Element Collective Management Reviews

Pros

The staff works really hard.

Cons

They literally can't pay anyone. Every vendor account is maxed out and there is no cash in house, so you either have to go and buy product using your own money or open for business with nothing to sell. Also good luck getting reimbursed for that. Staff goes weeks and sometimes months without getting paid. The company has been bouncing checks so long that no one will cash their paychecks, leaving employees to hope that the company will eventually pay them in cash. As management you also get to deal with the backlash that comes with running a business that is falling apart. You might open for business with half a menu because you are out of every item. You might not be able to take reservations because that account wasn't paid. Staff will walk out in the middle of a shift or go on strike because they haven't been paid in so long. The owners have no concept of reality. They do not value their staff or understand the basics of runnning a business. They use their employees like credit cards to get work done and maybe pay them eventually, but they have no empathy for the hardship it causes their staff. If you stay, you don't get paid. If you quit, they refuse to pay you. Don't work here.

Pros

Beautiful spaces and that’s about it. Honestly hard to come up with any other positive thoughts about this company. Really.

Cons

Where to begin? Ownership has no idea how hospitality works which is clear in the amount of failures/closings they’ve had. The list of former staff is mind boggling in it’s length. Wages/bonuses not paid is disgustingly common and has been for years. Vendors often refuse to service them due to non-payment issues. Very arrogant “leadership” results in lack of motivation. Chicago has so many great restaurant groups they thought they could compete with (Boka, LEYE, Hogsalt, etc) but EC got crushed in that environment so now it’s just sub-standard chicken sandwiches holding them together. Sad company.