What it’s like working at Starcare
6 employees told us the worst thing about this employer…
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Not easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Starcare?
People find it hard to book holidays
How we know this
80% of people report it’s hard to book holidaysBased on information from 5 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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Head office doesn’t understand the frontline
Do people think Starcare head office understands what's happening where they work?
People think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work
How we know this
83% 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 6 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 feel stressed
Is it stressful to work at Starcare?
People feel stressed here
How we know this
83% of people say they often feel stressed at workBased on information from 6 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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Shifts get changed at short notice
Do Starcare managers change shifts at short notice?
Managers change people’s shifts at short notice
How we know this
83% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minuteBased on information from 6 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 aren’t paid
Do workers at Starcare get paid breaks?
No. People don’t get paid breaks
How we know this
100% of people say they don’t get paid breaksBased on information from 5 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 not paid enough to live on
Does Starcare pay enough to live on?
People are not paid enough to live on
How we know this
100% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they liveBased on information from 6 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 below market rates
Does Starcare pay market rates?
People are not paid market rates
How we know this
100% of people are paid below the typical pay for the type of work they doBased on information from 6 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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No career progression
Are people given support to progress at Starcare?
People aren’t given support to progress here
How we know this
In the last year, 100% 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 roleBased on information from 5 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 don’t get proper breaks
Do people at Starcare get proper breaks?
People don’t get proper breaks
How we know this
100% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaksBased on information from 6 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 don’t recommend their team
Do people at Starcare recommend working with their team?
Very few people recommend working with their team
How we know this
83% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friendBased on information from 6 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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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Starcare?
People don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working
How we know this
- 83% report getting one week notice or less
- 0% report getting two weeks notice
- 0% report getting three weeks notice
- 17% report getting four weeks notice or more
- 0% report having a fixed rota
Based on information from 6 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 don’t get sick pay
Does Starcare pay sick pay?
No. People don’t get proper sick pay
How we know this
100% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to workBased on information from 6 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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Uninformed about head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Starcare is doing?
People don’t feel well informed about how the company is doing
How we know this
100% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a wholeBased on information from 6 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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Not easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Starcare?
Most people find it hard to take sick leave
How we know this
60% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sickBased on information from 5 job reviews
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Not enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Starcare?
Most people don’t get enough training when they start
How we know this
60% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working hereBased on information from 5 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 aren’t respectful
Do people at Starcare feel treated by respect by their managers?
Most people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers
How we know this
67% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managersBased on information from 6 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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People do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Starcare do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Most people do unpaid extra work
How we know this
67% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid forBased on information from 6 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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People worry about getting enough hours
Do workers at Starcare worry about hours?
Most people worry about getting enough hours
How we know this
67% of people report they worry about getting enough hoursBased on information from 6 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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Join BreakroomHow Starcare ranks
Starcare ranks joint 180th to work for in Best care companies to work for in the UK
- 179 Human Support Group
- 180= Sagecare
- 180= Starcare
Starcare job reviews
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Best thing
Clients and staff
Worst thing
Rushing about and no holidays
Employee, February 2021
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Best thing
Going out doing the care
Worst thing
Impossible rotas
Employee, October 2020
About
Starcare is a homecare provider.
Handy to know
How much notice do people get of their shifts?
Based on 6 employees
What contracts are people on?
Based on 6 employees
How are people paid?
Based on 6 employees
Thinking of working at Starcare?
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