machine operator

truck driver

production worker

spray technician

production assembler

Conestoga-Wood-Specialties

I wanted a job that I could stay in one place and advance both in learning new things and financially, but this is not the place. They do not want to give raises. They are aware they have a high turn over rate, but it must be cheaper to hire people every few weeks instead of fixing the problem. Which for some is the non-consistent hours and for me personally is the pay. The work is not hard it is suppose to be a 6-2:30 job. and you better be there at 6 or they give you a point on their point system they are extremely strict about. If you need a day off or even have to leave early you take a point or use a vacation day which you only start out with just 5 days that if you quit within a year you have to pay them back for those day. There are benefits you get the standard health, dental, 401, but I'd say they aren't worth it unless you have another job that'll pay you enough to afford them. 

 In my opinion this would be an ok job for high school kids that don't have bills to pay, but not for real adults that do more than eat and sleep.  

This job is very boring. My position is to stand at a table with an assembly line of drawer frames and panels. apply glue to the frames, insert panel, and assembly the drawer. some are small some are about 4ft long. there is a lot of twisting, standing all day on a concrete floor, and very small work area. you get two 10 minute breaks which are really only 8 minutes or you get fussed at for not being back in your spot by the 10 minute bell. and a 30 minute break for lunch.

A typical day is like standing on feet entire shift except when on breaks lol, but that is simply the type of job it is. I have learned how to do specialty detailing on woodwork, thru pin stripe detailing and I have also now learned how to edgeband as well as foil woodwork/doors thru machine operations. It has definitely taken me out of my normal/comfort zone, but one I am proud of. I'm very proud to be employee of Conestoga Wood Specialties. Management is very caring, they have given small tokens of appreciation regularly and also given very nice size  monetary $$$ gifts to all employees also. One the nicest and sweet gifts is that all management/supervisors participated in treating employees to a breakfast cooked and served by management/supervisors, each and every shift/employee was included. And they give very large hire on bonuses. Hardest part of job is learning how to get used to 3rd shift (staying awake all night at work lol, and then learning how to sleep in day when get off work, but trust me you do get used to it. eventually lol). Most enjoyable part of job, the excellent pay duh??? lol, and the donuts, and pizza, and breakfast and the fruits and veggies, and turkeys, picnics, and health fair and games,and contests that the company routinely has for employees. It's truly a fantastic, phenomenal company.

HR here is a joke. They claim to care about their employees, but unless you're one of their favorites, they'll constantly "forget" to reply to you, or not contact you at all. 

Management within the company is just as bad, from team leaders to upper management. If you voice that you're being treated unfair and have proof, they'd rather get rid of you than solve the problem.

 You only get good treatment if you're over the age of 40 and have also been there for at least 10 years. 

Training is garbage, unless you have a good team leader, they expect you to understand how to do your job and meet (often unrealistic) number goals in a week or less of training. 

"Do as I say, not as I do" should be the slogan. Management will yell at you and preach about staying on task. But when you can't find them anywhere, they're most likely on a smoke break. Favored employees are often given the easier work (where you can meet goal with minimal effort), and the rest are given the more challenging work (which makes it impossible to meet their goal.)

I've seen the point system mentioned in other reviews, and yes, it's that bad. You will be told "This isn't high school anymore" when you give a drs note. They don't promote a (literal) healthy work environment. They'd rather you come to work sick than take the time to get better.

This place is awful to work at. The management is awful all the way around. The victimize the criminal. The "chain of command" you're suppose to follow is nothing but a filtration system. You work long hours and can't have a life. They process orders with customer in mind before employee in mind. It is so hard to have 2 children and work second shift.  I work 4pm till anywhere between 3am-330am and don't wake up till noon at best then get ready for work again. If you have nothing to live for this is the place to work. If you do then don't do it. The turn over rate is absolutely ridiculous here and loss of good people happens all the time. You get no paid sick days. And get pointed for stupid stuff instead of consideration for what happened to you if you miss work. Just don't do it. They're friendly and kind when you walk in the door. But people don't pull their own weight there and they get away with it daily making you stressed out at your job and at home because you're working your life away for somewhere you don't like. I feel they've taken away my opportunity for advancement.

