Telesure / 1LifeEmployee Reviews & Ratings

Telesure / 1Life offers Gauteng Matric holders a structured way into the contact centre industry with real training and the backing of a large, established group. New starters usually begin with four to six weeks of paid classroom training. You learn the systems, product details for 1Life insurance products, and how to handle different customer queries. The programme includes role-plays and call simulations before you move to the floor with a coach listening in. Most people say the training feels thorough and gives you the basics you need, even if you have never worked in a call centre before. Once you are live, the work is mostly inbound calls from existing customers and some outbound follow-ups. You answer questions about policies, help with claims, and try to keep customers happy while meeting quality and sales targets. The pay starts around R7,000–R9,000 basic and can rise to R15,000–R20,000 once commission kicks in, but the commission depends on how well you perform each month. Shifts are usually fixed during the week, though weekend work can appear during busy periods. The offices in Dainfern and Riverglades are modern and secure, which helps if you are commuting from nearby areas. Promotion paths exist but move slowly. After six to twelve months of consistent results, people often move into retention, complaints handling, or team leader roles. The biggest long-term value is the experience itself: you build phone confidence, learn sales and compliance basics, and can later use these skills at other insurers or BPO companies. Those who study for the RE5 and FAIS exams while working tend to open more doors inside the company. This is a good fit if you live in Johannesburg or northern Gauteng, have just finished Matric, and want a steady first job with training rather than having to figure everything out alone. It suits people who are comfortable on the phone and willing to work toward targets. If you need very flexible hours or dislike sales pressure, look elsewhere first.

— ShiftMate Editorial · Telesure / 1Life worker

Working at Telesure’s 1Life contact centre operation in South Africa feels like a mixed bag of decent entry-level stability and constant operational pressure. With only a handful of Glassdoor reviews available, the company scores 3.4 overall, 61% recommendation rate, and notably weak marks for work/life balance (2.4) and senior management (2.3). Employees describe a fast-paced sales and service environment where targets drive daily life, but support from above often feels distant. On the positive side, several reviewers highlight structured training programmes that help new agents get up to speed quickly, especially for those entering the insurance BPO space with limited experience. Culture and values score 3.6, with some noting a diverse workforce and a generally respectful team atmosphere on the floor. Compensation sits at 3.4, which reviewers describe as competitive for basic contact-centre roles in Gauteng, particularly when compared with smaller outbound operations. A few mention that the benefits package, including medical aid contributions and pension, provides a modest edge over pure commission-driven competitors. The negatives dominate the feedback. Work/life balance is repeatedly criticised, with agents pointing to rigid shift patterns, mandatory overtime during campaigns, and difficulty taking leave without pushback. Senior management scores the lowest, with comments suggesting decisions feel disconnected from the realities of high call volumes and system downtime. Pressure to meet sales and quality metrics is a recurring theme, and several reviews imply that underperformance leads to quick performance management rather than support. Load-shedding adds another layer: agents report frequent disruptions when backup power fails or generators struggle, forcing rushed catch-up work once systems return. Pay ranges are not detailed in the limited reviews, but the overall compensation rating suggests basic salaries align with market rates for Johannesburg and Cape Town contact centres, with commission making up a noticeable portion for sales roles. Benefits appear standard rather than generous. Career growth receives a middling 3.2, with internal promotions described as possible but slow and often dependent on personal networks rather than transparent processes. In short, 1Life/Telesure suits someone seeking stable entry-level BPO work with decent training and who can tolerate strict metrics and shift work. It is less suitable for anyone prioritising predictable hours, responsive management, or clear advancement paths. Job seekers should weigh the modest pay advantage against the documented strain on work/life balance before applying.