Specsavers

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Specsavers is an opticians. They also sell hearing aids.

specsavers.co.uk

Specsavers job reviews

Showing 111 reviews

  • Best thing

    one free pair of glasses, people you work with

    Worst thing

    long hours standing in the same place with no chair, abuse from customers, being talked down by the manager

    2.5

    Specsavers Retail assistant, March 2024

  • Best thing

    nice place to work
    make a positive impact on people

    Worst thing

    standing up for a long time
    not much pay

    9.8

    Specsavers Optical assistant, March 2024

  • Best thing

    When I do a good job the patients are happy

    Worst thing

    Very busy. Very sales focused

    4.3

    Specsavers Optical assistant, February 2024

  • Best thing

    Interesting, Not boring

    Worst thing

    Bad pay, Long hours, short breaks

    3.3

    Specsavers Optical assistant, February 2024

  • Best thing

    I like moments when its quiet in the store

    Worst thing

    I hate how responsibilities are constantly added to the job role

    3.7

    Specsavers Optical assistant, January 2024

  • Best thing

    Day goes seemingly quick. Friendly team. Flexibility in most aspects of the job (Hours, days and workload) and fresh situations most weeks. Commission in sales

    Worst thing

    Basically trained myself. Being understaffed is normal. Weird/angry customers. Customers don’t really understand much about glasses and explaining it can be hard. Customers with poor personal hygiene

    9.0

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2023

  • Best thing

    The directors and managers are very kind and understanding.

    Worst thing

    Customers are very ungrateful and get very shirty.

    8.8

    Specsavers Employee, December 2023

  • Best thing

    The perks of working for Specsavers. My nan has a complex prescription so saving her 50% off her bill really helps

    Worst thing

    The lack of career progression

    5.5

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2023

  • Best thing

    people i work with

    Worst thing

    p

    5.0

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2023

  • Best thing

    Great team to work with and very friendly

    Worst thing

    Pay is very low

    5.5

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2023

  • Best thing

    The customers and the staff.

    Worst thing

    Pay and the amount of responsibilities

    3.7

    Specsavers Store manager, October 2023

  • Best thing

    Leaving for the day

    Worst thing

    Arriving for the day

    2.0

    Specsavers Administrator, October 2023

  • Best thing

    Meet many people
    Learn new things
    Help those in need

    Worst thing

    Building dilapidated but getting fixed
    Staff shortage and trying to get new people
    Drama

    3.4

    Specsavers Employee, October 2023

  • Best thing

    I feel like I'm helping people and making a difference

    Worst thing

    Always low on staff

    8.9

    Specsavers Optical assistant, September 2023

  • Best thing

    My colleagues are very supportive and fun to work with. Management is somewhat understanding, have heard horror stories form other speckies

    Worst thing

    Low pay, expected to put the job above everything, mistakes seem like the end of the world, training is scattered and management seem like they can't be bothered to teach you things

    2.3

    Specsavers Optical assistant, September 2023

  • Best thing

    Colleagues
    Good pay

    Worst thing

    High level of stress daily
    Never enough staff

    9.2

    Specsavers Optical assistant, September 2023

  • Best thing

    Absolutely love the job role

    Worst thing

    Directors

    5.5

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2023

  • Best thing

    Helping people correct their vision

    Worst thing

    No sick pay (even for covid)
    No bereavement pay
    No progression or help
    No pay rise for extra responsibilities or help to progress in career
    Management rarely in so be expected to lock up store when you're not paid extra for doing so
    Stores are franchised so difficult to report when having issues with management

    2.6

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2023

  • Best thing

    lovely customers, the funny things you see the general public doing, all the close work friends and nights out. Learning is quite fun as well, lots to learn and a lot of silly ways of remembering things.

    Worst thing

    rude, perverted, angry customers. management will ponder to them and be really nice to, not sticking up for staff. sometimes they do but often times not.

    2.3

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2023

  • Best thing

    My other colleagues I work with.

    Worst thing

    Where do I start?

    1. The pay is terrible. Other companies are paying far more for the exact same job role.

    2. It is a toxic place to work. I have witnessed many unprofessional activities which are often swept under the rug. There is no voice for staff to raise concerns higher up and as such many put their head down and keep quiet in fear that they might face consequences for speaking out.

    3. Poor management. As their stores are franchised, they leave the responsibilities to the directors (franchise owners) of the store. These directors only have to have 6 months of 'pathway' training which is usually learned alongside their existing job, many of which have never had any management experience prior and then suddenly they are given a store to own. Many go into directorship expecting to make lots of money and sadly many have no aspirations at all for leading a team. This lack of leadership means that the workplace is often unorganized and chaotic. When the regional managers do bother to come in, they are not checking that the stores are functioning well, they are simply concerned with the figures and sales.

    3. High staff turnover. Staff often feel stressed and undervalued. Many stores find it difficult to retain or recruit people with experience. I have seen too often talented members leave because they know they can get better working at other companies.

    4. No sick pay.

    5. No transparency in pay. We have been told by managers at our store that we must not discuss are pay with others. Obviously in private many of us have. It showcased that many of us were not on equal pay and a few were selected for better pay not on merit, but on favoritism.

    6. Quantity not quality. This is a company that makes its money by over ramming its clinics and keep wages low.

    1.1

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2023

  • Best thing

    the conversations during breaks and the people i work with

    Worst thing

    currently on training but being left to a task your not entirely sure of

    8.0

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2023

  • Best thing

    Easy to do the job

    Worst thing

    Under staff

    8.0

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2023

  • Best thing

    The team members are nice.

