store manager

retail sales associate

assistant manager

T2 TEA

As a Christmas casual, I only got a couple hours a week for work and even then the manager and assistant manager were constantly cancelling my shifts and reducing my hours more and more each week.

The work I was doing when I had shifts was not very interesting. Store manager said Christmas casuals would get the chance to rotate and be at different stations (i.e. the register, the bar, the floor), but they assigned the Xmas casuals on the floor the whole shift to only one section of the store. There would be very little for me to do when no customers were around aside from cleaning (which would only last  5 minutes tops). 

When you were interacting with customers, management insisted on a very aggressive style of customer service. Clearly, the majority of customers who wandered in only came to browse and did not want to be disturbed and you could see the irritation as staff tried to approach them, but anytime management saw you not talking to a customer, they would be on you for it. 

Store manager also sent out a mass email after the Christmas period saying they would contact the Xmas casuals individually for feedback but I never heard anything.

All in all, they overhired Xmas casuals, leaving very few hours for each one. This made it harder in itself to try and gain more experience in the store and settle in better to the role, because there was little opportunity to. And unless you’re willing to put on that fake, customer service persona and constantly hound customers who want to be left alone, you will probably not enjoy working this dry role and will not get make the most out of your time off during the holidays for making good money and gaining good experience. 

Unfortunate. 2/10 would not recommend.

The experience provides a relaxing and enjoyable work environment, with a beautiful product that creates a positive atmosphere. Sharing this vibe with customers makes the job fulfilling, and enjoying delicious tea during shifts is a standout perk. Coworkers are kind and welcoming, fostering a supportive and friendly team culture. However, despite these positives, there is a sense that employees are treated more like numbers than individuals.

It can be disheartening to dedicate time to learning about the product, completing training, and developing a genuine appreciation for the brand, only to feel that these efforts go unnoticed. Employment is limited to a three-month period, during which employees may receive only a handful of shifts, giving the impression that the company undervalues their effort and commitment.

Furthermore, there is no follow-up or acknowledgment at the end of the contract. After completing the work period, not even a simple "thank you" is offered. Requests to continue working are often met with a firm refusal, leaving employees feeling underappreciated despite their dedication. While the environment and team make the day-to-day enjoyable, the lack of recognition and limited opportunities overshadow the overall experience.

A typical shift includes:
- Topping up free drinks at the bar
- Restocking/fixing shelf displays
- Serving customers

With this being my first job, it was a good experience to learn the basics of customer service and adapt to the working environment. On all other accounts, it wasn't a good experience. 

I was hired just after the previous manager left and for the entire ten months that I was employed, my store didn't have a manager. The second manager unofficially took over the roll and our timetables were created by the regional manager; someone I only talked to once. Along with this, I was only given one shift during the holiday season followed by radio silence for five months until I unintentionally discovered I had been let go.

My biggest gripe with my experience working for T2 is the horrendous level of communication between the company and it's employees. Firstly, when the stores temporarily closed due to COVID-19 I only found out through the Tea Society as a customer, not as an employee. As well as when I was laid off, I only found out after trying to see who was working that day and had to assume that I had been laid off. I'm aware, as a casual, I'm not entitled to notice of being laid off but it would have been nice to receive a generic email saying "We don't need you anymore, thanks!" at least.

Pros:
- Free tea while working
- Generous discount 
- Fun, relaxed work environment

Cons:
- Boring, repetative shifts
- Little to no care for employees
- Poor employee communication

As an employer they're really strict about how you dress, the language you use and on your behaviour. They're also very insistant that you are at least 10minutes early for your shift or else you are marked as late. The uniform is ALL black clothing but you can have colourful accessories. Discount is 20% off teas. When I was working here I made a few very expensive sales ($450+) and was only told after that because I made good sales could I have got rewards from the company (which I think the other more permanent casuals claimed on my behalf). When they let me go they didnt tell me that I was being let go they just cancelled all my shifts and didn't ask me to come back again. I asked the manager if she would be a reference for my resume and she ignored me. This place has left a pretty sour taste in my mouth even though as a whole it wasn't too bad to work for, just wouldn't to it again. Rosters are run through Deputy

What is the best part of working at the company?
The tea and teawares. The discount is good but considering how they pay, you would have to drink kilos of tea for it to be a benefit. Also the mark up on the cost price is crazy.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
They don’t care about the staff at all!

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Disgusting. What they say they do & what they actually do is very different. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Most customers were friendly. But you didn’t get time to interact much as you are constantly writing reports about every minute of your day. The Micro managing is extreme.

I worked for T2 over the last Christmas period and it has been an absolute rollercoaster, there are no benefits from this job other than the fact you can get free tea to drink every shift, but the 20% off for staff is dismal and disappointing, plus the lack of shifts even for a casual is striking. The management of this is okay but lacks understanding and the communication from employees to employers is none. 

I would only recommend  T2 at a last resort if you are desperate for a job, as the stress and annoyance of this job is not enjoyable whatsoever.

Alot of backstabbing and alot of gossip dont  trust anyone 
Dont care about others and will speak bad and will look down on u
No support 
Can kick you out anytime
Always in need of staff because every one leaves
Have to go throigh alot of agencies ( which dont even put you on the roster until last minute sometimes you have to chase them
B careful of the ex managers and the current manager
Always changing bosses
Boss doesnt seem to care much
Tripping over boxes 
Very unorganised 
Very toxic environment 



I really enjoyed my time as a Christmas casual. Only downfall was that I was not kept on for further employment however this was expected.

There was always something to do whilst you were at work with great breaks, pay and discounts. Training was very thorough and staff were always happy to help. 

The customers were generally a really happy and polite group and the same can be said for the employees and management.  

Really good shift hours.

Normal day:
- Preparing tea for the sample bar, and for customers.
- Restocking all shelves.
- Dusting surfaces.
- Putting through sales.
- Hyping up promotions.

Pros:
- Great discount, great KPI prizes.
- Amazing team (depends on the people, but usually great).
- Easy tasks once you get going.

Cons:
- Hours can be cut without notice.
- Very high KPI expectations.
- Usual gossip and VERY competitive KPIs between coworkers.

The store I worked at had a really good vibe and supportive environment. Existing staffs were friendly and helped newbies alot. They always ask us to ask for help, don't hesitate. I got plenty of shifts so I was happy about it. And they made sure we do go on a break for what we should have had. It was really good experience working at T2.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Store manager 5 salaries reported	$62,940 per year
Retail sales associate 5 salaries reported	$28.60 per hour
Assistant manager 3 salaries reported	$52,667 per year

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