Cardiff Bus Employee Reviews

What is the best part of working at the company?It's steady work with good payWhat is the most stressful part about working at the company?Dealing with the management is very stressful not enough concern given to staff empathy What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Very antagonist from the management toward staff, staff are always guilty until proven innocent What is a typical day like for you at the company?Stressful particularly when not a lot of support is not forthcoming from the company

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It's getting better than what it was

Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 30 August 2023

Almost all management is new, and they do have the company's best interests at heart. They are struggling with poor timetables and a staff shortage, but until they have the staff the passengers will just have to deal with it.That would be the worst point - passengers in Cardiff, not sure about other places, can be very unkind to you. You can't let it get to you, or you'll probably have a mental breakdown. That's not the company's fault. The rates of pay are incredible, and with the overtime available at the minute you can make some serious money if you want to work for it. The buses are nice to drive too, and you are provided with uniform, and plenty of staff benefits.

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Enjoyable, fast paced job

Bus Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 2 August 2023

A dynamic range of shifts, rosters and overtime to offer. Good pay and conditions reflecting the work.Really nice work life balance and a friendly bunch of drivers and management.

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Competitive Role

Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 29 July 2023

Definitely the best bus operator to drive for, great support from middle management, routes are varied, shift pattern ranges from earlies-mids-lates and there is a large swap network to just do the pattern you want to do. Pay is the best in south wales and even then some when including overtime rates and working rest days. Passengers are good and bad but that’s standard throughout the industry. If you enjoy driving and have a level head give it a go.

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Still recovering from old management. But a much better place now.

Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 5 July 2023

Management has almost completely changed since 2020, starting with the new Managing Director downwards. The company genuinely wants people to get places using the bus. Some things still need work, but drivers are now supported much much better than they used to be in previous management. You aren’t bullied back to work. They investigate passenger complaints properly. They can teach you to drive and get the license, and they pay you to train as well. Plenty of overtime and the rates are very good. You can make a lot of money if you want to sacrifice the time. Some passengers are negative, but then again, some are absolutely amazing. And so long as you are a decent person almost everyone is decent with you. I personally believe the pros outweigh the cons here.

Pros

Free bus travel, overtime rates, range of shifts

Cons

Negative attitude from some passengers

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Insights into Cardiff Bus

Based on 20 survey responses

What people like

Clear sense of purpose
Feeling of personal appreciation
Inclusive work environment

Areas for improvement

Sense of belonging
Support from manager
Energising work tasks

Awful

Bus Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 19 June 2023

Stay away not worth the depression. Management are so unsupportive when on the sick. Passengers are often rude and smell making your day that little bit more depressing.

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A great place to work!

Worker (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 14 November 2022

A great company to work for. I have learnt a lot in a short amount of time and everyone is really helpful and accommodating. There is always something to do and each day it is different.Flexible working hours and the ability to work over the 2 sites are good as you get to see new faces.

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Good place to work

Worker (Current Employee) - Sloper road - 8 November 2022

I have worked here for 5 months now, I have had a really good introduction to the company, the training is good and the training team are always happy to help. overall excellent.

Pros

friendly staff, good place to work

Cons

shifts can be long but good balance

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Always something different and fun to work there.

Workshop Manager (Current Employee) - Engineering - 27 September 2022

Good place to work with plenty of room for promotion for the right person developing a new modern work culchure dealing with people and developing personal skills

Pros

Good pay and conditions

Cons

Not all staff share the same attitude

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Can be boring, but ok

Bus Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff City - 21 March 2022

A different range of shifts, early to lates. It is possible to swap if you don’t like early rises. I didn’t like the fact you don’t start and finish in the same place, ie, start at the depot, finish in town and vice versa.

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So much potential, but stay away if you value your soul.

Bus Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 23 December 2021

can be easy depending on your mindset. Just no help and very stressful at times, best thing to do if you work here is switch off before every shift and not care about anything. I know that’s a poor attitude to have but it’s the only way to stay sane there.

Pros

Free travel

Cons

Always blameworthy, Not flexible or helpful in anyway, Horrible/rude passengers, Cyclist, No help from council (regarding roads), Constantly rushing, Finish late is too often.

