Pei Wei Asian Diner Reviews

Pros

The company is structured pretty well, and the same procedures are in place in all locations. The pay is substantial and fair in comparison to other jobs.

Cons

There is little room for advancement within the company. Senior management (Operating Partners and Market Chefs) change so frequently, you feel they don't really understand the company or how it should really function.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on employee retention at low, mid, and high levels of the workplace. Try to encourage a corporate culture so hourly employees feel a stronger alliance to the company.

Pros

The managers are over all decent. Some I like more than others. I have been given more leadership opportunities and a good raise after 6 months and I must be lucky because it doesn't seem to happen to many employees at the company. All of the employees get along well and we have a good time. The hours aren't late and the shifts aren't too long so they go by quickly. The turnover is insane mainly because the pay isn't great at the start and the job and place are far too stressful and as a result, employees stop showing up. People are always quitting so there is almost always opportunities for overtime.

Cons

The turnover rate is insane. I am the only cashier left from the day we opened (7 months ago) and the rest of the cashiers haven't been working here for more than 2 months. I am often left alone or short handed at the front of the restaurant and it can get stressful. I was fortunate enough to go through corporate training before the store opened but nearly all the other FOH employees have no clue what to do or what is going on.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire more help and don't leave the restaurant short handed nearly all of the time.

Pros

Employees are (mostly) really nice people, because bad people either can't take the stress or quit showing up. Because the pay is so low, no one will hold you to very high standards of dress or grooming- you can be unshaven and technically outside appearance regulations, but so long as your uniform is correct no one cares.

Retention is very low, so occasionally you can get massive overtime with 70 hour weeks if several people quit in the same week.

Cons

Training is merely "learn by doing". There is nearly zero opportunity for advancement or promotion.Raises are capped to 50 cents/hr and can only be given every 3 months- and performance reviews are a myth. Thus, you are effectively limited to whatever your starting pay is.

Retention is very, very low. Thus, at any one time about 40-60% of the hourly employees working in the front of house positions will have very little idea what they're doing.

Advice to Senior Management

Understand that cheap labor strategies will only take you so far. Because of the mandates limiting raises, your company will forever be stuck with massively high turnover, and will seldom retain anyone of any value. You have a good business model, do it justice by spending the money to fill it with good employees!

Pros

Good hourly pay comparatively
Good benefits
Stayed busy so time went by quickly
Dishes were easy to understand and explain

Cons

Management didn't care about employees
Turn-over rate was insane (a few months after I quit, I went in to visit and didn't know a single employee there and only knew one of the managers...)
Lots of favoritism shown

Advice to Senior Management

Treat employees more fairly and with more respect as they are the face of your business; your customers are interacting with your employees and if your employees aren't happy your customers will know.

Pros

Fair pay
Great people, both management and hourly employees
Easy hours
Management does a fairly decent job at recognizing accomplishments and rewarding employees

Cons

Poor hires
Takes the "learn by doing " approach to training (which can be good or bad, just depends on the individual)

Advice to Senior Management

Not a whole lot of qualifications that need to be met in order to work the positions successfully but should be careful to hire those who will legitimately put forth effort.

Pros

discounted food would be very good

Cons

on your feet all the time

Advice to Senior Management

free food

Pros

Good part time college job.

Cons

No room for advancement in company.

Advice to Senior Management

None.

Pros

simple job that i took while in school.

Cons

late nights, non-flexible schedules/shifts, your immediate management always breathing down your neck because their managers are breathing down theirs.

Advice to Senior Management

settle down, lower the stress level and sell some Chinese food

Pros

Flexible schedules allow employees other options

Cons

Managers were friendly, but not receptive to new ideas.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should seek ideas from employees at all levels.

Pros

Its decent money, without being a waitress. Ive never had problems with requesting time off. Its usually fast paced so shifts go by pretty quickly. And the food is awesome with a good employee discount...

Cons

Its lots of the same things over and over. It attracts a higher clientele which is good but they aren't always nice.

Advice to Senior Management

My GM doesn't treat the employees with much respect. He tends to make up rules for the fun of it. He doesn't do a good job motivating the staff to work.