De Vere Reviews

Cons

As a member of the senior management team in a flagship property, I witnessed an industry, and company in crisis. I saw good staff leave high profile jobs for better pay and conditions stacking shelves in Sainsbury’s (not a joke). I saw experienced elite hoteliers broken by the sheer grinding futility of coming to work for 12+ hours per day, only to have senior people openly undo their hard work in minutes. Having come from outside the hospitality industry, I was disgusted to see how the most senior directors of the business treated their colleagues with utter contempt and repeatedly drive property managers into impossible dead ends with unclear expectations, zero communication, and laughable budgets. The business remains viable solely off the backs of unpaid overtime worked by undervalued staff at every level, who are ignored by directors, who are at once, ignorant of the reality of their business, disinterested in how to modernise in the slightest way, and unwilling to engage in even the most cursory way with even senior managers, let alone team members. This is no secret in the business, but being as it is, many employees have no option but to stick it out due to limited career prospects elsewhere. I have a wealth of multi-industry experience at senior level, and have literally never dared to imagine a business like this. I would not work here again, nor let anyone I know apply without the benefit of my advice.

Cons

Everything - racist, sexist and ableist managers. General manager is the most vile person I’ve ever encountered. Disgusting facilities, was given a 1 star hygiene rating which was quite generous. Staff facilities often have maggot infestations due to how filthy it is Expected to work long shifts with no food provided or if your lucky you will get left overs from events that have been left out for hours Long hours with no breaks, you’ll also be told your shifts the day before the week starts meaning you have no time to plan around work