Major Disconnect Between Brand and Operations - Associate Manager Cracker Barrel Employee Review

1.0
Mar 31, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Home office training is intense but very well planned out to cover every aspect that you might encounter in the field. The only bright spot in this organization is their trainers who do their best to make this an enjoyable place to work. Sadly, they are like the band playing on the deck of the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.

Cons

The CEO and senior staff are out of touch with reality. The only way this company makes money is by selling and buying assets on the stock market, not actually providing a quality product. At the store level, management is a cog in a wheel with no real ability to impact sales. CBOCS feels like it owns your soul down to when you can sit down. I actually was reprimanded for sitting down one time. The level of trust within this organization is so banal that employees can only bring in clear bags and even management's personal belongings have to be searched in order to clock out at the end of the day. I still amazed that I could be given the keys and control of a $5 million dollar store but treated like a prisoner throughout the entire time of my employment. It's laughable that their motto is "people pleasin" when the only pleasing they are doing is into their own paychecks.

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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