My time at this company was marked by ongoing frustration and inconsistency, largely due to ineffective management and unclear operational standards. Despite having access to communication tools like Microsoft Teams and the physical presence of supervisors on every shift, management was often unresponsive or evasive. Questions regarding policies or work procedures were rarely answered directly, and instead, you'd be passed from one Team Manager to another with no resolution—creating confusion and a lack of accountability.
One of the most concerning issues was the blatant selective enforcement of company policies. I witnessed multiple instances of employees being disciplined—or even terminated—for relatively minor infractions, while others engaged in far more serious misconduct without consequence. For example, one employee was terminated for smoking in their car during their break, while several others have been caught vaping inside the studio and remain employed. Another employee was let go for using AAVE (African American Vernacular English), whereas a different individual, who made overtly racist comments in a diverse work setting, still retains their job.
More alarmingly, it was common knowledge that some dealers would drink alcohol at the bar across the street during their shifts and return visibly impaired—some even sleeping at tables while on the job. This is a clear violation of industry standards for professionalism and safety, yet no visible disciplinary action was taken against these individuals.
There was also a troubling instance where an employee walked off the job on a busy day—without informing anyone—despite the team being short-staffed. This resulted in chaos, missed break times for many, and increased pressure on the remaining staff. That person still works there. In contrast, I was terminated due to what I was told were accumulated attendance points—despite always communicating transparently about my availability and absences. I firmly believe my termination was retaliatory, rooted in my repeated efforts to speak up about the double standards and mistreatment I observed.
I consistently went above and beyond: I was reliable, easy to work with, and always willing to help when asked. Unfortunately, rather than being recognized for that, I was made to feel like a nuisance for expecting accountability from management. The attitude seemed to be that asking supervisors to do their jobs was somehow burdensome.
The training process also left much to be desired. We were not given a solid foundation of knowledge or tools to succeed. Updates to procedures were frequently pushed through informal group chats rather than through structured documentation or retraining. Worse, different managers often contradicted each other, leading to further confusion and inconsistent enforcement.
Basic amenities were also lacking. We did not have access to an on-site bathroom, despite promises of a newly renovated facility. Instead, we had to walk five minutes one-way across the street to use a bathroom, which ate up a significant portion of our 30-minute breaks. Bathroom use during work hours was discouraged, meaning that in practice, employees were expected to delay biological needs or sacrifice a large portion of their break just to meet basic needs.
In summary, the work environment was chaotic, inconsistent, and demoralizing. Leadership failed to communicate effectively, enforce rules fairly, or support staff equitably. I would advise prospective employees to consider whether a workplace with these systemic issues is the right fit for them.
