To be put off a job due to reviews on Glass door

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I have the option of two jobs. For a bit of background I have been a stay at home mum for 2 years. Before then I had 2 jobs In the procurement department in two companies. I also have a degree in a relevant field.

Having been out of work for a while I am looking to return to work hopefully in a similar role.

I have the option of -

1. call centre job working from home.
   Pay is basic, but the perks of no travel, working in a job which seems straight forward. Simply delivering customer service. 6 month contract so would finish around Easter time.

2. career type job in a similar role to my previous. About £8,000 more per year than the call centre job. 8:30-5:30 hours plus 45 minutes travel. My head says take this job as the career potential is there.

But... the reviews on Glassdoor are shocking. And there are lots all saying the same things so it’s not just one disgruntled employee. It’s a private company and apparently the directors monitor CCTV, Internet is monitored and lots of websites are locked.

Lots of accusations of bullying, public humiliation from directors, sexism, sexual harassment.

If you are 3 minutes late your pay is docked for 15 minutes. Pay docked for doctors and dentist appointment.

The last two companies were better places to work. Lots of trust and mutual respect.

I don’t know whether to even bother as I know i won’t last if this is true.

What would you do?

Aibu - ignore the reviews
Ainbu - don’t take the job based on the reviews.

Cannot comment on either job as you need to decide what works best for you.
However, I think you are being extremely unreasonable to mention (as a negative) that the second job monitors the internet and blocks some sites. This has been standard practice in any company that is switched on regarding cyber security for the past 15 - 20 years. It is also standard practice to block or severely limit web-based e-mails (either sending to or receiving from).
Microsoft also has some jolly functions that track how long files have been open and how many keystrokes were made during that time (although use of this feature has been banned/disables in certain European countries).
Considering most people who use SM regularly are sharing the most mundane aspects of their lives, it is somewhat ironic if they object to being monitored ;-)

One or two disgruntled reviews, don't take too much notice. Quite a few of them, I really would and I wouldn't want to work there.

Take job 1 if it suits you and keep looking.

I would heed the Glassdoor warnings. I've contributed to one prior company review that was the most toxic, sexist, horrific place to work - I ended up suicidal after things went really downhill in terms of work pressure, stress (the worst thing was it wasn't individual bullying. Just an awful culture where people were treated like shit). I was in a professional, well paid role with a shortage of applications because,I found out later, as a newcomer to the area, the company has such an awful reputation that it struggled to hire locals. Yet I needed the £s and couldn't walk out for about 6 months beyond the point i should have gone off with stress. (Bare minimum sick pay.)

I've never wanted for anyone to be put in a similar position again so I posted on Glassdoor - within a few months, other similar stories were being posted, and now the company is actually replying to some. I'm glad I helped push for a more transparent understanding of what it was like to work there and hope I've saved people walking into that place unaware... Or even put people off applying.

Heed the warning from people like me - I would only take that job you describe if I was destitute. Your well-being and health are more important.

I still suffer mental health issues as a result of that job ( I'm actually waiting on a therapist refer now, years later, to address panic attacks when I get overwhelmed, I never ever suffered with anything like this before that job).

Don't do it op.

My experience of GD reviews is that they are pretty accurate, if viewed in the round. You’ll always get the odd disgruntled ex employee or (on the other hand) an HR plant, but a string of negative reviews is a massive red flag.