Reviews SMEIKALBOOKS

Very disappointing experience – would not recommend.

Unfortunately, my experience working for this company was very negative. In my opinion, there were serious issues with the way employees were treated, a lack of respect and professionalism, and concerns about fair treatment in the workplace.

I witnessed situations that made me feel that some employees were treated unfairly, and there was pressure on staff to work overtime, with people feeling worried about the consequences if they refused.

The overall working atmosphere was unpleasant, and the management style left a lot to be desired. I believe every employee deserves respect, fair treatment and a professional working environment, regardless of their nationality or language.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend this company to anyone looking for a respectful and supportive workplace.

Serious concerns about management, favouritism, nationality and employment procedures

My experience at SMEIKALBOOKS was disappointing. I have serious concerns about management culture, employee treatment, employment procedures and the apparent influence of nationality and personal relationships in the workplace.

1. Favouritism and informal power

In my experience, employees were expected to be “nice” to a colleague I will refer to as Beatka. To my knowledge, she did not hold a formal team leader position, yet appeared to have considerable influence over the team.

It seemed important to keep her happy, agree with her and avoid upsetting her. Employees were also expected to accept overtime, and refusing extra hours was not always well received. This created the impression that pleasing certain people and demonstrating loyalty mattered more than employees feeling free to make their own decisions.

I personally witnessed Beatka calling the manager and expressing her views about employees and staffing. This raised concerns for me about her influence over decisions affecting people's employment and whether those decisions were made fairly and transparently.

2. Comments about British employees and preference for Polish workers

One of the most concerning incidents I personally witnessed was Beatka saying that they did not want English workers because they would not fit in.

I also personally witnessed her calling the manager and asking for Polish workers when additional staff were needed.

These are not rumours from other employees. I personally heard the comment and witnessed the calls.

This left me concerned that British workers were viewed negatively because of their nationality or inability to speak Polish. I also understood that some British employees had been dismissed following communication difficulties, adding to my concerns about equal treatment.

A workplace in England should assess employees fairly on their suitability, conduct and ability to perform their duties. Saying that English workers are not wanted because they will not fit in raises serious questions about inclusion and fairness.

I cannot determine the motives behind every staffing decision, but what I personally observed left me questioning whether employees were treated equally regardless of nationality and language.

3. Employment contracts and dismissal procedures

I have serious concerns about how employment procedures were handled. In my own case, I was verbally dismissed and told to leave immediately. I believe the company failed to follow the disciplinary and termination procedure set out in my employment contract.

I did not consider the way my employment ended fair or professional. Employees should be able to rely on the procedures written into their contracts, applied consistently and not influenced by personal relationships or the opinions of influential colleagues.

4. Health and safety training and documentation

I also have concerns about health and safety induction and training records. In my experience, I did not receive the documented health and safety induction I expected, and I had concerns about the documentation relating to my forklift training.

Proper induction, appropriate training and clear records are essential for employee safety. Employers should take these responsibilities seriously.

5. Final thoughts

My experience left me with serious questions about favouritism, informal power, pressure to accept overtime, the treatment of British employees, contractual procedures and health and safety.

A professional workplace should have clear management responsibilities, fair recruitment, proper training and consistent disciplinary procedures. Employees should not feel that keeping a particular person happy is necessary to protect their jobs.

I encourage prospective employees to ask about management structures, overtime expectations, employment contracts, disciplinary procedures and health and safety training before accepting a position at SMEIKALBOOKS.

This review reflects my personal experiences, observations and concerns as a former employee.