Please read. I'm an MBA student specializing in Human Resource Management and have two undergraduate social science degrees. I got a part time job working for a Jimmy Johns franchise delivering sandwiches in Phoenix for some extra cash. I witnessed first-hand how naive young people are about their rights and how badly companies like this take advantage of young, desperate people. First off, you must sign a non-compete meaning if you decide JJ's isn't right for you, they make you sign a contract that prohibits you from seeking similar employment elsewhere.... or the will sue you. This is something companies make high level managers and executives sign to protect their businesses. JJ's uses it to scare kids into not leaving to go work for Subway. They skim wages, paying drivers $5.25 per hour but making them do shop work. They limit to 28 hours so they don't have to offer benefits. They pay their store managers a salary equivalent to less than $15 per hour after bonuses and they work a minimum of 50 hours; additionally, the bonuses cannot be disbursed if they don't pass "audits" which they ALWAYS fail for things like water spots in the bottom of a clean, dry sink. This is only so they don't have to pay managers what they rightfully earned. You can move up quickly yes, but only because turnover is so high. My first day I noticed someone had programmed the Screensaver to say: 1) go to work at jimmy johns 2) try not to cry 3) go home 4) cry a lot
That caught my attention because
I was a delivery driver for Jimmy John's for about two months. There weren't many pros for me in this job.
Pros:
-The hours were very flexible.
-It's a job.
I have a long list of cons about this job, or at least the store where I worked.
The cons in no particular order:
-Low pay/no mileage reimbursement - I have seen where other Jimmy John's locations offer mileage reimbursement, but the store I worked in did not.
- Cut hours/No security - The hours are so flexible that you may not have any at all. If the lunch rush slows down at all, then management starts to send drivers home. There were many days I would be scheduled for a three-hour shift but only worked for an hour or less due to labor being high. That defeated the entire purpose of having a job, even a part-time job. It cost me more money to work there than what I made.
- Easily replaceable - Apparently I offended one of the managers one night and about a week later I was fired. Earlier on the same day I was fired, I had already told the manager that I was looking for another job and I was quitting within the next two weeks. I found another job that night, however, the way the entire situation ended was pretty bad. I understand they hire new people all the time, so everyone is replaceable, however, the turnover rate is ridiculously high. In the two months that I was there, I saw several people get hired and either not show up at all, or show up to work one day and then never come back.
- Low tips - Pr
1.0
Assistant General Manager | Norfolk, VA | Oct 7, 2020
Easy In, Easy Out
Having worked here for a couple years, I know a few things. If you're serious about getting promoted, its easy. Not because there's so much job growth, but because turnover is horrible & everyone around you sucks so much that it's not hard to stand out. A huge issue was upper management's tendency to delegate their work to you. They paint it as training you for manager, when really its just them being too lazy to do their jobs. After 5 months of "training" to slice meat, how much more training do you need? Once you become lead you'll find yourself constantly doing the work the GM should've done. If you don't get their work done on top of your own, they will call/text you the next day to yell at you about it. The owners play favorites with lower management. They'll make excuses for leads that don't do their work and expect those that take their jobs seriously to clean up behind them. If you speak up for yourself, you're looked at and talked to like you're the problem.
The work culture is horrible. If the phrase "If you have time to lean, you have time to clean" had a face, it would be Jimmy John's Sandwiches of Norfolk/Chesapeake. The owners are incredibly invasive. You'll be on your shift and suddenly get a phone call asking you why one of your employees is standing around not doing anything. Even if someone is sitting after working 6 hours with no break and no customers, you're still expected to stand. They watch the cameras, even as late as 9 PM, and expect you and your
ProsWork as much as you want, easy advancement
ConsPay, benefits, upper management, watched like a hawk through cameras
This job is great if you're looking for some cash, but their promises of advancement in the company should not persuade you to stay long-term (if this is what you desire). I worked for this company for almost 4 years, with the potential to move up to managing beginning after 6 months into the job. While I was able to advance to several non-management positions over the years, it wasn't until the beginning of year 3 I was actually given that opportunity. After going through management training and doing everything upper management asked me to do (from covering for sick employees/managers to closing the store then opening the store in the same day, which is a 3 hour window between shifts and nearly 22 hours of work), the week that I was officially supposed to start the position I was told that it went to someone who had JUST finished training.
I can't speak for all locations but relative to the fast-paced hard work you must put in with the company, the pay you receive is the absolute minimal. Because managers are considered "executives" and not actual managers, they are not required to pay you for overtime. I worked at a store that closes as late as 3am, which equates to 60 hours a week. But by doing some math, this equates to roughly $7.69/hr (which is under my state's minimum wage).
