Great coworkers and management but the buck stops there - Retail Sales Associate Cracker Barrel Employee Review

3.0
8 June 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My coworkers are great and a lot of them really feel like my family. The retail manager at my location is also a pleasure to work with, and so are the restaurant mangers. Most of the regulars who come in are nice people. The 35% discount is nice.

Cons

As with any job, it can be very stressful, but coupled with low pay it becomes absolutely demoralizing. At the end of the day, we work to make money. You work so hard (cashiering, answering the phone, handling to go orders, stocking, recovering, processing the truck, floor moves, and cleaning bathrooms) for so little. I've been with the company for 5 years and I'm only at $12.75 which doesn't fully cover essentials even working 30 or more hours a week. People think cashiers know the answers to everything or are their personal punching bag when things don't go well on the restaurant side. Some of the things that have been said to me or one my coworkers are unbelievable to say the least . No room for advancement. The "shift leader" position is basically a dry promotion (more responsibility with no real increase in pay). You would think since the retail store alone makes nearly $1 million a year they could afford to pay their employees better. But don't expect more than a 25 cent raise.

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Cracker Barrel Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback! We are committed to continually evaluating our packages in comparison to other employers in the area as well as our industry. We encourage you to discuss your concerns with your Retail Manager. If you would like to discuss your benefits and compensation package further, please contact your Field Human Resources Manager.

Explore other reviews about Cracker Barrel

5.0
10 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Caring and extremely high energy servers, cooks and hostess. The management handles everything at the restaurant with integrity and competence. They know and love their guests. They even know what they order and their other preferences.

Cons

The cuts in hours they are forced to make due to corporate interference.

2.0
3 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most coworkers were genuinely great to work with and made shifts more enjoyable. * The guest interaction and serving aspect of the job is something I personally enjoy. * Some shifts could be positive depending on staffing and team on duty.

Cons

*Management was often unprofessional with inconsistent communication and expectations. * Certain coworker behavior occasionally affected morale and created a less positive work environment. * There was a noticeable blame culture where issues were not handled in a constructive way. * In my experience, bringing up workplace concerns or uncomfortable situations did not always feel welcomed or supported, and it sometimes felt like speaking up led to negative attention. * Scheduling and hours were inconsistent, making it hard to rely on stable income. * Inconsistent scheduling sometimes resulted in difficult shift patterns, including working split doubles (such as 9–3 followed by a 4–close shift), which often meant not getting out until around 10:30 PM and then repeating the pattern on consecutive days. * Training was limited, and expectations were often unclear, which made the job more stressful than it needed to be. * In my experience, HR concerns or formal complaints did not feel like they were taken seriously or addressed in a meaningful way.

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