Toxic culture disguised as values. AVOID if you're international, young, or expect to be respected. - Operations Product Analyst Co-op Employee Review

1.0
Jul 17, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Former Role: Operations Product Analyst Location: Manchester, UK Employment Type: Full-time Tenure: 4 years Final Thought: This workplace killed my desire to ever return to corporate life. A few genuinely kind colleagues who helped me survive the day-to-day. The only “growth” I experienced here was emotional resilience—because I had no choice. It taught me what not to tolerate ever again. If you’re okay being micromanaged, unheard, and expected to work post-5PM without question, then this may be your dream job. Honestly? It taught me everything I don’t want in a workplace. So thanks for that.

Cons

Racism and passive discrimination are alive—but wear a smile. If you’re an international employee, prepare to be othered, misunderstood, and left to “figure it out.” A culture of silence, not support. When I went through personal crises—including loss and illness—I was met with coldness, not compassion. I was still expected to perform, respond, and complete tasks sent after 5PM with no regard for my mental state. Management is emotionally immature and retaliatory. Instead of supporting you, they’ll discipline you for not suffering silently. Cultural insensitivity and microaggressions were constant—and tolerated. Managers are protected, not held accountable. My manager displayed toxic, emotionally immature behaviour, consistently retaliating and manipulating power dynamics. Even when formally flagged, nothing changed. Zero support during personal crises. Your mental health will be treated as an inconvenience, not a human reality There were four formal HR cases in four years—and all were brushed under the rug. ( Not to mention “Let’s brush under the rug” was the exact phrase mentioned by the higher up management. SLOW CLAPS for you sir) “Values” are posters on a wall. Not behaviour in meetings. Co-op talks about inclusion, but when it matters? Silence. HR prioritises the company’s image, not employee safety. I raised valid concerns about behaviour, mental health, and bullying—yet I was the one who got suspended after resigning. Not for misconduct, but for daring to tell the truth. That speaks volumes about who they choose to protect. Toxic managers are protected. Period. Especially if you’re the one pointing out what’s wrong. There is no system for change. Even something like GSCOP, which is meant to ensure fairness across operations, seems to be performative at best. Where is the system for escalating behavioural red flags when managers cross lines repeatedly? Leadership hides behind values it doesn’t practice. Co-op speaks of fairness, inclusion, and community. But in reality? Control is prioritised over care, performance over people, and image over accountability. Gifted luxury gifts to my manager out of respect & I got a £3 box of Maltesers in return as my farewell gift. That sums up the emotional imbalance here and sheer hate. Not to mention about the pain of buying those chocolates as my last words shared with her! If you’re young, ambitious, or different in any way—you’ll be seen as a threat, not talent.

avatar
Co-op Response
9mo
We’re sorry to hear that your time with us left you feeling unsupported and disillusioned. We expect all colleagues to be treated with respect, and we take allegations of discrimination, bullying, and retaliation seriously. During employment, colleagues are encouraged to raise concerns through formal channels so they can be properly investigated and addressed. We regret if you felt unable to do that at the time and if you feel that there is more that we need to know about your time with us please use the former colleague contact form at colleagues.coop.co.uk/contacts and share more details so that we can look into this matter. We’re committed to creating an inclusive and compassionate workplace, and we continue to invest in manager development, cultural awareness, and mental health support. We know that inclusion must be reflected in everyday behaviours, not just policies or posters. Thank you again for your feedback. We’re sorry that your experience didn’t reflect the values we stand for, and we wish you well in whatever comes next.

Explore other reviews about Co-op

5.0
Aug 18, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good pay, great staff. Good shifts

Cons

Long hours. Too far from home

avatar
Co-op Response
10mo
Thank you for your review and feedback. We're pleased to see that you were happy with your pay, shifts, and your colleagues.
3.0
Sep 8, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Team got on well, hours weren't particularly harsh (pay not particularly impressive either)

Cons

Overworked due to corporate ruthlessly cutting hours (while hiring more staff?), generally piling on more and more work to the store team without considering time constraints, absolutely no opportunity for advancement while a store manager is already there

avatar
Co-op Response
9mo
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review, however, we believe that you have left this in error. Our Co-op is based in the United Kingdom and have no association with Co-operatives in the USA. We've advised Glassdoor to allocate your review to the correct organisation, but you may wish to review and edit this yourself to ensure your views are represented correctly.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All