The higher end of fast food work - Shift Manager Five Guys Employee Review

4.0
Jul 14, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Aided by the lack of drive though, the place often has a lively environment. The food isn’t disgusting and none of our work is particularly grueling. If I’m gonna work fast food, I’m working there. They hold themselves to such a high standard that next to nothing makes it past the counter with an issue. I’ve worked with some amazing people for the last 3 years. Flexible scheduling although it can change last minute. Just hope the gm lets you know first. And a free meal every shift is a plus.

Cons

Because of their high standards, it can make it seem excessive. Like hiding sanitary wipes from customers view because it’s unsightly, having to recertify on stations you already know, and forcing superfluous rules because one store in the franchise isn’t successful. But my main issue is labor. Labor cost issues cause a domino effect throughout the store. Because labor is too high, they resort to running shifts on skeleton crews. If labor is 15% or higher the owners throw a fit. They cut you down to 2 people in the morning prepping for $3000 worth of sales on their own, stagger who comes in at what times so you don’t start breaks until 4 hours before the shift ends leading you to scramble to close quick to not increase labor even further. You bounce around do everything with no time for a breather at times. And because of the skeleton crew, you can’t effectively train anybody at all. You’ll have the same person on one station for 3 months because we can’t train them on anything else because the guy who works with them the most also only knows the opposite station so you can’t switch them. If you work at a well staffed store, pray they don’t open another store close by because they’ll cannibalize your store and leave you with 3 people a night. Raises before you become a manager are pretty consistent. They’re every few months you’ll get bumped up 25-50 cents. But if you get promoted, that stops. You’ve made your money, now work. The incentive is gone. And that’s only IF you get promoted, which they only do when they get desperate and that’s only after begging for a year and a half. Otherwise your pay is getting capped at like 13 MAYBE. At the end of the day, the owners will make their own decisions, thinking with their wallet first.

Explore other reviews about Five Guys

5.0
Jun 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great environment. Lots of hamburgers available.

Cons

None that I can think of.

4.0
Jun 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They will teach you everything you need to be successful. They have much higher standards than most places, one of the few places I'd have no problem eating at any location. They'll make sure you have everything you need to meet those standards, especially once you get to a management level. They have corporate trainers and the GM at my location was also great. I'm a GM at a different place now and my experience here left me well prepared me for that position.

Cons

Pay. That's the only reason I left, I would have stayed with the company if I could have gotten a raise and I would definitely return if they offered something comparable to what I'm making elsewhere.

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