Waterstones
Good news! Waterstones has claimed their Breakroom profile.
They care about what their frontline employees think and want to be a good employer.
DismissWaterstones is a retailer. They sell books.
waterstones.comWaterstones job reviews
Showing 16 reviews
-
Best thing
The coffee. Coworkers sometimes. Food is pretty food.
Worst thing
Management are out of touch, high expectations and unrealistic deadlines. Nonsensical changes made overnight. Poor experiences with HR who are more concenered with company stability than moral obligation.
Waterstones Employee, August 2023
-
Best thing
most people are kind and it’s a cool place to work
Worst thing
i wasn’t trained on anything i was just kinda thrown into the deep end
Waterstones Bookseller, August 2023
-
Best thing
The staff and talking about books
Worst thing
The workload
Waterstones Employee, June 2023
-
Best thing
People are lovely and respectful, everyone has a fun yet professional work ethic.
Worst thing
Understaffed, was dismissed a new member of staff when needed most.
Waterstones Barista, May 2023
-
Best thing
The customers and being able to talk about books.
Worst thing
Management and head office - they listen but never do anything to help you. I had so many meetings about the same issues and nothing ever came of them!
Waterstones Senior bookseller, April 2023
-
Best thing
Books!
Worst thing
Customers, low pay, long hours, no flexibility and working weekends
Waterstones Employee, April 2023
-
Best thing
Books
Worst thing
Temperatures in the store over colder months are ridiculous - staff are often wrapped up in coats, scarves, gloves, hats etc on shift.
Waterstones Employee, April 2023
-
Best thing
Feeling clever. My colleagues. A cosy environment. I love talking about literature with customers and staff.
Worst thing
Lone working. Only ever 2 of us in the shop, so being on my own for atleast 3 hours of the day. Horrible customers. Christmas time is hectic and hard work. Shop floor staff aren't appreciated enough. I feel guilty for having a day off sick because it would mean my colleague being on their own, maybe all day.
Waterstones Senior Bookseller, March 2023
-
Best thing
Interesting especially if you live books. A good way to interact with people and recommend books
Worst thing
Stressful at Christmas, never enough staff to do what you need to and a very physical job
Waterstones Manager, March 2023
-
Best thing
The discount, having early access to new releases, being around books all day and talking about books I love to others! I also work with a really great team and feel I get paid fairly.
Worst thing
Can be a little stressful at busy times
Waterstones Employee, December 2022
-
Best thing
The team, staff discount.
Worst thing
Poor management, nepotism, lack of training, underfined working roles and often expected to work outside of role, low opportunity for progression, reluctance to pay for maintenance of equipment which is often faulty.
Waterstones Barista, August 2022
-
Best thing
Other employees
Worst thing
Inflexibility of rota
Waterstones Barista, June 2022
-
Best thing
The team is really nice and supportive
Also 50% discount is good
Overall really nice place to work, good work environment and very organisedWorst thing
Can be quite dead so longer shifts drag on as there’s not much to do sometimes
Waterstones Barista, December 2021
-
Best thing
Customers, coworkers, talking about books, pretty consistent work and not too busy most of the time.
Worst thing
Not enough staff/hours so very little wiggle room if someone is off sick. Not enough staff in some days so team is stretched this. Cluster approach means no over time outside of Christmas as staff cover is arranged between stores.
Waterstones Senior Bookseller, April 2021
-
Best thing
Discount and colleagues
Worst thing
Some customers, pushing books of the month even though most of the time they are terrible but you get told off if you don't do a certain amount everyday. No progression
Waterstones Senior bookseller, December 2020
-
Best thing
Discount.
Booksellers are always extremely nice and dedicated (not so much head office or management)
Books.Worst thing
Lone working all the time (dangerous in centre of town as anyone can come in).
Management belittling you, treating you like you’re five years old.
Manipulating head office staff.
Middle management as a whole.
No freedom at all to do the job.
Expected to do way more than we are paid to do.
No training, then expected to know everything within a week.
Nobody listens when staff have genuine complaints.
Severely understaffed to the point of unbearable stress, sometimes 2-3 people on shift in a shop of 6 floors.
Fire exits full of stock and nobody listens when we make a complaint as it’s a huge hazard for customers and staff.Waterstones Expert Bookseller, November 2020