Fiddleheads can be a fun place to work for a first job, but overall, it operates more like an under-developed start-up than a business with nearly 30 years of history. If you're looking for cafe work in the Milwaukee area, I would recommend exploring other options. The company lacks an organized, well-staffed corporate office, and in my experience, some staff members—though well-intentioned—are underqualified or not suited to their roles. Ownership has not prioritized company culture and does not maintain a formal HR function, which appears to be a deliberate choice to avoid accountability in areas like fair pay, promotions, and employee support. The poor company culture starts at the top, and the reviews on Glassdoor reflect the environment ownership has fostered. While office employees do their best to mitigate the issues, ownership's lack of effort means Fiddleheads continues to profit off the hard work and talents of its employees, often taking advantage of them. The success of the cafes is largely not due to ownership’s contributions, but rather their ability to exploit their staff. For those seeking opportunities beyond entry-level cafe work, this is likely not the right fit. Benefits are minimal, and although the company promotes "flexibility," their standards fall far short of what most modern workplaces offer. The PTO policy is insufficient, there is no paid FMLA, and they appear to be out of compliance with FLSA standards. Management practices can be invasive and unprofessional, with ownership frequently overstepping boundaries and pushing staff beyond reasonable limits. After f6 years of dedicated service, my resignation with a standard two-week notice was met with hostility rather than appreciation, and I was not offered an exit interview. Furthermore, three months after I left, one of the owners contacted me asking for additional unpaid work. When I politely declined, I was met with insults—specifically being called "classy." This is just my personal experience, but as a former cafe employee and corporate employee, I had a front-row seat to the inner workings of Fiddleheads. I believe this review accurately reflects the experiences of many, clearly and confidently speaking to the challenges and culture within the company.
