sales

manager

customer service representative

sales coordinator

sales associate

IKEA

An enjoyable retail job. Varied work, wonderful coworkers and environment. Love IKEA's values in theory.

Unfortunately Management will not listen to the coworkers complaints of the atrocious roster system which has been an issue for around 4 years. Every employee on a part-time contract feel the same way and every employee I have stayed in touch with since leaving mentioned the rostering as a big issue in their exit interview. Yet management continue to support the system. There is very little roster predictability from fortnight to fortnight. Every 2 weeks it changes which makes it very difficult to plan your life, make appointments, etc. Also it is commonplace to be rostered outside of your availability, and when this happens there is a "sorry" and you lose the hours (unless you are lucky to find a shift to cover that fits in with your schedule). There is no long-term employee loyalty. You make it clear to management you are willing to increase your contract hours, however it proves very difficult to achieve. To increase your contract you are required to pick up shifts that are either sent out in an email, or hope that your manager sends you a personal message. It is very difficult to pick up shifts weekly for 3 months straight which is what is needed to increase your hours in order to be offered a higher contract. Meanwhile IKEA hires new employees. It is stressful when you have a family to support and it is impossible not to feel undervalued.

Because of this many are forced to leave to find a job with more consistent hours for a healthier work/life balance.

If it wasn't for this issue I would give IKEA 5 stars, as it is a great place to work.

A typical day at work includes providing thousands of customers with advanced customer service, meeting their needs and providing answers to their many questions. As well as looking after hundreds of children throughout the week.
Whilst working at Ikea I have learnt many important skills, and have improved many of my skills throughout the past two years. 
My team leader and the many managers employed at Ikea show much enthusiasm and are always there when called upon, they allow each individual to achieve their set goals as well as help them set new goals for the future. 
My co-workers are a lively bunch which I found no trouble with becoming accepted by them. Out of work social gatherings are frequent and enjoyable.
I must say the hardest part of the job is not having enough time throughout the day to meet each customers expectations (at Ikea we experience thousands of customers a day), although I do my absolute best to do well by the customer and help them walk away with the right answer and a smile on their face. Which leads me to the most enjoyable part of my job. Looking after children while they play, laugh and make new friends is very satisfying, as is knowing the parents' have complete confidence with leaving their child in our care. The overall satisfaction of meeting the customers' expectations and needs is the best feeling.

In terms of big box Retail, IKEA makes a solid argument in terms employability for the following reasons:

- Generous leave entitlements
- Okay pay for a Level 1 Co Worker, great pay for higher tier co-workers
- Heavily discounted lunches
- Great "opportunities" for growth (in different departments or onwards to management)

However be aware that:

- The company will talk about how people are its greatest asset, but it's a blatant front. You will work when IKEA wants you to work; whether that is by cutting your hours, or making you work 3/4 weekends. Their financial bottom-line outweighs any sort of employee satisfaction

- The company will milk your initiative. If you put your hand up to take on extra responsibilities, they will happily pile them on you without a pay-rise, and if they decide they like you being in a particular department after being cross-trained (it makes them more money), you will be permanently put there despite your original placement, even if it's against your will.

- 3/4 weekends is a requirement in most roles

- False promises of progression

Be mindful of the above. If you are willing to dedicate your life to the business then you may find yourself in a great career with a good pay packet, if you're lucky. You just need to be willing make some sacrifices to get there. The IKEA workplace if very cliquey to the point of cultish, so just keep that in mind.

Starting at IKEA I was a pick packer through a casual job agency and then was hired as a part-time worker through the actual company.

Working in the logistics team you’re expected to perform tasks that I believe are inappropriate for the level of pay. Lifting heavy boxes (sometimes 40>50 KG wardrobes), being expected to at times almost jog around the warehouses to meet KPIs, working an abundance of hours (at times I was receiving 5AM>1PM, 9AM>5PM & 2PM>10PM shifts all within the same week) & in general you’re expected to go above and beyond for the company. Whilst I understand sales is also a mentally stressful position, in Logistics you’re expected to perform tasks that put actual duress on your body for equal amounts and even sometimes less pay. 

Since leaving IKEA I’ve moved onto a job where I’m getting paid literally double the rate, doing less work on a full-time basis and without any qualifications par my forklift ticket. 

I also found at times management can very easily hold grudges and make you feel slightly uncomfortable depending on their moods/feelings.

It’s a good starting job to gain some experience, although I would recommend getting out as soon as you can find something better. 

