food service worker

retail sales associate

line cook/prep cook

supply clerk

assistant restaurant manager

Veterans-Canteen-Service

Why have I stayed as long as I have? THE VETERANS. That's it. Pay is absolutely abysmal. We are the lowest paid workers in the hospital by about $6. We work 10 hours on our feet every day, never getting any down time except for our scheduled breaks.

Luckily, management at my location is pretty good except for not disciplining employees when they are nasty to customers or to other employees. Nobody wants to work here, but for the most part, we show up (with the exception of a few workers who constantly call out "sick") and do our jobs. Our particular location has a problem with employee motivation and retention, and the turnover is as frequent as 2 months. In my opinion, that can be attributed to employees feeling overworked and underappreciated.

Do not take a position with VCS if you think you're going to be flipping the occasional burger every hour or selling one or two t-shirts in a day or making coffee once in a while. If you're naturally a hard worker, you will be worked HARD and your work ethic will be exploited. There is no room for advancement within the service (Chief-->Asst. Chief(s)-->low-level workers) so if you're working hard to "get ahead" in the VA system, you might as well go to school for something healthcare related before you're ever hired out of the Canteen for your work ethic.

Benefits are pretty good and competitive compared to public sector jobs. I know I wouldn't be getting paid vacations/holidays/retirement/a strict schedule if I worked at Target.

Job culture is the best part. I get to work face-to-face with veterans every single day. They make everything worth it.

When you start off you’re a contractor. Their way of making you from contractor to permanent worker with benefits is when they decide. They can decide whether it’s 3 months or 2 years. What people don’t realize that’s not beneficial is how much you’ll owe the govt considering they pay you out 10-99 not W-2 which takes out the taxes from your checks. So yearly you’d have to save at least $5,000 to give back to the govt of course they don’t tell you that. Management never had training or else they wouldn’t be screaming and throwing things all over the job site like a child who doesn’t get what they want. You can do more and more for them to prove yourself as a good employee but they expect you to do it forever without pay raise or permanency. The plus is when you don’t do it they’ll be upset with you and wonder why you didn’t. If you work here, don’t be surprised if they disappoint you of course they’ll show you the big smiles and good everything at first but give it a month or two and you’ll see their true colors. Also customers can be rude to you and management only listens to the customer not you. Any complaints from customers you have to deal with management just hides in their office or within the VA. If you get a job here good luck you’re gonna need a good substance to be quite honest with you to maintain a good day and not get upset on a daily or rather depressed cause that’s how much it breaks you.

Do not work for this company as they are the Worst of the Worst federal agency. VCS falls under the Dept of VA, therefore they are the step child slave to the medical center. You will need to do whatever the medical center front office or anyone within the hospital ask you to you. Whether serve them last minute request catering could be early morning, late evening, or even the weekend. All political and politics. If you don’t comply with their request.  Trust me, you will get a phone call from your regional manager, leadership from St Louis, or a surprise visit possible a pink slip. Hated this company so much especially with it current Director, COO, and ADO.  They are crooked and doesn’t care about your personal life/family except themselves. Don’t ever trust these folks they are your enemy.  Back in the early 2000s, VCS is one of the best company to work for under the director at that time who care about veterans and employees. Current leadership only care about money to the bottom line.  Aren’t we are here to serve our Nation Veterans and treat our employees with respect?  Instead we are treated like a slave.

I adore this company. I started off as a temp, was offered full-time because I work hard and take pride in my work. When I first started as a temp I had a horrible experience with someone above me and management stepped in and supported me in every way. It's not about profit here, it's about people. If you work hard and be a team player, communicate and give them feedback you will move up in this company. Those that complain about not being able to move up aren't correct, the management encourages it, especially the top executives. The upper management are great people and most all of them have worked their way up from much lower positions within the company, they're humble and very focused on their employees success and happiness and ALL OF THEM have open door policies, so if you're not happy then talk to them, they will take the time to talk to you. My advice is just take pride in your work, do your best, and if you make a mistake, own it and learn from it. In the few years I've been here I've earned my promotions, I've not had anything handed to me. I'll stay loyal to this company forever.

