principal

process operator

manager

engineer

electrical technician

South32

South32 is an organisation that is well intentioned and is finally moving away from the "Big Business" mentality and embracing a "mid-tier" mentality. Culturally, South32 is a great place to work, with good leadership, good culture and a fairly strong vision. This is evident in messaging and focus on growth projects.  

South32's more imminent problem is managing a very low margin portfolio which is very price sensitive, whilst pushing a growth agenda and relying on systems which are "Big Business" centric. Projects designed to reduce work have been paused, which in my view is short term thinking. This misalignment has resulted in a dangerously lean organisation with a high number of overworked people and multiple restructures. 

You will learn a lot at South32, but until this work imbalance is resolved, South32 will continue to experience low tenure and significant change. Sometimes you just need more people, plain and simple.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
There is nothing good about S32 Perth Office. Stay away!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
S32 safety performance is terrible. They have more fatalities than any other workplace yet there is no consequences for their VPs and other senior leaders who are the root cause of their problems.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Terrible work environment and blame culture in Perth Office.

Safety is all talk , no safety issues addressed just covered up. Try and blame everyone else rather than taking responsibility! If you like an unsafe place to work this is for you! Your enraged to take short cuts and not follow procedures Until something goes wrong and then it's all on you . The bonus system is set up so if you report something you lose your bonuses!

Continuous focus on reducing cost has resulted in a very lean workforce. Difficult processes with lots of red tape and poor processes to support. This means there’s lots of overworked and stressed out people with little thanks or recognition.
Some areas are better than others but the approach is very inconsistent and dependent on the leader you have.

Probably the worst company culture I have ever experienced - management are totally disconnected from their employees and do not demonstrate the company Values. It’s run like a kindergarten, very small minded and very petty.
During my exit interview HR readily acknowledged that “most employees were very unhappy and would leave if they could”.
I’m just happy I left, good luck to them.

It's a good company to work for all in all. The safety culture is actually lived and expected. The mine is closing in 5-6 yrs, so there is alot of cutbacks due to wanting to save cash for other operations which is understandable but also frustrating when it comes to reesourcing

At South32 the opportunity to learn in areas outside your current skills set is not encouraged and management can be at times not in touch with what is happening at ground level. Work/Life Balance was great.

Whilst I enjoyed my career in mining, mid and upper management looked unfavourably down on you , bullying is rife not only at management level but also at ground level, plenty of favourite's and pety squabbling,  even if you are right you are wrong 

Company started with a grand vision to be better than BHP and to “make a difference”.

The reality was endless restructuring, job losses, pay freezes and recut missions statements.

BHP was so much better.

the Boddington Bauxite mine was once a great place to work at but poor management decisions have been costly.
those poor decisions now see salaries and benefits being rapidly eroded
HR department is typical 1970-80s snakes and dogs


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Principal 5 salaries reported	$168,000 per year
Process operator 3 salaries reported	$102,092 per year
Manager 3 salaries reported	$213,333 per year
Engineer 3 salaries reported	$124,667 per year
Electrical technician 1 salary reported	$11,000 per month

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