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.”
