Worst company I’ve ever worked for! - Gardener Gavin Jones Employee Review

1.0
21 May 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Reasonable hours, good equipment when it’s working.

Cons

My experience working with this company (Plymouth) was dreadful. Extremely toxic, argumentative and unprofessional individuals, it could be a good place to work but it’s the ppl you work with, and my colleagues including management were the worst I’ve ever come across. Supervisor was in over his head and couldn’t get a grip on things, did not help matters he was very close or personal friends with an employee and therefore gave him preferential treatment (conflict of interest). The employee in question would constantly exaggerate minor issues and ‘grass’ colleagues up or ‘stir the pot’, he was always asking to lend money from other employees, exploited the company by doing private cash jobs with the company’s clients (MOD premises etc), the supervisor knew about this but kept it quiet, or at least that was the general consensus. A lot of backstabbing and two faced toxic ppl which again the supervisor was incapable of getting a grip of. The main boss didn’t really seem interested and was more concerned with box ticking exercises. I could go on, couldn’t wait to leave in the end it was that bad, very poor working environment and culture which was detrimental to mental health. Seem’s to have a high turnover of staff coming in and out off an agency conveyer belt, which says it all really (further issues with that). There were some genuine guys there but from a separate department. I was considering legal action for some of the unlawful and bullying behaviour I was witnessing and subjected to but I just couldn’t be bothered prolonging the stress and hassle. Join this Plymouth depot at your own risk. They seem good on paper with a fancy royal approval, but it means nothing if you can’t get your house in order and operate in a way that does not align with their own values and expectations.

Explore other reviews about Gavin Jones

2.0
25 Mar 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Training is ok, overall not the worst company to work for (Yet)

Cons

The older employees and management have become somewhat of a clique, poor pay, they claim to be investors in people gold standard champions this seems to have developed into an egotistical ethos of critisizing employees and other companies rather than supporting them, too much smoke and mirrors when conveying company profits etc, extremely childish when a contract ends at request of client.

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Gavin Jones Response
9y
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you did not enjoy your time in our employ. Our ethos is to engage and empower our team leaders to take ownership and responsibility for their teams and their clients in order to establish sustainable relationships which ensure retention. Yes, we have high standards with an aspiration to move from "best in class" to "World Class" - so the loss of a contract or a dissatisfied Client is always disappointing for the whole team - because retention of work means security of tenure for site-based staff and their families and a sustainable future for the business. We sincerely hope you have found a new position now which better suits your aspirations and skill set and wish you well for the future.
1.0
3 Oct 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The workers on the ground are the ones who make the company.

Cons

There is a lack of any inclusive culture at Gavin Jones. Management have created an agressive environment to work in and have a lack of any respect or any semblance of people management skills. Any support given to the grounds maintenance staff come from supervisors and foreman only. The company do not pay market rate for their staff, however often empty promises have been made. A company that has grown quite quickly yet seems to have forgotten the core of their company is their people. Thsi is not snenvirpment for independent thinkers.

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