Don’t work here. - Retail Assistant Primark Employee Review

1.0
Dec 24, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There is nothing positive about this place.

Cons

From the surface as a customer, you don’t really realise the very real issues the retail assistants go through every single day. As I worked full time, it was more clear to me how much of a power dynamic there is at primark. The managers really do get a trip over telling you what to do even though they could easily do something themselves. They order you around like slaves and the moment they spot you talking to anyone they’re on you! They’d threaten you with disciplinary meetings when you just want the slightest bit of human contact because for the last four hours you’ve been losing your mind folding up shirts that get messed up the moment you turn your back. But the kick is when the managers would then have the nerve to stand on the shop floor, having conversations for at least half an hour at a time whilst watching you suffer. I wish I was joking. This happened every single day I worked there. It may sound like an overdramatic take, however when you’re actually there as an employee, your mind picks up on these things and it really does grind your gears how they’d treat their staff as children. You can’t do anything unless you ask the managers first. The managers do very little to show they even care about the well-being of their staff. When my colleague had covid, the managers kept harassing her to come in. How absurd is that? When I was feeling very unwell for a long period of time, they harassed me when I came back, stating that I took way too many days off and I explained I can’t help being unwell. Do you know what a few managers who I had back to work meetings with said to me? They turned around and stated how long they worked at primark for, and they have never take as many sick days off as I have. That absolutely boiled my blood because what has your medical history have to do with me? We aren’t the same. My body wasn’t susceptible to the torture it’s suddenly enduring. The managers don’t do half as much work as the retail assistant so it’s real rich hearing them gloat over there health; it’s completely unwarranted. Primark have zero sympathy for you if you’re unwell. They just expect you to come in every single shift, and if you have the nerve as to miss a single shift, they’d threaten you with more meetings if you don’t “get it together” even though illness is something you cannot control. Some people have lower immune systems, or are susceptible to becoming I’ll easily. Why harass your staff members about that? There are so many more things that honestly caused me to be depressed coming in every single day but I don’t think I can do my experience justice, and a lot of things I frankly don’t remember. The management really do take advantage of the fact that majority of the staff are young, they’re either in college or uni and they don’t really want to speak up or don’t bother because they just need the money. As someone who is neither of those, it makes me really upset that others are going to go through this system without anyone speaking against the management which is the number one problem in all of this.

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.

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