    Worst thing

    The pay is low for what is skilled work. Minimum wage for specialist knowledge relating to the manufacture and dispensing of glasses and contact lenses. No health insurance, no sick pay, franchised company structure means that there are fewer safeguards or rigorously enforced expectations placed on the store owners to ensure safety and well-being.

    3.0

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2023

  • Best thing

    It’s fulfilling work, it doesn’t get boring

    Worst thing

    For the amount of work, training and effort that goes into my job, the pay is terrible. No matter how many years you’ve worked/level of training, most people are getting paid minimum wage or just above

    2.8

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2023

  • Best thing

    Franchise based ownership so under the management of in-store directors rather than a out of touch head office. Good morals.

    Worst thing

    No paid sick time

    9.2

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2023

  • Best thing

    Colleagues

    Worst thing

    Hours, pay, high staff turnover

    1.1

    Specsavers Employee, June 2023

  • Best thing

    Good for part time work

    Worst thing

    Too busy and understaffed

    6.8

    Specsavers Optical assistant, May 2023

  • Best thing

    The actual job itself and working as an OA is the best part of it sitting down with customers and talking about their needs and preferences and getting to know them

    Worst thing

    The management and having to work so hard without breaks and constantly being short staffed is not great mentally and physically. The work place environment can be so toxic and stressful it leaves you not wanting to go back to work

    1.1

    Specsavers Optical assistant, May 2023

  • Best thing

    My Specsavers store is brilliant to work for we are like a family we all care for each other

    Worst thing

    Pay could be better

    9.8

    Specsavers Optical assistant, May 2023

  • Best thing

    probably the people that i’ve made good friends with.

    Worst thing

    management definitely.

    1.6

    Specsavers Optical assistant, May 2023

  • Best thing

    Learning and growing my career as I work, incredibly supportive team and management, no restrictions placed on me. Love helping my community and getting a sense of reward.

    Worst thing

    Nothing about my job is bad tbh just some not very nice customers occasionally but you get that anywhere thats retail

    9.8

    Specsavers Dispenser, May 2023

  • Best thing

    friendships made thru work

    Worst thing

    min wage
    no way to progress
    to bitchy

    3.4

    Specsavers Optical assistant, February 2023

  • Best thing

    I get satisfaction from my job
    I like the people I work with

    Worst thing

    Long hours
    Rude customers

    4.8

    Specsavers Administrator, February 2023

  • Best thing

    Talking to people
    Repairing glasses

    Worst thing

    When people are rude

    3.7

    Specsavers Optical assistant, February 2023

  • Best thing

    - Career Progression
    - Support from colleagues
    - staff events

    Worst thing

    - understated and overworked
    - upper management expects miracles

    8.7

    Specsavers Employee, January 2023

  • Best thing

    The team

    Worst thing

    Breaks too short

    8.6

    Specsavers Employee, January 2023

  • Best thing

    Easy to be lazy and do what you want, eat whenever you want and go on your phone wherever you want in the store. Including the director

    Worst thing

    No team work or respect for people who have progressed to a higher standard, everyone passes it on to someone else whatever it is, NO TEAM WORK OR ETHIC

    2.1

    Specsavers Optical assistant, January 2023

  • Best thing

    The friendly atmosphere

    Worst thing

    The pay

    8.4

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2022

  • Best thing

    I think we have a good career path, and a lot of room to progress.

    Worst thing

    Lack of support from management, and understanding. Lack of understanding when coming to transport. The staff aren’t all friendly and makes it hard for you too trust people.

    5.5

    Specsavers Optical assistant, December 2022

  • Best thing

    The manager and colleagues

    Worst thing

    The owner (director)

    5.5

    Specsavers Optical assistant, November 2022

  • Best thing

    The team I work with is absolutely amazing. They're a wonderful group of people.

    Worst thing

    The training could be stronger

    6.7

    Specsavers Optical assistant, November 2022

  • Best thing

    Colleagues, met some really nice people here

    Worst thing

    Public are always rude and ignorant

    6.4

    Specsavers Optical assistant, September 2022

  • Best thing

    Only two people in my department.

    Friendly people but some are also back stabbers.

    Worst thing

    Didn't get paid for when my dad passed away suddenly. Unable to have some sort of paid leave.

    Want treated nicely when I came back. I had 3 days to do a phased return.

    Manager doesn't trust what I do and intervenes alot of what I do.

    3.5

    Specsavers Employee, August 2022

  • Best thing

    My hours, friends

    Worst thing

    The toxic managers

    7.3

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2022

  • Best thing

    Everyone I work with is lovely and you can always look to your colleagues or managers for support.

    Worst thing

    It can get very stressful but that is the same with most jobs, it always improves eventually.

    8.9

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2022

  • Best thing

    Everyone is friendly and glad to help

    Worst thing

    Customers

    9.4

    Specsavers Optical assistant, August 2022

  • Best thing

    Good customers
    Lots to do
    Friendly coworkers

    Worst thing

    Bad customers
    Lack of training

    5.5

    Specsavers Employee, July 2022

  • Best thing

    Great opportunities for progression, Good team, Fees paid, CPD events,

    Worst thing

    Pay for Optical Assistants, staff turn over.

    9.8

    Specsavers Employee, July 2022

  • Best thing

    Help others and career prospects

    Worst thing

    Some of the people who i work with, no management support, lack of structure

    4.6

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2022

  • Best thing

    The people you work with

    Worst thing

    Under paid for a job that requires alot of training including NHS triage and referals, and you are expected to go above and beyond for minimum wage. Management don't respect there staff.

    2.6

    Specsavers Optical assistant, July 2022