HOWEVER, if you are not considering management, the job is decent. The overall atmosphere of the store makes it a fun place to work that attracts like-minded, wacky individuals such as you
Horrible managers, amazing owners, corporate could careless!
The general manager there is a horrible person over for he’s lazy doesn’t hold his word l.and he changes your hours in the system when he’s leaves and he’ll over claims your tips if you’re a driver. he also pushes his paperwork and his job stuff onto his other managers he doesn’t work his full shift but he stays clocked in and then will either have you clock him out or he’ll come back and clock himself out that way he looks like he’s working when he’s not he doesn’t set you up like he supposed to when you’re taking over for his shift in the drawers are always short general managers are supposed to pay the difference if any of the doors are short but he makes you do it even if you tell him that it was short when you got there and it was out for him he’ll stomach a bit in so he doesn’t have to. I was promised $15 an hour to be a manager and I’m only getting paid $12 an hour I didn’t know for the longest time because I don’t have access to my paystub‘s because of our location uses into it I TurboTax and for some reason, I am unable to login it doesn’t like my credentials and the general manager refuses to fix it the owners are absolutely amazing they’re nice people they care about you they tell you when to do the job they tell you to thank you, to make you feel valued but they are oblivious to what is going on that storm and if you try to tell them the only thing they do is go talk to the general manager and then believe what he says and he always lies or tries to make up things
Very productive workplace, but very unproductive lifestyle.
Working at Jimmy John's, I started my career with complete open availability. This, I have come to learn, was the worst possible agreement I could have made with this franchise. I now work six days per week with only one off day(not to mention it's a week day!) and a crazy, unorganized schedule.
a typical day at work requires a lot of useless stress, they don't call us Freak Fast for nothing!
I start my day by slicing all the meats and cheese we need, and then as the lunch rush gradually becomes more busy, I take on the role of Bread Master or Meat Puller on either cold table. Once lunch ends, we are, as in-shop employees, required to complete an "after lunch" punch list of small chores to complete around the kitchen, such as, filling the ice machine and doing dishes. Once that list in complete, we are then expected to complete a "Daily Beautification List" of detailed chores to do around the whole restaurant.
Working for this Franchise has taught me many things, but the biggest lesson would have to be patience. Patience and waiting. Patience with angry and hungry customers, patience with management in recruiting greater paying positions, and patience with my co-workers, because the stress of this job takes a tole on all of us, greatly. My co-workers are some of the greatest people I have ever encountered. We all get along very well and work great as a team. Communication is the greatest attribute we contribute as a team. The management of this facility is very strict a
ProsFree 30 minute un-paid Lunches after 7.5 hours of working.
ConsNO 10 Minute breaks AT ALL, even after 4 or more hours of standing constantly.
As one may guess, working at a fast food company is not the best. There are employees who slack off and there are employees to make sure all the works gets done and tries to keep others on track. I am a hardworking employee who had to constantly do the majority of the work because other people had horrible work ethic. It upset me that people were getting paid to stand around while I did the majority of the work. Jimmy Johns rarely gives raises so I was doing a lot of work for only a little more pay than regular employees. That is the real world. I learned that life will not be fair but I just have to continue doing the best I can and remember that I have a bigger plan for myself than just working at a fast food shop. The manager was a great person but was too nice to get mad at lazy employees and tell them to get to work. The feeling of having all the cleaning done and the end of lunch rushes were the most enjoyable part of work. You get to sit back for a second and just breath. You get to feel good that you got everything done that you needed to. The hardest part of the job was dealing with customers. They forget that Jimmy Johns is not a subway and like to make employees feel bad about not having difference sauces like ranch (that was one that always popped up). Customers seem to not understand Jimmy johns and how we work so it just gets a little frustrating.
A typical 11-4 shift goes:
Show up to work and clock in. Get assigned to either the inshop or the delivery sand
A typical day at work with Jimmy John's was fairly routine and not bad. Working with certain people was never fun but you will find that in every job. Management was amazing when I first started! They always preached about how they wanted me to always put my family first and were super understanding if something came up with my kids or I had car troubles, etc. BUT, a few months in, my absolute favorite manager was laid off due to OTHER management slacking in their jobs and him getting upset while on the job. I understand this is unprofessional but from my understanding this wasn't the first time, and he wasn't the only one who has lashed out at a co-worker while customers were in the store. Now, this manager that got laid off was the only one there besides myself that had children. The second he got laid off, the remaining management, including the GM couldn't have cared less that I had kids who were unpredictable as ALL kids are. Towards the end of my working there, they started writing me up for missing work and not being able to find a cover, even though we were understaffed and no one liked to take shifts last minute. I was personally told by my GM there that I needed to bribe my co-workers into taking shifts by either offering them money or offering to swap shifts with them. I understand swapping shifts but I should not have to pay out of my pocket for missing work. I should not have to lose money for missing work just to find someone to cover. Anyways, my kids ended up
Management doesnt want over qualified staff for fear of losing their positions
● Work-life balance
Work-life balance at Jimmy John's Sandwiches is rough. Closing is unbearably slow but is also very late leaving no time to be with family. And if you fall into that unfortunate situation of having your manager hate you you will have problems getting shifts you need for one special occasion. No matter how flexible you are all the time for them.
