Marks & Spencer reviews

My experience at M&S was the worst I've had in my 14-year career. From the start, there was a noticeable culture of arrogance among colleagues, coupled with an aggressive and cutthroat corporate atmosphere. Promises of career coaching from my manager never materialised, and I was even shifted to a different role without prior notice upon returning from vacation, leaving me disoriented. The last nine months were marked by extreme stress and a toxic work environment perpetuated by my manager, with no support from leadership when issues were raised. This eventually led to my termination without proper due process. The prevalence of backstabbing from senior management and gossip further tainted the work environment. The leadership team seemed disconnected and lacked empathy towards employees, emphasising selflessness while neglecting employee well-being. Additionally, the lack of adequate office space, forcing staff to work in makeshift areas like the kitchen with plastic tables and chairs, was a glaring issue. Furthermore, the outdated and clunky technology failed to keep pace with industry standards, hindering productivity and progress. Overall, my time at M&S was marred by ineffective leadership, a toxic culture, and subpar working conditions that ultimately led to a negative experience.

Stuart Machin, the CEO, seems to have an actively combative relationship with the data and technology wings of M&S. More than once he has expressed the view that employees 'should be more selfless' and prioritise the company's needs over their own. This has felt particularly disrespectful when he has also continued to push for a 'return to the office' despite the fact the there are less than half the number of required desks in the office and no keyboards or mice provided at all. I have heard numerous people in more senior leadership position express that Stuart is unwilling to have conversations on certain topics and does not appear to take kindly to dissent - even if there is a legitimate discussion to be had.