Element Collective Reviews

Pros

Just don't work here, ever.

Cons

On top of being a toxic work environment, they owe employees thousands of dollars still even years after disbanding

Pros

They finally went out of business

Cons

Worst con-men ever to run a business.

Pros

My coworkers we're a lot of fun

Cons

They don't pay you on time and constantly run out of product

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

Nice people, and good food

Cons

Sucky owners, and overworked management

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.

Pros

Lax work environment Beautiful decor and space

Cons

Pay Checks bounce more times than not Upper management is clueless Can't keep managers and then ask more from employees to help pick up slack

Pros

Great locations. buuuuut thats about it

Cons

Wether you are a manager or FOH or BOH, your payroll and tips will be missing or your check will bounce. while they work hard to correct theses issues they happen EVERY pay period. Hiring is a mess and has almost no organization, their accounting team is not very proactive in fixing their financial issues and they regularly dont pay vendors or have outstanding payments due to other auxillary companies. Training of FOH employees is confusing and has no real guidelines, so when you get hired its up in the air what you learn from day to day. employees regularly walk out on shift, and they cannot retain hires as fast as they loose staff. they have no clear cut management or direction as even the owners regularly tell management, "who cares they are just bartenders and servers."

Pros

I really enjoyed the work atmosphere and my coworkers.

Cons

Venue in the San Diego market was closed. Frequent turnover of managers prior to the location closing.

Pros

Large staff discount for food.

Cons

Incredibly underqualified FOH staff, absentee managers, and lack of care from all employees in the building. I saw things that I couldn't believe were allowed to happen in a restaurant. They're bouncing checks, and getting cut off from vendors. I won't be mentioning this company on my resume, because they are bound for bankruptcy, and giving some of the worst service in the city.