Any M & S emplyees or former employees ?

oldbill1969

My OH will soon be going back to work after a 14 yr break after bringing up the children, the little 1 starts full time schol after Easter. We have a new M & S store opening up after Easter and would like to know if they are a good organization to work for ? We cannot find any info re salary and benefits for store assistants.
She is also concerned that she will find it difficult entering the employment field again as she has not done anything apart from bringing the children up for many years(First class job done) and is low on confidence. We also welcome any tips on how she can present herself to future employers in her return to work. Thanks

Bossyboots

I have a friend who works for M&S and they do seem a good employer to work for. I don't know her salary, but she tells me it is fair for the job she does. They are pretty flexible although her store currently has an excellent manager. They have had a couple who were hard to work with.

She tells me that new staff are treated well and looked after.

Also, she says that they have an internal grievance procedure which means that a nominated member of staff acts as a buffer between staff and management. That member of staff can be told of any problems staff have and take it higher up, in confidence if necessary/appropriate. It helps little niggles that might get out of proportion be nipped in the bud and bigger issues to be dealt with without anyone feeling uncomfortable. The nominated member of staff reports direct to HR, over the head of even the store manager.

oldbill1969

My OH is really nervous about going back to work as in her words she hasnt done anything apart from bringing up the children. I have tried to give her confidence a bit of a gee by telling her that its certainly more than ' just bringing up the kids' Budgeting ( as she's in charge of that) being a good organiser( have to be with children don't you) and many more things that I couldnt fit on this page.

Frugal_Fox

I know that feeling well. I started back to work last October. If you can afford it - the key is to go part time. Its a little forage back into the workplace, but with still time at home, so 'home' runs well too! In any interview or application form, be honest - yes your OH has been at home with the children, but that is a full time job involving organisation, planning, budgeting, negotiating etc etc. Any good employer will assist with the move back to work.

Sending good wishes!

brazilianwax

I read an HR article about M&S a couple of weeks ago. It was really positive about improvements being made for the benefit of staff.

I'll see if I can find it online.

UKTigerlily

I know they get a 20% discount & think they have good pay too, there are a couple of M&S employees I think. I think most companies would snap your OH up, they don't need experience/qualifications & if you can bring kids up you can do anything! She can explain her time being out of work, she's got all sorts of skills & patience no doubt which is something I find hard! I can understand she must be apprehensive but tell her to go for it & show them what she's got! (She can ask them what they can offer her too)

leona71

I worked for M&S in the Fiance department and yes the store assistants get well paid. It is a great Company to work for and if you work at the weekend the overtime rate is superb. I can't give you up to date figures as it was a while since i worked there, but i worked with Payroll and can say that the Salaries were good.

The training is great, the people you work with are normally very very nice and very helpful. M&S have a very good HR Department who listen and see you as a person rather than just a number.

So all in all yes M&S is a great Company to work for. Also they have a little shop for Employees beside their canteen and everything is knock down prices. Clothes, food etc.

Leona

Honeydog

Just a little note to add but our next door neighbour worked for an M and S outlet and didn't enjoy it at all.

Yes they get discount but she told me that it is only allowed up to a certain amount which is designed to stop you buying stuff for your friends and relatives eg you use up your entitlement quickly. She did mention other stuff but if I remember it I will post it up later.

She left anyway.

michael19_2

Hi,

M&S payrates are a s follows

(some stores have location premium dependant on store location ie city centre)

Customer Assistant - £5.60 rising to £5.80 after initial training.
Section Coach - £6.40ish
Section Co-Ordinator - £7.15
Section Manager salary £18k - £27k
Store Manager £27k upwards

As you can see from inititally joining the company you can (if wanting to) rise through the ranks quite quickly dependant on ability and vacancies available.

We have a great training programme that helps you increase knoweledge and pay. Your wife would be buddied up with a Coach who would be responsible for her training and development. The coaches are hand picked from the advisers and are normally very friendly and amiable.

The staff discounts / perks are as follows (not all but the better ones)

Staff Discount - 20% (no longer capped as was mentioned above)

Staff Shop - All stock at end of day which goes OOD that evening is 1/4price or less (12.99 chicken fillet pack for £1.49 etc)

Pension Scheme - M&S will double match your contribution upto 6% of your salary ( ie you pay £50 and M&S pay £100

First Aid Payment - extra 10p an hour if you go on first aid course and become one of the stores first aiders.

Yearly bonus dependant on how company perform last year customer assistants got £250ish and Managers got 10% of their salary.

Subsidised Catering for break times.

Think thats enough for now. Please feel free to PM me for any other info you may want.

HTH
Michael

peter999

michael19 wrote: »

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Ttah's itnreseting !!

peter999

james02_2

I think it is the self confidence than any thing else that needs to be boosted up. 14 years is a long break and many things ought to change in this period of time. So now that you have got the basic info. about the salary structure I sincerely wish that she finds it easy to cope up with the terms of the work and confidently too.