Working at IKEA is more than just a job; it’s an experience filled with teamwork, growth, and a sense of belonging. Employees at IKEA start their day with a series of tasks that set the stage for a productive day. From preparing the store in the morning to assisting customers and managing stock, every role is essential. The day is also filled with moments of collaboration, learning, and personal development, making IKEA a unique place to work.

Key Takeaways

• IKEA employees begin their day with store preparation and team meetings to ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Helping customers find products and providing design advice are key parts of the job.
• Stock management includes inventory checks, restocking, and handling deliveries.
• Team collaboration is emphasised through daily meetings and cross-department projects.
• Employee wellbeing is prioritised with health and safety measures, break room culture, and support programmes.

Morning Routine and Store Preparation

Opening Duties

Your day at IKEA starts with checking in with your supervisor to see if there are any urgent tasks. Then, you head to the back office to sign into the PC. There is usually a queue of quality support tasks lined up for the day. You look through the queue to see if any items need to be picked from the warehouse floor and put in those orders.

Team Briefing

Next, you join your team for a morning briefing. This is where you discuss the day’s goals, any special promotions, and important updates. It’s a great time to ask questions and get clarity on your tasks.

Setting Up Displays

After the briefing, you move on to setting up displays. This involves arranging furniture, home décor, and other products in an appealing way. You make sure everything looks perfect for when the store opens to customers. This part of the job requires a keen eye for detail and a bit of creativity.

The morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Customer Interaction and Assistance

Helping Customers Find Products

Your day often starts with helping customers locate the items they need. Whether it’s a specific piece of furniture or a small kitchen gadget, you guide them through the store’s layout. Knowing the store inside out is crucial to provide quick and efficient assistance.

Handling Customer Queries

You frequently address customer questions, ranging from product details to return policies. Patience and clear communication are key. Sometimes, you might need to check the back office for more information or consult with a supervisor to resolve more complex issues.

Providing Design Advice

Offering design advice is one of the more creative aspects of your role. Customers often seek your input on how to best use IKEA products in their homes. You might suggest colour schemes, furniture arrangements, or storage solutions. This part of the job allows you to use your creativity and product knowledge to help customers create their ideal living spaces.

Interacting with customers is not just about selling products; it’s about building relationships and ensuring they leave the store satisfied.

Behind the Scenes: Stock Management

Inventory Checks

Every day starts with a thorough check of the inventory. You will first check in with your supervisor and see if there is anything outstanding that needs immediate attention. Then, you go into the back office and sign into the PC. There is usually a queue of quality support tasks lined up for the day. For example, if a customer ordered a dresser and one or two drawers are missing, you’d add those items to the picking line.

Restocking Shelves

Restocking shelves is a crucial part of the day. You will be responsible for supporting a smooth and pleasant customer shopping experience. Whether you are working face to face with customers in the store or behind the scenes, keeping the shelves stocked ensures that customers can find what they need. During the lockdown, the warehouse was closed to customers for about six weeks, but we were still filling hundreds of online orders every day.

Managing Deliveries

Managing deliveries is another key task. You will handle the arrival of new stock and ensure it is stored correctly. During the pandemic, the Amsterdam warehouse had a backlog of over 1,000 orders. Even compared to the busy holiday season, the pandemic increased our workload by a lot. Usually, the delivery orders we would get for our store were big pieces of furniture, like beds that couldn’t be rolled up or heavy dressers. During lockdown, orders started becoming a lot smaller, like candles and kitchen items.

Stock management is the backbone of IKEA’s operations, ensuring that every product is available when customers need it.

Team Collaboration and Meetings

Daily Team Meetings

Every day starts with a team meeting where everyone gathers to discuss the day’s goals and tasks. These meetings are a great way to discover the working culture at IKEA. You can get a lot done over a simple cup of coffee, a chat in the aisle, or other quick get-togethers.

Cross-Department Projects

Working together across different departments is common. Everybody’s different, and that’s what we all have in common. When you feel free to be yourself – and everyone you work with does too – we come up with better ideas and solutions together than we ever could alone.

Problem-Solving Sessions

No matter your role or their title, you can always sit down for a ‘Fika’ together – a traditional Swedish coffee break in the day where you pause, reflect, and reconnect. It’s also a chance to get things done quickly and simply – without booking a conference room, drawing up an agenda, or creating a slide presentation. Why not just get together with co-workers and figure things out?

Employee Wellbeing and Breaks

Health and Safety Measures

At IKEA, your health and safety are top priorities. The company offers a Wellbeing Hub that provides digital exercise classes, healthy lifestyle tips, financial advice, and mindfulness learning. Confidential assistance is available 24 hours a day through Wellbeing Services, ensuring you have support both at work and at home.

Break Room Culture

The break rooms at IKEA are designed to be comfortable and inviting. They include open work areas, dedicated collaborative spaces, and lactation rooms. Fresh fruits are provided weekly, and the company encourages social interactions through events like FIKA (coffee time). These spaces help you recharge and connect with your co-workers.

Employee Support Programmes

IKEA offers various support programmes to enhance your well-being. These include:

• Tertials: Three social events each year to spend time outside of work getting to know your co-workers.
• Holiday: Flexible time off to rest and recharge as needed.
• Workshops and Lectures: Regular sessions focused on physical and mental well-being.

Companies with good culture in The Netherlands often provide similar support programmes, making IKEA a great place to work.

Learning and Development Opportunities

Training Programmes

At IKEA, we believe in helping you grow. We offer a variety of internal training programmes for those eager to learn new skills. Every co-worker has the chance to create a personal development plan. You and your manager will set goals for the coming year and beyond.

Career Progression

IKEA encourages you to take charge of your career development. We provide personal counselling, performance development plans, and diverse training assistance. This helps you advance in your career, whether you’re in the store or the office.

Skill Development Workshops

We offer workshops to help you develop new skills. These workshops cover a range of topics and are designed to help you grow both personally and professionally.

At IKEA, we are committed to being one of the best companies in The Netherlands. We provide opportunities for growth at various locations of the best companies in The Netherlands.

Closing Time and End-of-Day Procedures

Final Customer Assistance

As the day winds down, you make sure to help any last-minute shoppers. Whether it’s finding a product or answering a quick question, your goal is to ensure every customer leaves satisfied. This final interaction can make a big difference in their shopping experience.

Store Clean-Up

After the customers have left, it’s time to tidy up. You and your team will go through each aisle, making sure everything is in its place. This includes picking up any misplaced items and ensuring the displays look perfect for the next day. A clean store is crucial for a smooth start tomorrow.

Closing Duties

Finally, you perform the closing duties. This involves counting the cash registers, securing the store, and making sure all systems are shut down properly. You might also check in with your supervisor to see if there’s anything else that needs to be done. Once everything is in order, you can head home, knowing you’ve done your part to keep the store running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do IKEA employees start their day?

IKEA employees usually start their day early, around 8 AM, to prepare the store for opening.

Do IKEA workers get breaks during their shifts?

Yes, IKEA workers get regular breaks to rest and recharge during their shifts.

What kind of training do new IKEA employees receive?

New IKEA employees receive training that includes learning about store layout, customer service, and safety procedures.

How do IKEA employees help customers?

IKEA employees assist customers by helping them find products, answering questions, and offering design advice.

What are some of the end-of-day duties for IKEA employees?

End-of-day duties include helping the last customers, cleaning up the store, and closing tasks.

Are there opportunities for career growth at IKEA?

Yes, IKEA offers various opportunities for career growth, including training programmes and skill development workshops.