Akzo Nobel
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    Akzo Nobel
    (37 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Akzo Nobel

    3.237 ratings in total
    5
    11
    4
    6
    3
    4
    2
    10
    1
    6
    68%
    Rate salary as high or average
    49%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.4(36 ratings)
    Career development
    3.0(36 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.6(36 ratings)
    Management
    2.7(36 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.1(36 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.4(36 ratings)
    Ratings for Akzo Nobel are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 37 reviews sorted by most recent
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    1.0
    Engineering Role
    Jun 2025
    Sunshine VIC 30203 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    If you badly need the experience then it’s worth a crack! I find it sad when the ethos of upper management is the investigation of getting Chemists to perform operator roles, as they are cheaper to employ. Or the derogatory comments of, ‘Chemists they come and they go’! In essence and in my observations the company for the majority of the time is not interested in attracting the best minds to enhance their technical prowess and innovation. Rather the poor wages, poor workforce appreciation and morale suggest a company who run a revolving employment door. Promise recruits promotion and travel so they work hard then watch them leave when the glossy company mission statements don’t hold true weight! If you want a foot in the door in the paint industry via experience then it’s worth a try. But don’t get attached as this place is a meat market for Engineers and Scientists.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Customer Service Representative
    Apr 2023
    Henderson WA 6166Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    No good experiences - ended up collapsing due to stress, dismissed 1 week later.
    The good thingsThe work hours were acceptable
    The challengesTrying to meet the other teams expectations
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Production
    Mar 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    An experience, learn many things
    The good thingsAlways busy. Operators do the right thing. Core of people who try and help each other
    The challengesCulture of disrespect and double standards
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Development chemist
    Mar 2022
    Don't bother al P Management are undermining and make you work more than its worth. They couldn't even fix the sewage pump which leaked sewage into the lab and people had to work in it
    The good thingsThe workers made the reason why I came to work
    The challengesThere was no real research and development in my role, it was just copying competitors products
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Sales Manager
    Mar 2020
    All Australia9 to 10 years in the role, current employee
    Extraordinary place to work
    The good thingsComplete autonomy to run your own race
    The challengesThere are none , it’s kindergarten stuff really
    1.0
    Chemist
    Jan 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    This is not a pleasant place to work.
    The good thingsI got work experience.
    The challengesDangerous, due to the chemicals and fire risks. No security of employment. Staff walking around on eggshells. Management who micro manage and above all....it stinks from the smell of paint. My hands developed dermatitis from working with the paint chemicals.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    R&D Chemist
    Dec 2019
    I would simply gain experience for a few years here and then move on. Watch your back when dealing with managers, they may seem friendly at face value, but they are not to be trusted and they are not on your side.
    The good thingsThe colleagues are some of the best people to work with
    The challengesManagement. They are thick-headed like a moose. There's lots of smokes and mirrors here, nothing is what it seems. Highly political environment. Teams do not collaborate very well, its as if they are competing amongst themselves. The PD&D dialogue system is a joke and means nothing. Management do not keep their word. Cutting costs like crazy, including bonuses, but executive management are still seen to be spending lavishly to their hearts content, flying overseas and interstate every week.
    5 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Opperation Manager
    Nov 2019
    A great journey with fantastic people a privilege to work for
    The good thingsVery good management in early years strong goals and teamwork which gelled
    The challengesThe goals set by global where sometimes difficult to deliver in opposing cultures
    4.0
    Customer Service Role
    Nov 2019
    No regrets enjoyed my time
    The good thingsOffice close to home, the people
    The challengesNot been given enough challenges - no further education
    1.0
    ENgineer
    Nov 2019
    worst year or so of my working career
    The good thingsIts a huge name to work for.
    The challengesThe management in sunshine factory is the poorest i have ever worked with. Everybody wants to micromanage you and sets you up for the failure by delaying tactics
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Accounts Receivable Credit Officer
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Akzo was an awesome work place, sad to see finance go over to India.
    The good thingsFlexibility and training
    The challengesHand over of AR processes to India and training
    2.0
    Chemist
    Jul 2019
    Great to gain experience in the industry in the short term, not so much if looking for long term career prospects...
    The good thingsGreat coworkers to work with, easy to pick up most tasks within a few weeks to a month, the people are great and very personable.
    The challengesDevelopment within the company is very minimal in which you may end up being ‘pigeonholed’ within the first few months, this also makes it difficult to progress, as the opportunities are considered to be ‘flat’ and stagnant. There is a lack of ‘passion’ or inspiration as majority of employees as a collective has very low morale, which may also affect your own outlook of the company. Furthermore, the centralisation of many systems to offshore means that a lot of processes (eg. ICT) will take a long time to get actioned. Dependent on the manager, you may or may not get your views and concerns heard, primarily due to the budget crunch imposed from global and the cost cutting involved.