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Cardiff bus (vintage employee)

PSV Driver (Former Employee) - Leckwith - 29 June 2021

When i worked for cardiff bus some years ago it was a decent enough job good organisation with vehicles good timetables fairly well maintained vehicles pay was good plenty of overtime good holidays at that time management were good and you felt supported i was supported well when after years of service was forced to take time off the company looked after me and i returned to work after some time off the downside of the job is night working weekend working and shift working if you have a social life or regular family commitment this isnt the job for you as the shift pattern is mornings then the dreaded mid shift which takes up all of your morning and part of your evening !and then nights easier driving at night but when you are stuck on a bus on an estate or out of town you are alone radio contact is poor and with gangs on estates etc its a pretty unsafe feeling you never know who you are picking up at the end of the day you are the face of the company and you dont know what type of day that passenger has had theres always a danger of confrontation and you have no protection at all ! you never have the same day twice !, All in all its a fairly good job just be aware at all times give up your social life and be prepared for a load abuse no matter how nice you are good luck !

Pros

Paid breaks, uniform, overtime

Cons

Long monotonous hours, abuse, thankless task little support

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Appalling Company

Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 20 February 2021

Absolutely appalling company to work for, bad management and not a good place to work. But on the positive side if you leave the handbrake off the bus and go for a walk and the bus rolls down the hill and gets practically written off they make you an Operations Manager. Or if you trust the union the Branch Chairman jumps to the management taking all the union secrets with her. You will get more job satisfaction being a lollipop man or woman on the M4, if you wanna be a bus driver go elsewhere or get a simulator for your XBox or PlayStation.

Pros

None

Cons

Far too many to mention

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Good job, just needs better pay and better buses.

Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 15 July 2020

overall good company to work for, just needs better pay and sometimes hard to balance family life around shift patterns. As long as you do your job properly, you'll have a job for life.

Pros

job security

Cons

Shift patterns

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very stressfull

Driver class 1 (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 17 March 2020

timetable almost imposibble to keep to,if you complained you were then called an instigator as i was for asking as new equipment was brought in. Bus late who got the abuse,driver.management not caring.public make complaints about you you then are the guilty one until proven on the cctv. drivers off on sick regulary Stress.bullied back to work.Instead of asking drivers what could be done to help.when drivers did complain at union meetings nothing everdone to address the times and pressures.. As with all companies fantastic staff and some not so good.

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Changes Required

PCV Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 11 March 2020

The new Managing Director has a huge challenge ahead after a decade of poor management. Low morale. Used to be an excellent place to work and play. Hope he succeeds.

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PCV Driver

PCV Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff - 10 March 2020

Promise you have a job for life. Soon as your put on rota do everything in their power to fire you. High turn over of drivers. You can earn good salary at cost of your sanity. Passengers treat you like a pig management not much better. Get your licence and Cpc do your sentence and move on.

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Brilliant

Driver (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 13 August 2019

Excellent company to work for modern buses great pay and conditions excellent support network from other drivers great outside life at the transport club good hours plenty of rosta

Pros

Free travel pass for you and family

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Great Co-workers, poor management.

Bus Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff - 16 July 2019

HR tell you lies from the start. Apply for one job and get placed on another. Training good, but they will get you to pay for it if you leave before your bond is paid. Old and unreliable fleet. Supervisors and Managers don’t seem to care about their prime activity ie to provide a service. Appalling customer service. Driver has to face the brunt of poor communication. HR is no better than a poorly run recruitment business. Once they have placed you you will never hear from them again. Great co-workers who soldier on against oppression. Some nasty customers but some great characters, be prepared for them to turn when customer services lies to them and it then becomes your fault. Driver blamed for everything by customers and management. Poor internal Communication. Pay below average initially and then depending on your contract. Some are paid more than others for doing the same job

Pros

Hard to think of one

Cons

Long hours, no appreciation

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good job poorly managed

Bus Driver/Operator (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 5 April 2019

enjoyable job, can be stressful, customers take frustration out on drivers. current management ruining company. extra overtime available. good rates of pay.

Pros

Comradery

Cons

management

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Colleague camaraderie kept me there!

PCV Driver (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 19 December 2018

I worked at Cardiff bus for two years. More than long enough! Passengers on the whole were nice..the odd abusive traveller. Dealing with people outside the vehicles was the problem..Rude,dangerous and arrogant cyclists and other drivers wore me down. And if you dare stand up for yourself,you are the one in the wrong at Cardiff bus! You are more or less put on trial by management!! They have nothing better to do than pick on drivers for petty stuff! They breathe down your neck. The supervisors are two faced and don't look after or back drivers.. Got a defect? Carry on driving!