When you get hired on, you'll be told that you'll be paid hourly for training ($16). Throughout the…read moreweek you'll be working from 4:30 to 8:30 or 9. Saturday is 11 am-10 pm, and Sunday is 10 am-8 pm. You'll be trained by whoever else is a valet that day, and training lasts about 2 to 5 days. Training includes how to properly park the cars and where to park them, how to keep track of the keys, and how to set up the signs and cones.
After training, you'll be paid solely on tips, and you'll be the only valet working that specific location. That means you won't have to split tips with anyone.
I was told I'd make about $600 on a slow week and $800 on a busy one. There was no drug test, no background check--just a phone interview. Sounds pretty great, right? That's exactly what I thought too--until I actually started working there.
My first week I was trained for three days (Wednesday-Friday). On the fourth day, while I was driving to work, I got a text from the manager (Jaqi) saying I wouldn't be working that day because my trainer was there?? I live 50 minutes from Acworth and was only 15 minutes away at that point. I'd requested Sunday off, so the next available day I could work was Tuesday of the following week. Whatever. I come in on Tuesday and was told to leave early because it was going to be a slow night?? The manager of the restaurant (Jonathan) told my manager they didn't need me there. How the hell am I supposed to get trained if I keep being told not to come in or getting sent home early? Also, while you're in training, you're supposed to give your trainer all your tips since they aren't being paid hourly.
The next two days I was valeting by myself. I barely made any tips--everyone only tipped like five bucks. I was being as chivalrous as possible: opening doors (both car doors and restaurant doors), greeting everyone with a smile, asking how they were, being conversational, telling them to have a safe trip home, asking how their dinner was. I'd even ask patrons if they wanted me to bring their car so they didn't have to get it themselves. I parked every car as straight and efficiently as I could, going above and beyond to make a good impression. You cannot tell me it was my fault I was only getting $5 tips. There's only so much a single valet can possibly do.
I show up on Friday and start setting everything up for the day. I go inside to grab a drink, and the moment I get back outside, I get a call from Jaqi telling me I wasn't supposed to be there. I was obviously confused, and it took her a while to finally tell me that the owner of the restaurant didn't want me there anymore. So I pressed her for answers, and she reluctantly told me the owner didn't like the "vibe" of an interaction he'd had with me the day before.
What happened the day before? I had to park an electric vehicle I'd never even heard of before--it was called a Lucid--and I was having a lot of issues getting it turned on. There was literally no button anywhere to press to start the damn thing. I had to go into the restaurant and grab the managers to explain what was going on. The owner of the vehicle even apologized because he'd never had it valeted before--and he still tipped me. The managers, though, hate having to stop talking to patrons and definitely hate dealing with valets. You're not allowed to approach patrons directly to let them know you're having issues with their fancy-ass car. I was obviously stressed out, and the owner of the restaurant didn't like that.
You know what pissed me off even more than the rich assholes who run the restaurant? The manager--Jaqi. She was informed around 8 am on Friday that I wouldn't be working there anymore, and I didn't find out until after I'd already driven 50 minutes to work. I even talked to her around 1 pm that same day asking when I'd get paid for training, and she completely spaced on telling me right then and there that I'd been let go. This has been a recurring theme with her--she always forgets to let you know ahead of time when something changes. I also still haven't gotten paid for my training, either.
All this stupid BS just to sell the illusion of "fine dining"--a "red carpet" to walk on, shitty little retractable red "ropes." It's all so stupid. The other employees who aren't managers, though, are very cool and super helpful--they're honestly the best part of the entire restaurant.
TL;DR: Do not work here. The managers are not helpful, no one is direct, they'll treat you like trash, you'll barely get any tips, and they'll terminate you solely off vibes.
