Do you live in Wales, need a job, and are okay that
you might be laid off at a moment's notice?
Do you live in North Wales, desperately need a
job, and are okay with the fact you might be laid off at a
moment’s notice?
Then send your resume to Surf Snowdonia, the much hyped wave
pool park that’s been cursed with mechanical breakdowns,
received middling reviews, then got a
firm kick in the balls from Slater’s recent reveal. They’re
re-opening soon, and because they fired their entire staff a few
months back, they need to restock their supply of warm bodies.
Apply here.
How is Surf Snowdonia, from an employee’s viewpoint?
I recently spoke to some former staff to find out. (Without
exception they asked to be quoted anonymously because, in one
individual’s words, “Can you keep my name out of it? North
Wales is fairly small.”)
The seasonal workers weren’t too happy, but fuck them,
right?
The nature of seasonal employment dictates that you toss people
away when they’re no longer needed. Sure, you may do it a few
months earlier than planned, but who cares about disposable
labor?
“The rest of the park was planned to stay open through
winter, but when the machine stopped working, no one came, not even
for the kids play area”
“I’ve had nothing but trouble with my manager and the
payroll clerk since I started.”
“No warning. We understood that the bar and restaurant would
stay open even when the surfing lagoon closed for the winter. The
app message came as a big surprise to me. I worked the Monday with
no suspicions. .. Tuesday I was told by app.”
“I found out about our redundancy before I was told by the
bosses, and even then we were told via phone app.”
Firing everyone via smart phone app is pretty low class, the
business equivalent of dumping your hook-up via text. But it’s so
streamlined, how could an employer resist?
All they need do is force everyone to install Deputy and the necessity of
delivering bad news face to face becomes a thing of the past.
What’s it like working there? I’m glad you asked!
“Surf Snowdonia paid me well considering I’m only 18 not
many companies would pay £6.50 an hour“
“we had numerous complaints about it being so expensive,
about most things being expensive actually, I was reluctant the
whole time to serve people at the till, because of the
prices”
“The prices of everything in that place were ridiculously
high and a lot of people were bummed about the hype, the red bull
weekend worked out a treat, but other than that, it never seemed
like it was doing what it was supposed to, we as a company just
weren’t delivering what was set out to do.”
“I feel massively let down by them there’s no
doubt.“
What about the permanent positions? Sure, they’re
gonna kick the part time kids to the curb, but at least the people
hired under permanent status have job security, right?
“I was on a full time contract, there were at least 3 others
in the [removed] on supposed full time contracts. I can think of at
least 9-10 people on so called all year round contracts. A lot of
us wouldn’t of taken the job on casual contracts. Never!!”
“My partner went there after leaving a job of 5 years. 4
weeks later we are both out of work! Not good, no loyalty & no
integrity. “
Unfortunately, the local economy is in the shitter, and life’s
cruel realities dictate you often take work you don’t
want. A
man’s gotta eat.
So will you be competing with previous employees for positions?
It would appear not. Despite the fact that “the village
of Dolgarrog is a pit! When the factory closed down the village was
on its arse & now the place looks so much better for having SS
there,” many have decided to try their luck elsewhere.
“It would take an awful lot to make me even think
about it. More money for sure,lol. plus a seriously iron clad
contract if such thing exists! I very much doubt
it.”
“I won’t be going back, as most of the previous staff will
not be.”
“No doubt, I would think some of the villagers will boycott
it next year.”
To be fair to Surf Snowdonia, not everyone feels the same way.
At least one former employee is likely to re-apply, though not for
the greatest of reasons.
“I don’t think many would go back, but do you know what? I
would because this sort of thing happens in every firm over here,
and I don’t find it easy to get employment. Employment with an
appreciative firm is a pipe dream.”
