security officer

host/hostess

cook

cage cashier

front desk agent

Hard Rock International

I decided to work for Hard Rock with the goal that if I took care of the company by working my hardest and producing exemplary results, that they would take care of me in return. That is absolutely NOT the case. Due to the many changes over the last 10+ years, I would not recommend anyone work for Hard Rock unless it is a temporary short term job.

When I was first hired, the company, Hard Rock still had most of it's company culture intact, excellent and personable service was championed, and working there had its rewards. (not as many as there should have been, but some.) 

Since then, company culture has shifted to penny pinching at any cost. Food quality decreased to save money, and the more creative and flavorful dishes were removed to focus on more profitable menu items. Staff is catastrophically undervalued, with management no longer recognizing the work of their workers. 
From office staff to food staff to retail staff, they purposefully understaff to save money, even though it destroys morale, and the guest experience. They will gladly throw away hundreds of dollars of repeat business for next week if it means they might save 10 dollars this week, because all that matters is this week's numbers. They brag about how much they pay their non-tipped hourly positions, but then they only schedule their workers a few days a week (and rarely let you take a second job) because your desperate financial situation will make you work hard even though poor conditions.

Management is a combination of incompetent and apathetic to developing the staff to higher positions. All-Staff meetings only happen when the corporate brass forces the GMs. Annual reviews don't happen unless someone outside a department brings it up. Employee appreciation days haven't existed in years. Despite it being a restaurant, staff are rarely fed, and usually they're only given the leftovers from a banquet. They will not give you a regular schedule, and they do not care about circadian rhythm. Turnover is VERY high, and management dismisses it out of hand as a "bunch of kids going back to school". There have been rampant talk about certain managers sleeping with the staff for favor over the years, over many different managers. But it's cheaper to ignore the talk than it is to hire a new manager.

Hard work is not rewarded, and they are always happier to hire from outside than to promote from within. Loyalty is expected, but not rewarded.

I used to love working there for so many years. But I cannot recommend it to anyone.

I personally loved the cage as a cashier. It was a good job with awesome people, the job itself could be a bit complicated at times when you first started - but management was always willing to help you through it and understand the processes required. Training was pretty good in retrospect as well. 

But what really confused me was their scheduling & pay structure. As corporate provided no incentives to work the busiest and most undesirable shifts. (Aka Nightshift during weekends) There was no additional compensation or any motivation to work those very stressful shifts with a skeleton crew.

The most egregious part is that they have all members of the cage on a tip pool, so everyone splits their tips between all shifts and areas.

So, a cashier working an incredibly busy evening/night shift would be making the same amount of money as someone sitting in a dead room during the morning. And naturally, I get that there needed to be some form of equilibrium of pay between all the shifts, but they went about it the wrong way as opposed to other departments with a similar structure.

Why would anyone opt to work a nightshift with a line that's 20 angry patrons deep, only 2 cashiers with not even a second to breathe as opposed to a nice morning shift with 5 cashiers, an empty room, and plenty of time to talk to your coworkers over a cup of coffee? 

PS: Nobody did, and the busiest shifts would go uncovered while the slowest shifts had far too much coverage. And it was an extra slap in the face when you would turn in your full tip jar with like $300 at the end of the night, only to receive maybe about $40 of it back on your paycheck and knowing that your hard work went to someone who didn't earn it.

They need to eliminate that absolutely idiotic policy so that all of the shifts are appropriately covered per the volume of customers in the building. (Ie: The incentive to serve more customers and possibly make more tips. Or just pay the cashier's more and remove the tip box all together and make it a set pay structure where the busy shifts make more.)

Rant aside, I would say Hard Rock is an alright company to work for. The tardiness/absentee policy was a bit strict and requirement of parking off-site on weekends extended your workday. But in hindsight the extended leave of absence was such a privilege and the Employee Dining Room was also a huge perk.

The biggest flaw of that entire casino though is the smoking indoors. It was so rancid in there despite their industrial AC Filtration units. The second hand smoke is just a hazard that is not properly addressed.

Starting work for Hard Rock was very exciting! Glitz and glam, a long interesting history, and a diverse culture. 

I started at the very lowest sales position because there was nothing higher available, and I figured that with my background and history I would quickly meet people and find ways to move up inside the company.

