Retail Manager buyer beware - Retail Manager Cracker Barrel Employee Review

1.0
Mar 19, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Unlike a mall based retailer you have large windows so you can see all the beautiful days you spend inside being a slave to an unrealistic conversion goal. You also get a free meal each day! This is great if you actually have time to eat it and you don't mind gaining 30lbs. You also have a great opportunity to build up a very jaded and thick skin. None of your restaurant partners have any respect for you, most don't even know you're there and to the others you're just a nuisance. Holidays are awesome since you get to spend ALL of them with your work 'family' you'll never see Thanksgiving, Easter , Christmas Eve, etc again. They have recently told us that we have no value and are cutting our hours and our pay. 26% pay cut! And yet we have mandatory days and shifts we have to work. If I'm not valuable enough to pay the salary I was hired at then there is no value in making me work EVERY. SINGLE. WEEKEND. Friday Saturday and Sunday.

Cons

Some people might have good relationships with their DM and their restaurant partners, but I've never met or talked to any of them. Taking a vacation is impossible because there is such a workload and you're forced to micro manage because you're not allowed to trust that your team knows their jobs.

Explore other reviews about Cracker Barrel

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great career with a reliable schedule and pay.

Cons

High stress environment with some physical adjustments.

2.0
Jun 3, 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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