Manager turnover is not their concern... - Associate Manager Cracker Barrel Employee Review

1.0
Aug 8, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great pay, benefits and benefit co-pay is average for restaurant biz. They keep their restaurants in good repair. Decent mgr. training. Majority of the guests and employees are super. Restaurants do very good sales. Retail adds diversity to your management experience.

Cons

High mgt. turnover from top to bottom. Creates a atmosphere of fear for your job. Do not plan a long career at the Cracker Barrel. They WILL find a way to get rid of you. Real World at the Barrel: 1.) Profits 2..) Guests 3.) Employees 4.) Your manager career and quality of life - DEAD LAST. Expect to have your DM on the phone before or during every shift micro managing your day. He will create lots of expectations for your shift. To much busy work to run a great shift. Corp. has a shotgun mentality to fix problems. Everyone chasing different rabbits. I cannot recommend .theBarrel

Explore other reviews about Cracker Barrel

5.0
Mar 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Enjoyed management and my coworkers

Cons

sometimes can be strict compared to other restuarants

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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