    5.0
    Front Office Receptionist
    May 2019
    Fantastic work environment
    The good thingsVery good. Everyone very helpful And friendly . And I loved working at reception/ customer service
    The challengesI didnt really find it difficult work g there
    4.0
    Warehouse Manager
    Mar 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    have an an average time here so far , which it was more exciting to come to work.
    The good thingsline managers are excellent , pay is ok i guess . really large company. the people that start in the right positions will get lots of opportunities.
    The challengestrying to find balance between the different BU's is hard and lots of people in the business think they run the show i mean from reception up. Poor morale building and mean and unwarranted behaviour gets swept under the carpet
    2.0
    Chemist
    Oct 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Surviving
    The good thingsVery low salary compared to average on the role
    The challengesToo much workload but none to little benefit
    2.0
    QC Chemist
    Jun 2018
    former employee
    Dead end job.
    The good thingsWithin reasonable distance from home. Friendly (mostly) work environment within the QC team and the different departments (R&D departments and production).
    The challengesHalf QC chemists in the team are kept as casuals despite working full time hours. No job security on top of an already 'dead end job' type position. Pretty much basic wet chemistry, with no use of specific instrumentation. Management quick to cut staff without any reasonable notice when needed and unconcerned about overworked staff in the case of an increase in workload. No air conditioning in the main lab meaning that in summer chemists are expected to work in 30+ degrees conditions at the usual fast pace.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Warehouse Team Leader
    Feb 2018
    Fantastic place to work,achievable team targets with good conditions.
    The good thingsEnvironment to work hard with great intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.
    The challengesTimelines to achieve for output.
    5.0
    raw materials/qc data entry/security
    Feb 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    good job, met some fantastic people, wonderful experience, one i will never forget
    The good thingsMeeting wonderful people, getting to work in so many departments learning new things
    The challengesJuggling different aspects of the job, but overcoming each new challenges with great enthusiasm
    5.0
    Sales Manager
    Nov 2017
    Great global business to work for
    The good thingsGlobal business and reach Opportunity to travel overseas
    The challengesGlobal business operated out of the Netherlands
    3.0
    Technical Analyst
    Oct 2017
    Loved the people, but the company is a huge, slow behemoth with outdated methods for IT.
    The good thingsSlow pace, good working hours, great people.
    The challengesMultinational company slashing entire countries in restructure. Uncertainty of future of departments and sites. VERY slow pace. Low control over project delivery - working with other countries' resources to complete projects in a very slow and inefficient manner.
    2.0
    Salesman
    Oct 2017
    All Australia
    Only Sunshine matters.
    The good thingsLarge multinational company with good global support
    The challengesNo one has any authority for anything and takes forever for anything to be done. The process is more important that the need or outcome.
    3.0
    N/A
    Aug 2017
    All Australia
    Badly organised company ...........
    The good thingsGood working hours............
    The challengesPoor management ............
    2.0
    QC Chemist
    Oct 2016
    Not a good one. Low salary, lots of work with little benefits
    The good thingsWoking close to home
    The challengesEveryday was a challenge because the company is a manufacturing and all products should be tested by end of day
    3.0
    store person
    Aug 2016
    comfortable
    The good thingsgood money easy going
    The challengesclosing down restructuring jobs going overseas
    5.0
    Recepionist / Administration
    Feb 2016
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Staff are incredibly wonderful and a pleasure to work with. Amazing and learnt so much whilst working there. Not many companies these days are a pleasure to go to and I enjoyed working there.
    The good thingsPeople were lovely and helpful. Work was very easy and brought in my knowledge too which they loved.
    The challengesNothing was a challenge as everyone worked together as a team.
    4.0
    Chemist
    Feb 2016
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Amazing opportunity
    The good thingsOpportunities to work with a professional company and in locations all over world.
    The challengesDriving quality through all the levels of the business.
    2.0
    Manager
    Feb 2016
    Constant unsettling organisational change.
    The good thingsAlways putting safety first. Good training opportunities.
    The challengesToo few people in the business without the infrastructure necessary to run effectively.
    5.0
    Sales Represenbtative
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Big compagny but sleeping beuty
    The good thingsGreat products great marketing opportunities but not based on sales. Stay behiond in the market
    The challengesNot really. No sale support dint really want to grow. management who where more busy with there own business
    2.0
    account manager new zealand
    Oct 2015
    under staffed and under resourced
    The good thingsglobal company
    The challengescomplete lack of support
    5.0
    Project Manager
    Oct 2015
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Good skills helped me to outshine others
    The good thingsHighly multicultural
    The challengesThe market is under severe stress
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.
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