Casual Sales Assistant
Sports Direct
The Breakroom Take
- Recommended by students
- Respectful managers
- Proper breaks
About Sports Direct
Sports Direct is a retailer. They sell sportswear and trainers for women, men and children.
Job description from Sports Direct
We want you to bring your skill and passion for retail to provide an excellent customer journey at all times; you will do this by making a positive impact in the following areas:
Sales and Service
- You will drive sales to achieve and exceed store targets
- Provide product knowledge to customers
- Always deliver excellent customer service
Visual Merchandising
- You will assist in maintaining the stores standards
- Take pride in implementing visual merchandising standards that align with the Sports Direct Brand
Operations
- Process and replenish stock
- Ensure pricing of product is current and correct
- Support in stock inventory
Your development
At Sports Direct we value your success and will support your development at every step. To begin your journey, you will be enrolled onto our in-store induction program. For your continuous development you will also have access to a variety of career advancing opportunities through our Team Leader Programmes and beyond.
Job insights from Breakroom
Retail and sales assistants:
Sales assistants help customers and sell goods and services
What you’ll do as a retail and sales assistant:
- Serve and advise customers
- Take delivery of goods and stock
- Arrange and display goods
- Check for damaged or missing items
- Handle customer payments, returns and refunds
- Keep the store clean and tidy
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Dealing with customers
- Standing
- Wearing a uniform
- Heavy lifting
- Cleaning
- Physical activities
Map
Exeter, UK
What employees say
Pay
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Needs improving
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Most people aren’t paid a living wage
Do Sports Direct pay sales assistants enough to live on?
Most people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
98% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 127 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Needs improving
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Most people are paid below market rates
Do Sports Direct pay sales assistants market rates?
Most people are paid less than average for their job.
How we know this
88% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 138 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Needs improving
-
Under 21s get paid less than everyone else
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct get paid the same regardless of age?
No, people under the age of 21 get paid less than those above 21.
See what Sports Direct pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 21s is less than those who are over 21.Based on data from 198 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
93% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 99 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Sports Direct pay sales assistants sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
99% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 113 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Good
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
72% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 113 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Needs improving
-
Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do sales assistants get of their shift pattern at Sports Direct?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 85% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 14% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 1% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 138 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Okay
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Some people worry about their hours
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
55% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 138 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
42% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 130 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for sales assistants at Sports Direct to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
49% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 101 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it for sales assistants to book a holiday at Sports Direct?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
84% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 106 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Sports Direct managers change sales assistants shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
47% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 122 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it for sales assistants to take sick leave at Sports Direct?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
67% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 105 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Needs improving
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People work a lot more hours than their contract
Do sales assistants work the same number they are contracted for at Sports Direct?
Most people work a lot more hours than their contact..
How we know this
88% of people report working 8 hours or more than their contract.Based on data from 130 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you should expect to work about the same number of hours that your contract guarantees you, most of the time.
It’s useful to pick up or drop a few shifts here and there, but if you often work a lot more hours every week than you’re contracted for, a good job should guarantee them.
This means you’re more likely to know when you’ll be working and how much you’ll earn in advance.
Good
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Most students say it’s good
Is sales assistants at Sports Direct job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
76% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 80 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some parents say it’s good
Is working as sales assistants at Sports Direct good if you have caring responsibilities?
Only some parents and carer say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
37% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and October 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
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
78% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 116 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Most people get proper breaks
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
74% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 93 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
Okay
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Some people are stressed
Is it stressful for sales assistants to work at Sports Direct?
Some people feel stressed here.
How we know this
62% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 126 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some people enjoy their job
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct enjoy their jobs?
Only some people enjoy their job.
How we know this
41% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.Based on data from 101 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do sales assistants at Sports Direct 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 138 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some people get enough training
Do sales assistants get enough training when they start at Sports Direct?
Some people did’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
49% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 126 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some people get support to progress
Are sales assistants given support to progress at Sports Direct?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 61% 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 118 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do sales assistants think Sports Direct 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
69% 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 104 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do sales assistants feel well informed about how Sports Direct is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
46% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 119 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 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.
What Sports Direct employees say about their job
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Best thing
Other people, easy enough work
Worst thing
Managers can take too serious, understaffed, sometimes chaotic
Sports Direct Sales assistant, October 2024
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Best thing
Some of my colleagues because there my friends
Worst thing
The managers attitude towards employees
Sports Direct Employee, September 2024
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About this pay
CloseEstimated pay
This pay estimate is based on data from 138 Sports Direct employees who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
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