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Western Power Distribution

Acquired by National Grid

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Western Power Distribution Reviews

2.9

27% would recommend to a friend

(182 total reviews)

Robert A. Symons

37% approve of CEO

16% positive business outlook

Western Power Distribution has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 182 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Western Power Distribution employee rating is 21% below average for employers within the Energy, mining, utilities industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

182 reviews
1.0
16 Aug 2016

Stay well clear of this company

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Reasonable salary - but not enough for what was expected of you and the amount of pressure you are under.

Cons

Everything - no matter how hard you try if your face doesn't fit they will do everything in their power to find a reason to fire you or screw you over or discipline you. They are unsupportive and basically try to crush your enthusiasm until you're a WPD zombie and will take orders without question. Behind the scene cutting corners to get the job done quicker and pressure to do so. Culture of being too afraid to report near misses etc.

1.0
12 Mar 2016

Just glad I've escaped

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There's a good variety of work, which isn't necessarily a good thing as you can't focus on one thing but it's the best I could come up with.

Cons

Salary is well below average, and for new recruits often less than what is advertised as you're taken on as a 'designate'. There's many people alongside you on massive protected salaries driving flash company cars with little authorisation. Any time you find a way to make things work, management stop you from doing it. Training is cut to the bare minimum, and you're expected to run before you can walk by senior management. Don't expect any sort of work life balance if you want to get all your work done, and as soon as you finish one nightmare of a job you'll be given 3 more. Many people I worked with keep a pen and paper by their bedside, for when you wake up in the middle of the night every night and remember things you need to do - that's the sort of work life balance youll get. You're expected to be available for faults constantly, and meeting customer expectations at the same time, plus doing standby and other things in between. All in all, they expect too much for too little reward. The only benefit of working there, as listed on the WPD site, is free parking at the depot - wow.

1.0
9 Mar 2016

More Smoke & Mirrors

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As below. Salary OK, overtime available for craft staff at great sacrifice to personal lives, can't think of anything else positive to say. Long term prospects good if you keep your head down.

Cons

Don't expect any worthwhile training, just a half day tick box exercises. There is no consistency with anything across the company - There are many people doing very little work on massive protected salaries with protected company cars which frustrates people. Management is none existent - If you are useless you get an easy ride, if you are any good then you get worked till you break. Work related is endemic within the company along with long term sick which they do nothing to manage (Even when it is repeatedly raised in staff surveys).

Viewing 1 - 3 of 182 Reviews

Glassdoor has 198 Western Power Distribution reviews submitted anonymously by Western Power Distribution employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Western Power Distribution is right for you.