IKEA is a great place to work. The management is not overbearing and demanding. They do get annoyed if they have to babysit, so if you can take responsibility for your work, then you are fine. The upper management is awesome, very nice and supportive, they come and talk to you on the floor explaining what's going on and what you are doing good even if you are a cleaner.

On shift food was discounted by like 70% so breakfast and lunch was good to have. All other items have a good discount too, I think around 20%. So you can shop and fill your house with IKEA stuff.

The atmosphere is very reserved and there aren't many people who are up for hanging out after their shifts for a beer or 2. People working there for 5 years don't know if their co worker have kids or not. Don't expect there are trivia nights or something.

No complains though. A good workplace with a chilled out atmosphere and lots of different shifts available. 

Worked at the Richmond VIC store, I barely lasted through the end of the year.  You get far here if you brown-nose.  You can become a "manager" if you throw others under the bus, take credit for things you did not do, and do an enormous amount of brown-nosing.  The responsibilities are piled on, they want you to come in on your days off, they want to come in earlier or stay later than you were scheduled for, so forget about having a life if you work here.  The work is very physically demanding, lots of hours on your feet, pushing and pulling and carrying heavy items which they failed to mention from the very beginning.  My manager was hardly EVER in.  He took more days off or was on holidays more than any manager I have ever worked with.  He was also a blatant liar, highly inappropriate and rude.  Never mind talking to human resources, those women did nothing as they were too busy sucking up to the managers.  This particular Ikea DOES NOT live up to their values that they try so hard to promote and brag about, I would not recommend working here for that ridiculous hourly rate in Melbourne.

I worked there for long time, all i heard from every one is whole management system is useless. They represent like it about customers but when you are working there it is all about money and customers are no where in focus. Customer service is going down day by day,  more and more staff members are not happy with management, discrimination, no respect, no support and value of any staff members. They want you to be leader and dare to be different, be honest and everything, but when you actually do it they will mess you up and make you feel bad for doing good job. Discrimination is another name of ikea. Management is doing nothing about it cause half the time they are part of it. staff members get treated like they are worth nothing. I would not recommend any one to work at IKEA. Let alone staff but there are 100s of GP doctors who know that IKEA is worst place to work and all ikea staff are always stressed too much pressure to handle.

I have worked there for over 5 years. The people are nice. Great employee benefits  with subsidised meals and fun people. However what I have learnt is that although the people are nice but the workplace is highly toxic and very political. There are lots of gossips and favouritsm happening. Very frustrating and disappointing as  you are either in their 'list' or not. It doesnt matter how hard you work, its about who you know to move up the ranks. Bullying is also evident in some departments where no leaders want to address as it is too difficult.  That is the turnover is so high. The senior management only look at  those who mingles with them even without the leadership, capabilities and attributes to lead. 
Very difficult to work as you have a bunch of people who doesnt care about the business but only themselves when sitting in the high level position as it is good salary. Too much talking and meetings and no action. Co workers on the operations are too stretched and we have jogh nimber of leaders who dont do anything to support the staff.  

I did not think the role was well-compensated for the extraordinary amount of responsibilities you were given. Even when you are given your schedule which is created 3 weeks in advanced, you were asked to come in earlier than scheduled or asked to stay later, or asked to come in on your days off.  It is a department that is clearly underfunded so the few coworkers it does have, are fully stretched out thin.  We had a "manager" that was out more often than not.  He took little no initiative in managing or training you because of the exorbitant amount of days he was on holiday, away, TIL, etc., not to mention he had zero management or people skills or communication abilities.  It's too bad because the Ikea brand/name has great values and a good foundation but none of that is reflected at this particular Ikea.  It does not seem people become managers from merit, it's more contingent on cult of personality and it's more of a popularity contest.  I would not work there if I was offered $40/hour.

Very unconventional place!  Management style is based on management-by-default not design and fresh initiatives are not welcome or taken seriously. It's simply a practice of ''do things the way they have always been - even if it's clearly obsolete''. 

IKEA Australia is emblematic of an American expression - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.   But this isn't always the right approach. 

- Operations are unwholesome, 
- Managers are too laid back and don't take the initiative,  Can you wonder how IKEA made people a manager without an acumen. Lols!
- Poor staff levels especially within departments which require   physically fit men and women. 
- The job roster system is not carefully planned and adjusted to suit the co-workers work/life balance because it's always IKEA's daily/weekly/monthly budget FIRST, nothing else matters. 

This is the foundation of IKEA job-related complaints, IKEA HR know but really, - IKEA HR couldn't care less. 

Sell! Sell! Sell!

So sad!

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