Hectic! - Sales Assistant Primark Employee Review

3.0
Aug 16, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As with any workplace, can make great friends, the people I worked with were lovely, there was a great sense of being in a team Pay is pretty decent, not amazing but more than lots of places Oppourtunities to move upwards within the company

Cons

Usually based in the same place all day, can get incredibly tedious and boring The customers in Primark respect it so much less than any other shop, the mess or 'dump' as primark like to call the unwanted items strewn all around the store, is insane, especially at busy times. I know one girl who was stationed at a knitwear table, folding jumpers all day and the customers made it so messy and she was just getting nowhere that she cried, right in the middle of the store. I don't know if this is the same with all stores, but where I worked I really didn't feel respected at all by the managers. One day when we were trying to get the knicker table perfect after the shop was closed, and there was literally like 20 staff members working on it, the deputy manager literally screamed at us all to stop talking and get on with it, even though we were working as fast as we could. As with any retail environment, there can be a lot of bitchiness, alienating and favouritism, particularly between the supervisors and managers. The store I worked at took over £100,000 over one weekend before christmas, all of the staff had worked so so hard that weekend, and we did get a thankyou from management, but that's it. Primark makes a lot of money and despite this, in order to maximise profits, the staff benefits are practically non-existent. It makes you feel very unappriciated, as you get no discount and no chance of a bonus.

Explore other reviews about Primark

5.0
Mar 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

reasonable, low stress, good PTO practices, consistent schedule

Cons

leadership was not the best

2.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Primark offers valuable retail experience in a fast paced environment and can help employees develop skills such as teamwork, customer service, time management, and adaptability. Some team members and managers were supportive, respectful, and helpful during my time there. The workplace can also provide flexible scheduling opportunities for students and seasonal workers, which can be beneficial.

Cons

I am submitting this complaint regarding my experience with Primark management, the PNC team, and the hiring process, as both a former employee and returning applicant. I previously worked at Primark and performed my responsibilities reliably during my time there. Before leaving for school, I was encouraged by management to return during the summer and was told that I would be welcomed back. Based on those assurances, I reapplied expecting a professional and transparent hiring process. Unfortunately, my experience was extremely disappointing and reflected a serious lack of professionalism, communication, and organizational consistency. Throughout the hiring process, I received conflicting information from multiple managers and PNC team members regarding available positions and my application status. Different individuals communicated different expectations, creating confusion and uncertainty. One of the most concerning parts of this experience was being scheduled and interviewed for a position that I later found out was apparently not even available. I took time to prepare for and attend the interview under the impression that there was a legitimate opportunity, only to later receive conflicting information suggesting that the position did not actually exist or was never truly available. This demonstrated a serious lack of coordination within the hiring team. What made this experience even more unacceptable was that I was directly told that I was hired for the position. Based on that communication, I believed I had secured employment and reasonably expected next steps regarding onboarding and scheduling. However, without warning and completely out of the blue, I was later informed that the position had apparently already been filled. Being told that I was hired and then later told the position was no longer available was not only confusing but highly unprofessional and misleading. This caused unnecessary stress and wasted my time, especially since I relied on the information provided by management and the hiring team in good faith. Communication was highly inconsistent and at times dismissive and unprofessional. There were extended periods of no communication, sometimes lasting months, despite repeated efforts on my end to seek updates. As a returning employee who had already contributed to the company, this treatment felt particularly disrespectful. In addition to the hiring concerns, I would also like to address issues I observed while working at Primark. Management communication often lacked consistency, resulting in confusion among employees because leadership did not appear aligned. Expectations could feel unrealistic, while employee efforts frequently went unrecognized. There also appeared to be a lack of accountability when workplace concerns arose, as issues were often overlooked rather than properly addressed. Scheduling and workplace support were also inconsistent. While some managers were helpful and respectful, others were difficult to approach and communicated in ways that felt dismissive or discourteous. This created an environment where employees did not always feel supported or valued. My primary concern is the lack of transparency, professionalism, and accountability demonstrated throughout this process. Employees and applicants deserve clear communication, respectful treatment, and honesty regarding employment opportunities. I am sharing this complaint in hopes that these concerns are taken seriously and that meaningful improvements are made to management communication, hiring practices, and overall employee treatment.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All