Over worked, upper management poor, care more about share price than the workers - Anonymous employee Bunzl Employee Review

1.0
Feb 6, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Two years ago everything since new management have taken over......none, All in all none!

Cons

False promises from senior board level management, who are more interested in getting a pat on the back from MD than giving two monkies about the people who make the company what it is, New management took control of the running of the company on a regional basis two / three years ago and since the regions have no direction and lack communication from bottom up, There is absolutely no chance of being promoted internally as the new so called directors prefer to bring in outsiders who have little or no knowledge of the Bunzl ways of life, The only loyalty you can expect to receive is at branch level from your branch manager but again these good old school managers are few and far apart, in fact the company is getting rid of the old school managers to get in what is known within the company as yes managers, who are cut from the same cloth as the regional directors and who like the regional directors want a pat on the head from MD want the same experience from the regional directors. The new branch managers like the regional directors are all about empire building and from many's perspective are wanting to score brownie points to one day get the keys to the towers in isleworth. Low morale is a major factor as all the company want is blood and their pound of flesh the inconvenience which you suffer with regards to home or family life has no interest to the company your expected to act robotic and are expected not to have an opinion. Long hours are expected and with cost savings being made more work is being put on both sales and warehouse with the ethos from the top of if you don't want the job there are individuals that do. No extra money for having a forklift licence or being a fire warden. Customers also know at ground level what the company is all about as over promising and under delivering yes men in national sales constantly burden branches by dumping the proverbial at branches feet and then either denying all knowledge or not wanting to know about the issues they cause to customers. Values here have changed drastically over the last 24/36 months your now an expense and are treated as such. Senior managers at branch level are disalusioned with life at Bunzl since the new changes of directorship, one of Bunzls fundamental mission statements that is promoted in house is attract retain and develop is laughable at best, The moving of the so called goal posts with regards to bonuses is constant and from a sales perspective the warehouse get treated like pond life with little or no incentive aimed at the engine room of branch/company. Have spoken with warehouse managers and all feel the same. Would not recommend this company to anybody that's interested in going up the so called Bunzl ladder , this side of the Bunzl business whilst makes the most money in the uk is fractured, with a very strong stench of us and them.

Explore other reviews about Bunzl

5.0
Apr 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, the company is a large family, at least in the St Louis IT team. Was very happy there, but was lured away by money. If given the chance, I would return in a heartbeat. The team was amazing and the culture was supportive. I should have never left.

Cons

Some of the tech is s little behind. They are working to improve and become current, but a large company takes time.

1
2.0
Jul 21, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very nice people who work in the trenches day to day.

Cons

I had a Muslim IT executive state to me that "Americans do not know an effing thing about sharia law" and many other choice words directed at Christians. I recognized they were trying to see if I would comment as someone who works in that persons organization . This executive has citizenship status and has separated themselves from the rest of Americans based on religion. Keep in my mind this was a Teams call about work and this was the message they wanted to send me. This was not the only incident like this. I had other senior executives be openly political and show complete disgust for their fellow Americans. Not a safe place for Christians to work and be open about their faith.

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