Poor management, Low pay, Unhappy Staff - Server Cracker Barrel Employee Review

2.0
Jun 23, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-There are a few wonderful managers -Occasional (rare) decent pay ($30-150/night) -35% discount on all store items -50% off all food items (if eaten in restaurant, NOT to go) -Decent in-depth training and welcoming beginning -No masks if you are vaccinated -Very clean kitchen and dining room; sanitary

Cons

-Management often goes on power trips and disrespects employees -Constantly disrespected by guests -Terrible pay, the average tip is $5, and they’ve made a new rule where each server is allowed 3 tables MAX in their section, so expect to leave with <$60 - You only get your $2.13/hr if your tips added up from that week equal to below minimum wage, and if they do, you will be accused of underreporting your tips -Intensive work that does not amount to the low pay -Extremely high turnover rate with very unhappy employees -Difficult scheduling due to managers not communicating with eachother -The food gets sent back very often, leading to more unhappy guests -Low opportunity for decent tips since the food is priced so low, a 10% tip is often less than $4 -Management is very welcoming to new employees, but fails to uphold that friendly standard with existing staff -Often get double or triple sat due to being understaffed from the high turnover rate -Privileges granted to “liked” staff, who would often sit and gossip in the manager’s office and would not be bothered by any dress code -No acrylics longer than 1/8th of an inch long, and they must be clear or french manicure

Explore other reviews about Cracker Barrel

5.0
Apr 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very positive work environment! Lots of room for growth

Cons

Short shifts and it can be hard to get more hours

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Cracker Barrel Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We appreciate your input and are happy to hear you enjoyed your time at Cracker Barrel!
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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