Different days were always hit-and-miss. Some were really fast paced, others were very very slow and long.

Their training method really left a lot to be desired. I spend a week training one-on-one with a manuel, but after all the training I still had to learn how to use all of the programs and things I needed to do my job on my own. I knew more than you can imagine about their history and culture though!

The management in this company really shocked me. It is the only company I have worked for where the management team (usually 5 or 6 managers) did very little themselves other than harbor and ENCOURAGE workplace hostility. Most days I never saw a manager after they clocked in unless they were coming to get someone to write up, which seems like something they are trained to do at the drop of a hat. Dispite the lack of responsibility on their parts to train and develop employees in a positive manner. Only one manager ever seemed to try and recognize their employees, and they were quickly shut down by others every single time.  

All of the co-workers were amazing. Everyone knew how the managers were and just did their jobs and went home as fast as they could. There were a lot of people I saw come and go I would have given my hind teeth to have on any staff I've ever managed, but they would get run off faster than you could imagine. The favoritism and hostility bread by management makes it a very toxic work environment for it's employees, but their pay and benefits are far above those of comparable positions in other companies so people stick around.

The hardest part of the job was having to deal with it while trying to find another. Referring to the work environment as toxic is the nicest way I could think to put it. I found the most frusterating thing to be the lack of communication or cooperation from upper-management or corporate contacts. There is very much a "looking out for your own" mentality from their corporate office.

I did find the customers very enjoyable. The Hard Rock draws a very diverse and interesting crown from all over the world

Before working at this location, Hard Rock Cafe was to be a big part of my future. I would've gone to my grave with my Hard Rock pins and name-tag. In fact, I was involved in creating designs for a couple pins. Going to work was always fun at first. "I'm gonna kick this door down, and rock out to my favorite jams and have fun, and I'm going to be on top of my game"! Halfway through my shift I'm left to myself thinking about how miserable I am. Being the new guy, I was put upstairs by the door with very little to no interaction at all. Management was okay. As much as I liked my General managers enthusiasm in hearing about my day, or what hair-color am I going to wear tomorrow, I don't think my managers really took the time to get to know what kind of person I am. I got in trouble for things I had no control over. Though, I'm very good at taking initiative my flaws were based on other stuff that was beyond my job title, like telling other employees to get back to work or when I would help a customer before replying to a coworker on the radio within three seconds. Having someone in your ear asking over and over if you heard them and how inefficient you are is annoying, especially when that whole time you were speaking to a customer. I'll say "heard" when I'm able to speak. That would be the hardest part of my job I guess. I enjoyed interacting with coworkers and customers, listening to classic rock music, keeping busy by checking restrooms and spot-sweeping, seeing if anyone needed help. Of course being the kind of host I was expected to be, meaning just standing by the door, I didn't let that stop me from doing other things that wouldn't even phase anyone else. I was bored and wanted to branch out to other departments like being a server or joining the retail team. I explained it to almost every manager but I wasn't taken seriously. Nobody really realized that I loved my job, that I would go through so much trouble to get to work, that I'd wait up to an hour to be picked up in the middle of the night in the middle of an unfamiliar city. Having to do all of that might have been worth it, if only I had enjoyed my job just a little more. I guess you can say I dedicated myself to a job that didn't deserve my compassion. I got tired and resigned from the job I took very seriously. I didn't resign because of a silly reason, I resigned because there was no good to outweigh the bad.

The casino & hotel in general is a great place to work, they allow you to move around within the company. However there are only a few departments that are worthy of making your long term career. 
As a part time team member I work just as much as full time team members. These last 10 months my schedule has been either constantly  changing or copied and pasted. On several occasions I have been scheduled 7 shifts a week two of those shifts being doubles (-up to 16hr shift) even after changing availability. I don't qualify for full time benefits because I wasn't hired as a full time and I don't qualify for part time benefits because I have only been there for 10/12 months. Managers come and go so they're always making changes. Servers tip 18% of total tips however there is no proof so you always take that chance of being shorted. Depending on what sections you're in and when you can make anywhere from $$-$$$ in one shift weekends I usually make in the 100s doubles I usually make 100-300s. 
 



Hiring process:
-once you're contacted for an interview.

