Work for J D Wetherspoon
Introduction to J D Wetherspoon
Back in 1979, in Muswell Hill, London, Tim Martin opened the very first Wetherspoon. Today, Tim and the company run over 850 pubs and hotels. During its over-40-year history, Wetherspoon has led the way with ground-breaking initiatives, achieved hundreds of awards and grown from a handful of staff to over 40,000 employees.
Why we’re working with Rest Less
We’re proud to be working with Rest Less, in order to offer employment opportunities to the growing community which Rest Less serves so well. We know that it’s been a difficult few years and that life has changed substantially for so many of us – we’re able to offer secure employment and a warm welcome to all.
Whether you have several years’ hospitality experience or have never before pulled a pint or made a pizza, we offer everything from one short shift a week to a full-time career.
Our friendly, supportive teams will guide you through our award-winning training to ensure that you’re happy and confident in your new role.
Why work with J D Wetherspoon
We are committed to providing all of our employees with a safe, friendly and supportive workplace and to being a good company to work for.
When you’re at work, we want you to feel welcome and comfortable in being yourself. Our employee promise is all about how we treat one another and what you should expect every time you come to work. We know that a work-life balance is important – from receiving your rotas three weeks in advance to having at least 12 hours between shifts and no long close-downs, we’ve got you covered!
Free food at work
All pub employees are offered a complimentary meal and a soft drink, while working.
On-duty discount (pub-based employees)
A 50% discount on all food, when working (on duty), including orders taken up to 30 minutes either side of a shift start/end.
Off-duty discount (all employees)
A 20% discount on all food, drinks and hotel accommodation, when not working (off duty). The 20% discount can be extended to include up to three other people – if they are eating or drinking with you or staying with you at a hotel.
Hotel accommodation
The discount applies to a maximum of four people in two rooms, including the employee. At certain times of the year, there may be a restriction on the number of rooms available at a discounted rate.
Further pay increases
Further pay increases are awarded, based on the length of service.
Refer a friend
Recommend a friend to work with us; when that friend has completed six weeks’ service, you will receive a cash bonus.
Company sick pay
The amount received depends on the job role and start date.
Free shares in the company
In Wetherspoon, every employee, after 18 months’ service, is entitled to free shares in the company. What this means is that you get to own a very small part of the entire company. The shares you are given can be sold, if you wish, at any time (after a qualifying period), with the money you receive being yours to keep.
Partnership share plan (UK)
Employees with more than 18 months’ service are eligible to join the partnership share plan and purchase partnership shares. Partnership shares are a tax-efficient way to invest in Wetherspoon.
Loyalty reward
As a reward for loyalty, additional paid holiday is awarded at five, 10, 15 and 20 years’ service.
Additional free shares and pension contributions are awarded after 25 years’ service.
Private medical insurance (UK)
For weekly paid employees, we work with a health cash plan provider which delivers affordable ways to help you to cover the cost of everyday health care. You pay a premium for the scheme, to suit your individual needs, and you then claim cashback for your treatments, as and when you need them. The scheme also covers, at no extra cost, the health care of your children. Your spouse/partner can also be added, at an additional cost.
As a fully trained shift manager, pub manager or Wethercentre employee, you’ll be offered private medical healthcare.
Pension
Every employer in the UK is legally required to enrol eligible staff into a pension scheme. If you earn above the required threshold and are in the right age group, you will be enrolled automatically into a workplace pension scheme with NEST. The company will also make contributions to your pension.
As a fully trained shift manager, pub manager or Wethercentre employee, you’ll have the option to join the company pension scheme.
Alongside your own contribution, the company will make contributions to your pension pot.
We want to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, and if things don’t always go to plan, know that you will have a supportive team of friends and colleagues around you. We want you to be proud to work with us.
We support the well-being of our employees on a wide range of physical health, mental health and welfare issues, including those raised at the recruitment stage. Wetherspoon seeks to make those necessary adjustments reasonably required to help employees to maintain employment and to ensure that they are not harmed by their work.
Find your perfect opportunity at J D Wetherspoon
Real-life stories
Changing your career track or transferring to a new company needn’t be daunting. We asked some of our valued team to tell us about their experiences of working at J D Wetherspoon. We hope they inspire you too.
Nirmala and Seema will each be marking 20 years’ service for Wetherspoon, in 2023
Nirmala has worked at Heathrow airport for 34 years. In January 2003, Wetherspoon took over the site where Nirmala worked and so she transferred to the company, working as a bar associate. Nirmala, who progressed to team leader, said: “I now work as a part-time bar associate again. I am unable to do lots of walking, because of a foot problem, yet still enjoy my job – and the shift work helps me.”
Seema’s working life at Heathrow began in early 1987. She recalled: “I knew very few words of English, yet, within a year and a half, was promoted to cashier. I was offered a management role – and the training was hard. I had had no formal education, yet had the ability to do the job.”
Seema recalled: “It was very different for me, too, working for Wetherspoon, as I had worked before only with food – and there were so many different drinks brands to remember. But I never gave up. I learned quickly, and the nice management team members were a great support. I love my job, have fun, meet people, earn money and come home. I always feel appreciated, and the job keeps me going. I always say that, at work, it is my Wetherspoon family.”
Seema concluded: “I still work full time and am never going to give up the job.”
Pub manager Graham said: “It is such a glowing endorsement for Wetherspoon that both Nirmala and Seema have enjoyed such a successful and fulfilling career with the company. Their stories are inspirational.”