I worked there for two days, while I cant say much about the employees other than they seemed nice but a bit complacent. The way the company handles Employee Tax and benefits is via 1099. This wouldn't be horrible considering the high turnover rate if it wasn't for the fact that its COMPLETELY ILLEGAL. It isillegal to have independent contractors do what is considered day to day operations things that would require employees to have a w-4. That is all you would do. They use 1099 to label their employees as independent contractors to avoid paying any kind of benefits and making the "contactors" pay all of it. After taking out taxes you 12.61 an hour goes to 10 that's below the minimum wage. Another major thing was they would say "oh its only till HR processes your employment it can take up to a year" they would use that as a scapegoat and a way to manipulate the worked to continue under the presumption they would get a w-4. I asked around and almost all of the employees had almost no idea what a 1099. Making it clear to me that they were trying to be deceptive and  they don't care about their employees.

If you are looking for a foot in the door to the VA- then by all means this MIGHT be a ticket. MIGHT. If the VA Director likes the VCS then you might have a chance to advance within that VA.

However, once you get hired by the VCS- and I mean- AS SOON as you start your first day... keep on looking for jobs within the VA.

You will NOT want to make the VCS your life long career. Plan on only staying one year at the very longest. I'm not joking.

It is no longer what it once was.The central office managment is lost and too busy looking out for themselves to care about you. I'm not kidding.

There is even a petition by employees called "Fix the Canteen" if you Google: Veterans Canteen Service Mistreated, it will take you there.

The favortism is horrible and I've never worked anywhere that I saw so many people point fingers and throw others under the bus for even the SMALLEST of things.

I had a girl get in my face and CUSS and YELL at me twice in front of others. When I complained they said, "She's one of the favorites. There's nothing you can do."

So- work there if you want. But don't say I didn't warn you. Look elsewhere if you can.

I have been employed with the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS)  for 11+ years.  I have seen this organization grow and pivot throughout the years in a very positive direction.  

VCS is not just a place where you have a job, you have a career.  You are a valued member of the organization.  Your opinion matters as it is heard and responded to.  

VCS is a self sustaining organization who believes and ACTS on in its Mission to provide comfort and well being to Veterans, their Caregivers and Employees.  

VCS is an Employer of Choice and provides tools and education regarding Whole Health to enhance the lives of their team. 

At VCS you are a team member and integral part of the Organization.  

VCS encourages daily huddles with all supervisors and team members to encourage communication flow from the top down and bottom up. 

VCS offers a unique opportunity to give back to our Veterans on a daily basis. 



What is the best part of working at the company?
It's good to provide service to our Veterans. Additionally, VCS has been a pathway that allowed me to apply for other jobs within the hospital. Since I am not a veteran, it can seem almost impossible to obtain a hospital job otherwise. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Like any other food/retail establishment I have worked before, VCS  experiences times of staff shortages occasionally.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I exchange with several hundred people daily. From Vets and their care givers to Healthcare workers and all other Hospital staff. The VA is a very blended mix of culture, ethnicity and personalities. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Regardless of what position I'm working, all can be a little demanding. It's busy and fast paced, all of which I prefer to make the workday pass timely.

I worked in the canteen service , ,,,,,,, was overwhelmed with responsibilities such as Inventory 3 times a week ,Place truck orders,receive truck orders .supervise others , cook breakfast- bacon, sausage and gravy.. Also you cook for X-mas  parties, employee parties at the hospital on top of  your canteen foods 3 ontrays, two starches,4 vegetables ,soups & chili and pizza every day  by yourself no one helps you cook -- Addressed with aggressive attitude from supervisors... Supervisors want more & more but yet no more financial compensation. Supervisor expects 11 hours of work to be done in 8 hours. Had to come in an hour early where I can handle the days work. and didn't get pay for the hour a day..The pay and treatment sucks for the work you put in..
No training by manager// They have employee train you, in which you aren't shown the paper work you need to do for daily operations , cause the employee don't want you to succeed in the position. Its a poor food service. because of management.

One of the worst places I ever worked. Central Office Management was so ignorant to the field. They would talk down to everyone in the weekly phone conference and put undue stress on everyone. Perform or else and give ultimatums. When any of them showed up at your location you could do no right by them. They are full of themselves and will throw you under the bus in a second. 

If you want to advance they force you to move across the country even if you own a home and are happy where you live. They will not promote you unless you agree to uproot yourself. I covered as Chief on two occasions as interim. I knew the job well and proved it twice but they would not give a promotion to Chief because I hadn't joined the internship and moved around. I own a home and have a family and do not want to move. They didn't care how much I did for them. They really suck! Do not work for them if you want respect.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Food service worker 18 salaries reported	$11.35 per hour
Retail sales associate 4 salaries reported	$9.28 per hour
Line cook/prep cook 1 salary reported	$12.25 per hour
Supply clerk 1 salary reported	$12.14 per hour
Assistant restaurant manager 12 salaries reported	$49,991 per year

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