Working in the retail sector offers a much more positive experience than those in other sectors, finds a new report.
Based on LinkedIn’s annual report of the most sought-after companies to work at in the UK, Power House Truths has curated and dissected over 210,000 employee reviews to see where each company really ranks across a number of metrics, including senior management rating, interview difficulty and average salary.
The 2019 LinkedIn Top Companies report discloses where job seekers want to work, based on the four main pillars of interaction on the platform: interest in the company, engagement with the company’s employees, job demand and employee retention.
But how are these companies really treating their employees?
Working at the UK’s best
When analysing the top UK retailers by sales, Tesco (ranked number one) is praised for its work/life balance and compensation benefits despite its average salary for a team leader at £18,000 (AUD$31,959). Tesco, however, falls short on compliments for its senior management rating.
The report also shows that Sainsbury’s is best for its culture and values and offers the most positive experience rating at 76 per cent. On the other hand, Asda received a 73 per cent positive experience rating, while Tesco received a rating of 72 per cent.
Top company benefits for those working at Sainsbury’s include “good” sick pay, critical illness cover, and a 10 per cent employee discount card. Downsides to working for Sainsbury’s include finding that team leaders are “often” contradictory and its long working hours.
Life at Amazon not so desirable
The research shows that despite being the most desirable workplace in the UK and the third most popular in the US, Amazon sits tenth in the rankings.
Analysis of the organisation’s 32,000 employee reviews reveals a poor work/life balance, low senior management rating and smaller salaries when comparing them to the US coveted companies.
Employees want more than just a salary
Analysis of the most frequently cited company pros and cons reveals that employees appreciate a good work environment, generous benefits and flexible working hours, while long hours and a poor work/life balance are the most common complaints.
But to what extent do job seekers apply to work at a company because of its notoriety, without researching what it’s really like to work there?
According to recruitment partner Karen Dykes, the benefits companies choose to advertise play a key role in how quickly they accumulate staff and grow.
“With talent shortages reported in many sectors, top candidates are looking beyond basic salary offerings to attract them to certain roles,” she said.
“Benefits packages are most certainly in the spotlight, with a particular focus on those that support work/life balance. These include generous holiday entitlement, healthcare advantages and flexible working.
“If a skilled candidate has multiple interview offers, benefits packages will come into play. They may be time poor in terms of interview preparation, so will narrow the field by evaluating the overall package.”