River Island reviews

3.6

58% would recommend to a friend

(2,971 total reviews)

Ben Lewis

66% approve of CEO

41% positive business outlook

River Island has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 2,971 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The River Island employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Ventas al mayoreo y al menudeo industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
3.0
Nov 5, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to start working in fashion if you want to figure out how a high street fashion environment works.

Cons

Needs to progress forward with SMART working practices, better communication and better staff support.

1.0
Oct 23, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

50% off Discount for management

Cons

The worst experience I've ever had! They need to work on treating their staff with respect. Kindness makes a better workplace! No one should be treated like this and I hope this doesn't continue! I left in the space of four months due to mental health. - Toxic management and if you didn't fit in, you would be excluded and talked about behind your back. I found out from other staff. Felt like high school!   - Disrespected by management, I was always pulled into the office and told you're not good enough, I wasn't strong minded and I don't understand pressure. Mentally draining! - When I was ill, management was rude and questioned me assuming I was lying. Bullied me to come back to work. I asked other staff and they got the same treatment. - No training and felt like I needed to know everything as they would either roll eyes or have nasty comments to say. - Understaffed, so I had to take on jobs that were not discussed by me - You would be sent out to help support other Regional Visual Specialists (even if it took 3 hrs to get to) to be treated like you were crap. Not even a hello in the morning. Very clique, having lunch with them I felt excluded. Did really unnecessary jobs like a cleaner! If I wanted to progress in VM it would be as Regional and I felt there was no way!  - I was told my breaks were shorter than what I was contracted for. I questioned but I still wasn't allowed to have it. - No creativity which is ridiculous in such a creative role! - Was told what uniform to pick by management even though you're paying for it!  - I was told I wasn't doing weekends...two weeks in my job I ended up doing it, as kind as I was but when It was told to me three days before and I had plans, they tried to force me to do it.  - I agreed in my interview with my shifts and then it was something different when I started  - Worst part to conclude found out management went onto my social media (now i'm on private) and screenshotted photos of me I saw on her phone by accident, creepy & weird behaviour! Getting told your not good enough made me feel depressed.

avatar
River Island Response
2y
We are very sorry to read this was your experience of your time with us. We take our Islander's wellbeing very seriously with a number of different support materials and workshops in place as well as access to Mental Health Allies and the Retail Trust. We will be looking in to this further and taking any appropriate action necessary.
2.0
Aug 28, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good learning opportunities Varied and interesting work for people interested in fashion. The hot food is good and subsidised. Free car park.

Cons

The culture can be toxic on the buying floor especially womenswear, depending on the department. Very fast paced and can can be an unhealthy and stressful place to work. Quite far out of the city. The workload can be unmanageable and middle management could be quite harsh towards juniors. The culture has been pretty toxic for a long time.

Viewing 115 - 117 of 2,971 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,212 River Island reviews submitted anonymously by River Island employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if River Island is right for you.