A typical day at work would be figuring problems out whether its whats wrong with my machine if I can fix it to if maintenance has to fix it. Reading my paper work making sure if I have the right measurements and the right cutter. Just checking and rechecking everything making sure its right. Also checking for defaults in the wood too if its not right I can't use it. 
Management and co-workers, I can't complain because where ever you go you will always have someone you may or may not like. Management seems to try there best to figure out things to make us all happy from benefits to making it safe out on our shop floor. 
Hardest part of my job would be when something goes wrong with my machine. That to me is a lot because when it breaks down it costs me time when getting our product out on time in an orderly manner matters a lot. Also it can get very hot too.
I enjoy some of the people I work with. They can be very helpful and so nice. That some days when things just aren't going right that small little smile and laugh they give you sometimes can just make your day.

The entry level pay does not match near any other company in the job field.

The hours go from 40 hours max to unrealistic quick, and if you do not work their "required" hours you get penalized.

Their point system is outdated. No sick days, one "wellness" day per year.  

The management team they have staffed is very unproductive, their solution to any problems is add more bodies. Including if management is lacking. They constantly add more supervisors but none of them can ever be found because they're all in meetings together "figuring out how to make the company more productive."

The bosses and the workers will lie to your face and behind your back just to seek their own advancement, but you won't get a promotion unless you are related to a boss or a good friend of them. 

The place has more gossip than your average high school, the bosses join in on it constantly and never squash any rumors, they would rather assume the rumor a truth and judge people based on them.

If you care about yourself at all or don't want to be broke, don't seek employment here.

Company is Mennonite family owned. If you are not in the religion you are treated like a second class citizen, expected to work all holidays, bad weather so they can have off. There is no advancement or day shift for the 'English'. Day shift is reserved for Mennonite employees. For a religious based company all they care about is the all mighty dollar. Most of the people I worked with were very nice and helpful. High employee turnover rate. Department management will constantly question your decisions and competency. Department management motto: they may not always be right, but they are never wrong. They will make up rules to say you violated to fire you while acting like they are your friend doing you a favor if you do not assimilate. The backstabbing and lies and rumor mill is outrageous. There is no real training on the equipment. The troubleshooting practices are insane.

As a business who prides themselves on family values, what they truely mean are their own family. If you are struggling outside of work, leave it at the door because your management staff does not care.
As a business who prides themselves on respect and integrity, their management team needs to get a dictionary and look up the meaning.
You will work yourself to the bone here with little raises while newhires walk inaling several dollars an hour more than those who have been there for decades. You will be cross trained throughout the plant, but need to keep after them for your earned pay grade adjustments. You may end up being responsible for several jobs at several different pay grades in a single shift, but you'll probably only be paid for the lowest one.

What is the best part of working at the company?
When you get to clock out at the end of the day. Also payday Friday is the best part because you get to see how little you make for all your hard work.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part about working at this company is being under payed for all the hard work you do. To the company you are just a number not valued at all. Also you don't get the help that you need to do your job.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is fast paced and they expect you to be a non stop robot.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day for me is being stressed out, not having the help I need and ready to pull my hair out

What is the best part of working at the company?
Treated like family. fantastic working environment. Always busy. great pay and benefits. Learn new job areas of the company. Grow with the company over the years I worked there. Made good friends. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Making sure all work is completed in a timely manner and orders ready to be shipped by being on the trucks. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very friendly. The culture is different because there are different backgrounds for everyone who work for the company. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Always busy. I'm always in different locations of the building

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Machine operator 4 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Truck driver 22 salaries reported	$74,000 per year
Production worker 4 salaries reported	$16.06 per hour
Spray technician 4 salaries reported	$15.00 per hour
Production assembler 4 salaries reported	$15.81 per hour

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