WHSmith reviews

3.1

49% would recommend to a friend

(2,521 total reviews)

Andrew Harrison

50% approve of CEO

40% positive business outlook

WHSmith has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 2,521 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The WHSmith employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
2.0
Jul 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team to work with

Cons

No work life balance. Unplanned meeting and unrealistic expectation with budget cuts. You can never step away from work even on holidays.

4.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Organised, chilled out and nice team

Cons

Not a long term job for the ambitious

avatar
WHSmith Response
6d
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for recommending WHSmith. We're pleased to hear that you found the team organised, supportive, and enjoyable to work with. Creating a positive and collaborative environment is something we value, so it's great to know this was reflected in your experience. We also appreciate your honest comments regarding long-term career opportunities. We recognise that different people have different career ambitions, and while some colleagues join us for short-term or flexible roles, we also strive to provide development opportunities for those looking to build a longer-term career with us. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours and thank you again for your contribution during your time with WHSmith.
1.0
Jun 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Field teams often house resilient and loyal employees, despite the chaos in upper management.

Cons

WHSmith houses a culture of pure toxicity. There is zero job security, and rather than coach or communicate clear directives and expectations, they choose to overhaul management teams in all departments. They routinely have mass layoffs in departments from field leadership to corporate office members. In the time I've been away from the company, more than 80% of upper management has been laid off and replaced from outside WHSmith. If you are considering a job with WHSmith, I implore you to run, not walk away from it. There are no positives in taking any management positions in any capacity.

avatar
WHSmith Response
6d
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your many years of service with WHSmith. We're pleased to hear your recognition of the resilience, loyalty, and commitment of our field teams. Our colleagues are at the heart of our business, and we appreciate the dedication they bring every day. We're sorry to learn that your experience of our culture and leadership did not meet your expectations. We understand that periods of organisational change can be challenging, and we recognise the impact this can have on colleagues. We take feedback about communication, leadership, and workplace culture seriously, as these are areas we continually strive to strengthen. At WHSmith, we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues feel supported, valued, and able to succeed. Reviews such as yours help us reflect on where we can continue to improve, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective. We wish you every success in your future career.
Viewing 1 - 3 of 2,521 Reviews

Glassdoor has 2,693 WHSmith reviews submitted anonymously by WHSmith employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if WHSmith is right for you.