Sainsbury’s

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They care about what their frontline employees think and want to be a good employer.

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Sainsbury’s is the third largest supermarket chain in the UK.

sainsburys.co.uk

Rating based on 4,781 employees who took the Breakroom Quiz

About jobs at Sainsbury’s

Pay

    Good
  • 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 163 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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 £12.00 per hour, and £13.15 per hour in London.

    Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.

  • Good
  • 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 148 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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 groups

    How we know this

    The average pay of under 21s is the same as those above 21.

    Based on data from 264 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2024.

  • Needs improving
  • 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

    82% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.

    Based on data from 179 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • Only some people get sick pay

    Do Sainsbury’s pay sick pay?

    Sometimes. Only some people get proper sick pay.

    How we know this

    41% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.

    Based on data from 163 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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.

  • Okay
  • Some people do unpaid extra work

    Do workers at Sainsbury’s do extra work that they don't get paid for?

    Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.

    How we know this

    34% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.

    Based on data from 163 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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

    Needs improving
  • 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

    • 24% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
    • 34% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
    • 31% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
    • 11% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.

    Based on data from 137 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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 151 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    36% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.

    Based on data from 159 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    54% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.

    Based on data from 124 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    75% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.

    Based on data from 174 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    71% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.

    Based on data from 166 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    47% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.

    Based on data from 168 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    88% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.

    Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    40% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.

    Based on data from 70 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2023 and March 2024.

    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

    Good
  • Most people feel treated with respect

    Do people at Sainsbury’s feel treated with respect by their managers?

    Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.

    How we know this

    68% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.

    Based on data from 158 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • Most people get proper breaks

    Do people at Sainsbury’s get proper breaks?

    Most people get proper breaks.

    How we know this

    68% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.

    Based on data from 170 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people are stressed

    Is it stressful to work at Sainsbury’s?

    Most people feel stressed here.

    How we know this

    68% of people say they often feel stressed at work.

    Based on data from 183 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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 147 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

  • Okay
  • 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

    57% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.

    Based on data from 188 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • Only some people get enough training

    Do people get enough training when they start at Sainsbury’s?

    Some people did’t get enough training when they started.

    How we know this

    39% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.

    Based on data from 180 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get support to progress

    Are people given support to progress at Sainsbury’s?

    Only some people are given support to progress here.

    How we know this

    In the last year, 63% 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 156 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    85% 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 161 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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
  • 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

    42% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.

    Based on data from 172 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

    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 3rd to work for out of supermarkets.

  1. 2 Waitrose & Partners
    6.7
  2. 3 Sainsbury’s
    6.6
  3. 4= Tesco
    6.5

Rankings are based on Breakroom Ratings for employers with 30 or more Breakroom Quiz responses, accurate as of 19 March 2024.

Pay ranges at Sainsbury’s

  1. £11.00-12.25 per hour

  2. £27.3k-36.7k per year

  3. £11.00-12.00 per hour

  4. £11.50-13.45 per hour

  5. £10.00-11.83 per hour

  6. £10.82-14.59 per hour

  7. £11.00-11.95 per hour

  8. £25.0k-35.3k per year

  9. £10.25-11.75 per hour

  10. £9.10-10.63 per hour

  11. £24.1k-31.8k per year

  12. £10.00-17.67 per hour

Sainsbury’s job reviews

  • Best thing

    The team i work with I get on with for the most part

    Worst thing

    They keep cutting hours sending people to other stores when we don't have enough sometimes to fully run our store and if anybody is on holiday or sick they don't try to find cover for the shift

    8.0

    Sainsbury’s Customer assistant, January 2024

  • Best thing

    I like to keep active and it's a very physical job and love some of the staff they are like family can tell we care about each other not having any family myself the job makes it better

    Worst thing

    Most management can't do their job always putting me down making everyone's mental health really bad

    5.5

    Sainsbury’s Trading assistant, September 2023

Jobs by location

  1. 13 job openings

  2. 21 job openings

  3. 7 job openings

  4. 6 job openings

  5. 14 job openings

  6. 2 job openings

  7. 84 job openings

  8. 10 job openings

Handy to know

How much notice do people get of their shifts?

24% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
34% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
31% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
11% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.

Based on 137 Sainsbury’s employees

How are people paid?

78%
by the hour
22%
an annual salary

Based on 188 Sainsbury’s employees

What contracts are people on?

26% report having low hours contracts. (less than 16 hours)
49% report having part time contracts. (16-35 hours)
25% report having full time contracts. (more than 35 hours)

Based on 146 Sainsbury’s employees