● Job security and advancement
In terms of job security at Jimmy John's Sandwiches, I think there is none. No matter what you do for your manager if they get wrapped up in drama and gossip there's no explaining the truth. They will gun for your job.
● Management
In general, managers at Jimmy John's Sandwiches are very unprofessional. They will stoop to the level of a high schooler with gossip and drama etc. They will plot firing you and tell everyone in the store before they do. They will lie and say you said things you didnt just to make you look bad. They mentioned not wanting to hire someone because they had a bachelor's degree. It became evident that the in store managers lacked self esteem and belief in their own abilities. They quickly would tear people down to make themselves feel or look better, fire them, or they would end up quitting after a week or a day. GM constantly broke labor laws for example I worked an 11.5 hour day without taking a legal break because she had to get her children. EVERYONE talks about everyone. The owners have people they've been friends with like before birth or years and years i
Fast Paced Work Environment, Young Staff, Discount/Free Employee Meal
I enjoyed the fast pace. I learned Jimmy John's unique techniques for making a sandwich, and that some young guys can be reasonable to work with. For a newcomer under micro-management it's a bit tedious for the low pay, otherwise interesting. There were way too many chiefs and little to no room for mistakes. I've been there just about 30 days and I'm a quick learner so I think they might have been tougher on me for this. I could hardly gather my thoughts enough to get everything right. Between the store manager's excessive talking, my song & beat making from the radio overhead and co-workers trying to practice their managing skills on me it was a big ball of noise and distraction. Of course I mostly tried to smile, converse and laugh my way through the day, it was just really annoying or awkward for me most of the time. It's already uncomfortable working with so many guys and I didn't mesh well with the other girl's attitudes and personalities. The staff in general micro-managed. The problem with that is that not everyone who had things to say were managers and the managers didn't properly address this. The job isn't hard but could manage to pay 2 or more dollars per hour to start. I mostly enjoyed the customer responses, prepping bread and making Beach Clubs. (I don't know I just liked putting the Avo on ;) I especially liked when they'd say, "Wow that was fast!" Made me laugh almost every time.
Oh and someone stole my Snickers'!
I'm disappointed in the store manage
ProsTimely pay, free food, some nice co-workers
ConsBad Management
Questions And Answers about Jimmy John's Sandwiches
What is the best part of working at Jimmy John's Sandwiches?
Asked Oct 3, 2019
Free sandwiches I guess.
Answered May 27, 2022
No grease and small work
Answered May 27, 2022
Do you really make $15- $25 an hr as a driver? No one seems to be commenting on that.
Asked Aug 9, 2016
We make minimum wage as drivers and whatever you get in tips. Tips include cash and online tips as well as money for the gas (but that is only like .50 per mile)
Answered Apr 25, 2022
You make $6 an hour as a driver. With tips that's supposed to be up to 15 an hour but that depends on area. Most people do not tip you and assume you get the delivery fee, which you do not.
Answered Mar 15, 2022
What benefits does Jimmy John's Sandwiches offer?
Asked Jun 9, 2016
We didn't get any benefits. No vacation time and you had to prove you were sick for sick leave. They make it impossible to get the employee discount by not giving you enough hours to qualify for it.
Answered Apr 25, 2022
At my JJ's in Murfreesboro, we get a $1 employee discount. If you work an 8hr shift you can get a free combo meal (sub, chips and drink.)
Answered Sep 6, 2019
How are the working hours at Jimmy John's Sandwiches?
Asked Feb 25, 2016
They don't make a schedule out they just tell you they per day with their wants you to work and that you really need to work and you better work so they never make a schedule out
Answered Mar 8, 2019
Decent. They're willing to work with pretty much whatever you can work
Answered May 13, 2018
What questions did they ask during your interview at Jimmy John's Sandwiches?
Asked Jun 9, 2016
Only two questions: what is your previous experience? And, what are you available to work? After that I was shooed out the door.
