.Based on data from 375 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Sainsbury’s recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
54% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 465 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Sainsbury’s?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
43% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 427 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Sainsbury’s?
Most people aren’t given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 67% 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 401 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Sainsbury’s 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
86% 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 410 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Sainsbury’s is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
53% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 407 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and March 2025.
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 Sainsbury’s ranks
Sainsbury’s ranks joint 6th to work for out of supermarkets.
- 6= Co-op Food
- 6= Sainsbury’s
- 8 Whole Foods Market
Rankings are based on Breakroom Ratings for employers with 30 or more Breakroom Quiz responses, accurate as of 18 March 2025.
Pay ranges at Sainsbury’s
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£12.00-12.59 per hour
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£29.2k-39.8k per year
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£12.00-12.95 per hour
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£12.00 per hour
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£12.50-13.75 per hour
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£11.00-15.22 per hour
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£27.2k-36.2k per year
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£10.90-12.68 per hour
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£25.8k-32.0k per year
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£29.2k-33.5k per year
Sainsbury’s job reviews
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Best thing
Discount.
Worst thing
Customers are often very rude and impatient. Sometimes even threatening. Staff schedule is always poor with often times of lack of staff at busy times. Only shut on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, Boxing Day is never busy and most other companies are shut on Boxing day. Near impossible to have holiday off in December. Uber Eats and Deliveroo and other similar type orders should be completely separate department. Due to the immense stress it causes staff including dealing with rude and impatient drivers who arrive way too early to collect order before its finished being collected off shelves and packed.
Customer service assistant at Sainsbury’s, January 2025
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Best thing
The team is the best thing, other staff members are friendly and kind.
Worst thing
Shift Managers can not manager, they do not get trained properly, they basically are just highly paid store colleagues. There is no consistency, no proper training, communication is terrible, no care towards colleagues, lots of posters about inclusivity, well being however this does not happen. Majority of colleagues are unhappy with their shifts, there is no work - life balance. Moral is low. The Senior Management have no idea of what goes on, they do not manage anything professionally.
Shift trading assistant at Sainsbury’s, January 2025
Jobs by location
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13 job openings
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15 job openings
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2 job openings
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19 job openings
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20 job openings
Handy to know
How are people paid?
Based on 465 Sainsbury’s employees
How much notice do people get of their shifts?
Based on 314 Sainsbury’s employees
What contracts are people on?
Based on 413 Sainsbury’s employees