Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

McColl's named among UK's worst places to work for

McColl's named among UK's worst places to work for
Photo: McColl’s

Newsagent McColl’s has been named as one of the worst companies to work for according to a survey of employees across the UK.

The retailer was named in the top 10 worst places to work by community-powered job platform Breakroom, based on reviews from its community of 430,000 UK shift workers.


The results were based on hourly workers’ experiences. Most people regarded the pay as "bad" at McColl’s with 92 per cent of people claiming they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.

According to the survey, a sales assistant is paid between £6 and £9.50 an hour while a manager gets between £8.52 and £12.42 as compared to the Real Living Wage which is £10.90 an hour and £11.95 for those living in London.

Back in 2021, McColl's was named as one of dozens of firms that breached minimum wage requirements by the UK Government.

The company went into administration in May last year but it has now been saved by Morrisons. Over time, the stores will become Morrisons Daily outlets.

Employees also said they often don’t get any more than four weeks’ notice of what shifts they are working, with 65 per cent of people who responded saying schedules change with one week notice or less.

The survey showed people reporting that most staff don’t get proper breaks, are stressed, and don’t feel well informed by head office.

Canadian restaurant chain Tim Horton’s and underwear store Victoria’s Secret also featured in the worst list alongside McColl’s.

Anna Maybank, co-founder and CEO of Breakroom, commented: Our communities list of the best and worst-rated employers highlights which employers are listening to employees and meeting their needs and the employers that need to improve.

"With more job competition for staff in the key sectors of retail, hospitality, logistics and social care than ever before, to attract talent employers must work harder to stand out. The next generation of job seekers are not just comparing pay and hours but looking at a range of factors including perks like free meals on shifts, staff discounts and reward programmes.”

More for you

Britvic growth in annual revenue and profits

Strong numbers for Britvic

Britvic, the soft drinks manufacturer set to be acquired by Carlsberg, has posted robust annual results after investment in marketing and product innovation helped it maintain demand for its brands.

Over the year to Sept 30, the company’s pre-tax profits climbed 10.5 per cent to £173.2 million despite a £21.3m hit related to the proposed Carlsberg deal. Britvic stated that its growth was driven by both volume and price-mix, with strong demand for brands such as Pepsi, Tango, Lipton, MiWadi and Ballygowan.

Keep ReadingShow less
Met Police identifies four suspects in Post Office Horizon scandal

Met Police identifies four suspects in Post Office Horizon scandal

The Metropolitan Police has identified two new suspects in its investigation into possible criminal offences as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal. This takes the total number of individuals to four as the force also revealed it believes more suspects will be identified as the inquiry progresses.

Scotland Yard said members of the investigation team met with Sir Alan Bates, the leading Post Office campaigner, and fellow victims to update them on the development.

Keep ReadingShow less
Discover Britain's top hotspots for independent shops

(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

Discover Britain's top hotspots for independent shops

New research by American Express Shop Small reveals the nation’s top 10 hotspots for independent shops, showcasing the small businesses and the valuable role they plan in their local communities.

American Express partnered with retail experts GlobalData to identify the top high streets for independent shops through ranking factors such as the number of independent outlets, variety of business types, and vibrancy of the high street.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Walkable high streets boost economy'
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

'Walkable high streets boost economy'

Shoppers who walk and wheel spend more than those arriving by car, states a recent report, demonstrating the significant economic and social benefits of investing in walkable town centres, challenging traditional views on urban accessibility.

The findings published in third edition of "The Pedestrian Pound Report", recently published by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, come at a critical juncture for British high streets, with a record number of retail failures in 2022 and a vacancy rate of nearly one in seven by the end of 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yvette Cooper

Home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at the annual conference hosted by the NPCC and APCC on 19 November 2024

Photo: GOV.UK

Home secretary pledges to restore neighbourhood policing

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to rebuild neighbourhood policing and combat surging shop theft as part of an ambitious programme of reform to policing.

In her first major speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Cooper highlighted four of the key areas for reform: neighbourhood policing, police performance, structures and capabilities, crime prevention.

Keep ReadingShow less