Years flying by for kitchen Guru Angie
In 2022, kitchen associate Angie celebrated her ‘silver’ anniversary with the company.
She is pictured receiving flowers, a cake and card from Wetherspoon’s regional manager Paul (left) and her area manager Calum (no longer with the company) to mark her 25 years’ service.
It was Paul who first employed Angie, in 1997, as a kitchen associate, when he was then a shift manager at The Earl of Dalkeith (Kettering).
Angie, 56, said: “I spent two and a half years at The Earl of Dalkeith and transferred to The Red Well (Wellingborough), when Paul became pub manager there, and have been there ever since.”
Angie is part of an eight-strong team in the kitchen at the Northamptonshire pub.
She continued: “I have always worked in the kitchen, never wanting to be on the bar, and am more than happy in my role.
“I have seen a lot of changes, not only staff members who have been and gone, but changes to the menus too. But I get on with the job, am responsible for the ordering and work the early shift, five days a week. I am definitely a morning person and always full of energy. The shift times also help personally, as I am my mum’s carer.
“At work, it feels like my time to myself. I can relax and get on with my job, which I 100 per cent love. I wouldn’t work anywhere else and am aiming for 30 years and more.”
Tributes to Pauline and Jean, after 50 years in the kitchen
A combined 50 years’ service at one pub by two staff members, who joined the team when it first opened, prompted a special visit from Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, to celebrate the occasion.
Tim presented both staff members with their long-service certificate and a bouquet of flowers each.
Pauline, 55, and Jean, 88, are both part of a 10-strong kitchen team at the pub.
Pauline, who started as a kitchen associate, revealed: “We don’t have a kitchen manager. I more or less fill that role, without the official title or added responsibility.
“I am happy as I am, enjoy my job and try to keep everyone on their toes. I also tell people that the grass is never greener.”
She said: “I work at the pub Monday to Friday and then look after my granddaughter from Friday afternoon until Sunday, which also keeps me very busy.”
Jean said: “No way does it seem like 25 years – it has gone so quickly. I couldn’t wish for better people to work with. That’s the main thing, and I’m happy in my work.”
Tim said: “I was so pleased to be able to congratulate two long-serving staff members, Pauline and Jean, personally. Well done and thanks to them both for their 25 years’ service and commitment to the company.”
Example roles at J D Wetherspoon
Kitchen associate
As a kitchen associate, you will prepare, cook and present good-quality food quickly and efficiently. Our aim is to deliver every order to our customers within 10 minutes.
We have high standards in our kitchens, with an average food hygiene rating of 4.96 (highest-possible rating is five). Our kitchen teams prepare and serve over 3 million items every week and even earn themselves a free meal on every shift too.
Cleaner
From dusting and polishing to sweeping and mopping, our cleaners look after the cleanliness of all areas of our 850 pubs.
The training which we provide will teach you everything you need to know to succeed – and there are plenty of progression opportunities too. Our cleaners usually work early, when the pub is still closed, and are proud to make our pubs shine ready for opening, before enjoying a complimentary breakfast and cuppa on us.
Bar and floor associate
Bar and floor associates deliver friendly, efficient customer service to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all of our customers.
You’ll have a friendly nature and ability to develop good communications skills. From coffee and breakfast to shooters and cocktails, face to face or via the Wetherspoon app, our bar and floor teams pour and serve over 10 million drinks each week – and we pay them for every minute they work, with an enhanced rate during midnight–5.59am.
J D Wetherspoon brand values
We believe that some of the very best ideas, feedback and decision-making come from the experience of pub-based employees who are in close contact with customers.
All employees are encouraged to participate actively in the business strategy, including:
- a ‘Tell Tim’ suggestion scheme for all employees – this generates over 200 ideas a week, all of which are reviewed and responded to by directors; some of the suggestions received are for new products, while others are for small (or sometimes big) improvements in our ways of working.
- a selection of pub managers, area managers and other pub employees being invited to attend and contribute to weekly head-office operations meetings, hosted by the chairman or chief executive, the minutes of which are sent to all pubs, with employees encouraged to add their comments to the discussions and debates.
- regular liaison meetings with employees, at all levels, to gain feedback on aspects of the business and ideas for improvement.
- directors and senior management completing regular pub visits – and pub employees visiting head office.
- directors, senior management and area managers regularly working in all areas of pubs’ operations, including the kitchen, bar and hotels.
- a weekly e-mail from the chief executive to all employees.
- a dedicated employee app: myJDW
J D Wetherspoon diversity statement
Wetherspoon is committed to equality of opportunity. We want to create and promote a diverse and inclusive working environment and eliminate any direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation of our employees, job applicants, customers and contractors.
We strive to maintain a working environment, terms and conditions of employment and personnel and management practices which ensure that no individual receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of his/her/their age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.
As well as the equal opportunities – equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policy, which includes antiharassment, the company also has the following specific policies to promote an inclusive, diverse and welcoming work environment:
- Antiharassment, antisexual harassment and antibullying
- Disability (welcoming and supporting employees with disabilities)
- Gender diversity
- Neurodiversity
- Flexible ways of working
- Perimenopause and menopause policy
J D Wetherspoon partnerships
Over the years, we have won awards and recognition in pub design, menu items, people, environment and beyond! Here is a selection of those won more recently.
Pubs have always been a focal point of any community. We aim to continue that tradition by supporting and building relationships across the local area. Click here to read more about our charity and community work.
