Pros
Benefits include the standard medical/dental/vision/retirement, but the profit sharing is outstanding for long term employees. Pay exceeded any compareable fast food management positions that I can find. Management is required to attend informational training classes provided by the area or home office to stay informed of current laws, trends of the business, employee training and retention, and generally anything necessary to perform the duties of running the business. After leaving the company, I have found the training I recieved to be a valuable resource in other lines of business management.
Cons
Most White Castles are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and as a General Manager, you are on call 24/7. Rotating shifts were required, which includes nights, weekends and holidays. Working only 40 hours a week was rare. Any classes or meetings were not compensated if it was your day off due to being a salaried employee. We were reminded that this is why we are paid the big bucks. Of course, the more money you are paid, more is expected from you, which seems to be a way of hooking you into staying long term. The GM is expected to not only perform the management duties, but to be in the midst of the customer service and food preparation area 95% of the time (don't let anyone from the area office find you at your desk!). This leaves very little time to cover the other duties neccesary to run a business. Although it can be done, the stress is tremendous. The worst con for me was that the company was not family friendly due to the amount of dedication needed to run the business well and the hours required. Any succesful employee felt as if the company was their life. Anyone in this position who is married, will need a very understanding and supportive spouse, willing to spend most weekends and holidays on their own. This is doubled if you intend on raising children. As for the single parent, this position or any other full time employement there, is definetly not for you. Unless, as many White Castle employees do, you have close family that is willing to basically raise your kids for you. Not easy for me to understand from a closed, family owned business.