Pros

The company prides itself on taking care of its guests and employees, which they do a fair job of. All store are owned by corporate, which means that menus, recipes, service styles, raises and overall technical information are controlled by them is well, which is a pretty even split pro/con ratio. Employees benefits are decent, cost wise, they receive a lot of acknowledgement from management and the company for their hardwork, even for newer employees. This ranges from BEST (Bob Evans Special Touch) cards which give a free meal up to $10.00, which is also a nomination for BEST employee of the quarter. If they win that, they can attend the banquet with some family members and not only are the several good games to play, but real prizes (digital cameras, DVD players, ipods, digital picture frames, i.e. actual gifts, not just keychains and balloons) to be won and tons of food that they usual have you take home the rest. Their raises are given out more consistently than management, and typically most employees do receive compensation each year for their hard work.

Cons

As for management, their pay is lower to average with pay when it comes to starting levels, but that even goes for some members of management who have 15+ years receiving the same pay types. That could possibly be because they are average at their job skill and will not go much higher, but then they receive their reviews and sound great in those reviews just to keep the management personnel around and avoid the turnover; as well, some general managers receive pay just above their 'lowly' assistant managers, some as close of a difference as $4,000 per year difference. Their insurance does not cover as well as it costs and raises are given not as most employers give. When reviewed yearly, theirs tends to be when they feel like it, meaning after a couple years since they have no actual company policy on how much and when raises are given. The schedules tend to stay the same, with little changes so you can have some life, but the company believes that even when you are 'off the clock' and at home or on vacation, they can call anytime they feel and bring you back early from vacation or disturb you during it. Management has always had that fine line between home and work life, but they company has policies against taking work home, but they have no problem disturbing you when you feel like it. They need to realize they do not pay their managers/area directors when they are at home 'off the clock' and remember that if they value that separation between church and state, they need to honor it.

Advice to Senior Management

Lay off of the little things. We all know that the 'little things' in life, especially with money and numbers involved, can add up quickly, but they tend to get upset over the little things, ranging from how you package your weekly UPS box; is it organized or too full or messy (it's a box being shipped, dropped and rattled!!!! Get off it!!!), as well how you organize your own office. You work there, the Area Directors, VPRD's and all the way up do not work in that office, if it is messy, ok, otherwise, we each function in different ways and they try to dictate how your office is set-up. Too childish for me sometimes. They do say stay out of the office as much as possible, which I agree with completely, my job is everywhere but and too much time in the office can mean a lazy person, however, they think you should only stand out front, talk with guests and smile all day long, never be in the back. If you do go back there, they have to ask/know why. Maybe because I am getting toilet paper for someone to stock up the restroom or because a delivery is here and have to open the back door. Lay off.