*interview(s)
*Gaming License- Background check, drug test & finger prints
*Uniform fitting

Point system:
-call out= 1 point 
-late= 1/2 point
-call two days in a row= 1 1/2 points
-clock in 1+mins after scheduled time=1/2 point
First 90 days= up to 3 points before fired
After 90 days= up to 8 before fired
90 days from point date no call out =1/2 a point falls off 
call out within 90 days of last point = 1year from point date to drop point. 
Ex: 
 If I call out April 1 I get 1 point. If I don't get pointed from April1 to July 1 on July 1 1/2 a point falls off but if I do call out I have to wait one year from April 1 for the point to come off.

***Managers discretion- manager can choose to point.
 ***" Doesn't matter if you went to the dr or the beach if you call out you get a point."- manager

Moving: After 6 months you can switch to any department in the casino usually you just need to have less than four points. When you switch your points follow and you start your 90 day process over and lose your seniority. 

Unless you're hired and they sign for your set schedule you will be scheduled as needed.

In this department unless you are a host or cashier working a double shift you will not get an uninterrupted break. You will see 330 minutes taken out of your time at the end of the day on the time clock.

What is the best part of working at the company?
 Eat part is there is always 1,000 guest a day that come and eat here and on special occasions there’s even over at least 2,000 guest a day that come and eat here so the money revenue does come in (especially if your a server getting paid tips $$$). 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Keeping up with the dishes as a dishwasher here by yourself is very hard when it’s a special occasion or a special weekend where both floors are open and upstairs (MEZZ) they call it) can get up to as many as 1,200 guest just in a 6-hour time Period  from 4:00 pm through 10:00 pm but an average year round upstairs MEZZ gets between 450 to 650 guest every single evening it’s open at least just upstairs alone and downstairs always gets over 1,500 guest every 8-hour evening from 4:00 pm all through Midnight when they close up the front doors and lock it up.  So don’t become a dishwasher here if you’ve never done it elsewhere first but if your a good well advanced productive dishwasher then come challenge yourself here at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando @ Universal Studios 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Best part here is it’s the best AC (Air Conditioned ) facility especially great AC in the dish pit areas where. OST other restaurants the dish pit is hot and steamy all around you but out of all my 20 restaurants iced worked at as a dishwasher Hard Rock Cafe is the most well Air Conditioned Dishwashers area where average temperature is exactly between 68 degrees and 72 degrees all the time in the dish pit most other places are as high as 88 degrees in dish areas.  So if you hate heat and live cool to cold working area come be a dishwasher here 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Come in get area set up fully clear your area from all dishes that are already clean.  Take all current trash out   Fill fresh water in dish machine go gather all supplies you need for your entire shift beginning fast.   Then begin production till closing hours then take no more then 1.5 hours to fully close and clock out and make trash dumping your very last thing to do before clocking out at the time clock

Work-life balance
The Cincinnati property is ran on reactions instead of implementing proper business planning. So, be prepared to have to forfeit any mean of a home life if taking the job, with little to no warning. Since hard rock took over, there has been zero elite promotions within the property. They constantly bring managers from outside the property which in theory would be good, but Cincinnati is a local small casino being ran like a big travel location casino. There are many great employees at the Cincinnati location, but they'll never be given opportunities. Last part isnt about me, I worked along people with 15+ experience in their fields in this area and they weren't even given interviews.

Pay & benefits
Payroll miss pays often. Nearly every week there is an issue with payroll.

Management
Managers show favoritism. If you want best hours, best raise per year, and a shot at mediocre promotions be prepared for brown nosing to the extreme.

Culture
The culture at the casino is very toxic. Most employees speak negatively of hard rock. We had such high Hope's after working for jack, but hard rock made jack look like a blessing. The biggest issue for the culture comes from hr. They dont do anything to make the workplace safe or go out of their way to take care of work issues. Example one employee physically threaten another employee in front of a big crowd. The employee was given no punishment, but the one who went to hr got put on a final warning a week later for buying a candy bar on the casino floor.

Overall
Unless hard rock leaves, I wouldnt recommend working at the Cincinnati casino. Very disorganized, poor management decisions, human resources does little to nothing for work issues, schedule changes nearly every 3 months, payroll is unreliable, insurance is expensive and covers very little, pay is below median standards for every job, lack of growth potential unless you're willing to relocate, and they dont do all the sanitizing they advertise for covid, so your health is at risk.

NO. I see you there looking up reviews trying to apply thinking that because it's a casino that you're going to make money as a cocktail waitress. DON'T DO IT. Work at any other bar in Tampa and you'll make double of what you do here.

They only pay you $3.13 an hour which averages out to be a dollar or so an hour after taxes. No pay compensation. The denizens of Tampa Bay are insane, rude, and nothing short of vile most of the time. You will get people ordering $100 or more in free drinks and they will tip you 2 cents. (No joking, you can have impeccable service and they will still pull that on you)

Nowhere else have I seen such degeneracy when it comes to their clientele and their generosity. It's Tampa, people are going in there to gamble their savings away, get mad about it, and then take it out on you while the Seminole's laugh as they expect YOU to pay their bartenders 20% of your hard earned money. Plus, they have their female cocktails dressing like trashy pirates (worse than any strip club cocktail) and only for you to take home $20 after it's all said and done. It's disgusting and unacceptable.

I can't speak for the other parts of the casino, they seem like they do great and have good opportunities but the beverage department is a disaster. Apply for any other position besides for the beverage department. 

(Oh, and no benefits for part-time employees unless if you've worked there for 11 months with averaging 40 hours a week. And on weekends they force you to park off-site and take a bus to get work tacking on an extra 30 minutes that you need to leave or else you're late. And their late, absentee, call out, leaving early, penalty system is cruel. If you get sick, you might as well quit because they'll fire you even if you have a legitimate issue.)

Great work environment and wonderful coworkers that lead to a smooth team effort that made you feel proud to be a part of.  In addition to being a server, I also was a cashier in which one of my responsibilities was to keep track of all the financial records and account for all the money going in and out of the business.  The ladder of which bonded with my strong aptitude with math and numbers allowed me to stand above others and show my strength in the world of financing.  Although at times a manager here or there seemed like they didn't belong but that seems to be the standard at most places because a company doesn't really know how an employee can handle a job until they are on the front lines performing said job.  I personally enjoyed being the face of the company to any guest who entered the building and proving myself as a key employee both on the front and in the behind of scenes.  The hardest part of the job has to be some of the rudeness of certain guests who spend a lot of money at this particular establishment because they are allowed to do more than the average person especially since alcohol is served much later and earlier than other surrounding companies due to the Seminole Tribe having different laws than other establishments.  All in all it was an enjoyable experience and the high paced atmosphere allowed me to grow in areas I didn't think were possible in the beginning but in the end I was able to grow as a person and raise my skills in financial capabilities and mental capacity.  All of which is included in the most enjoyable part of my job.

Overall The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has been an excellent stepping stone in my progression as a business professional. I have learned so much since I started there almost 3 years ago. The team/family vibe is second to none and the leadrship team truly cares about their staff members. A typical day at work consists of buying and ordering all food and beverage for the departments within the hotel and its restuarants. Placing orders are not limited to food and beverage, I order all cleaning supplies, engineering supplies, office supplies, furniture and anything else the hotel requires on a daily basis. I creat purchase orders, create relationships with vendors along with creating spreadsheets, charts and so on. I have a great manager who really cares about what we need to have to effectively operate as a department. My co-workers are some of the best people I could ever ask to work with, it has truly been (currently as I am still employed) an awesome ride and I couldn't ask for better people to work with. The hardest part of the job is our month end process. This process is always very hectic as we conduct inventory throughout the hotel and report everything to our Finance department, which is our sister department. There is a very long process that month ends consist of and it's always hectic, but when you have great team members it always seems to operate smoothly. The most enjoyable part of my job is management realizes that we have lives outside of work, this is huge as I have a family and always being able to be with them is what is truly important to me. My schedule is Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 3:00 pm, how can this not be the most enjoyable part of my job!? My schedule is great and like I stated before, it allows me to have a positive life outside of work which in turn always ensures that I am always happy at work.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Security officer 33 salaries reported	$18.53 per hour
Host/hostess 27 salaries reported	$21.52 per hour
Cook 39 salaries reported	$20.51 per hour
Cage cashier 13 salaries reported	$19.89 per hour
Front desk agent 18 salaries reported	$17.78 per hour

Working at Hard Rock International: Company Overview and Reviews

Hard Rock International

Hard Rock International Ratings

Popular jobs at Hard Rock International

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected