2008 Pay Scale

There's so many improvements that need done for the CP work base I wouldn't even know where to begin. CP has once again dropped the ball on pay and I don't think it will ever get better.

I understand why some people have a problem with the pay rate but personally I could care less about the money the experience is worth so much more. Nothing could keep me from wanting to go back.

Gomez said:
In 2007 the base pay went up $.50 and the bonus dropped $.50.

Wasn't the base rate in 2007 $6.85? Meaning the pay went up $.65 from 2006 and not $.50.

^You're right, I didn't feel like fixing it, so I got rid of it all. Thanks for pointing that out.

The sole reason of me coming back is the for the experience and the people I met. The pay sucks and like other have pointed out the park doesn't do enough to show appreciation for their workers.

The overall attitude of the work environment always felt like they don't really need you, but looking at the number of employees they have in August through the end of the season shows that they really do. I think the attitude comes in because of their strict policies, but that's no reason for so many people to be unhappy by the end of the season. *** Edited 12/12/2007 2:49:25 AM UTC by Gomez***

Someone will have to work 10+ hours to make their bonus worth what I get paid to take a dump.

Just a little perspective...

A CP worker in 2008 will need to work approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes to make what I get paid to sleep each night.

I'm glad you both can compare your pay to it, but that's not what this is all about. I think it's obvious there are much better jobs/pay out there. That's why CP is mainly a summer job for a college student and not a full time job to support your future or a family.

IrishEd said:
I would have thought the base would stay the same...

Ohio's minimum wage increases to $7.00 on January 1st, and while amusement parks are exempt, they do want to have at least 1 person working there.

Next, think of it this way, if you complete your contract, you're making exactly what you were making last year. If you don't, you still made more per hour than you did last year.

Third, there were many rumors floating around at the end of the season of an $8 base rate, $1 bonus AND a returning employee benefits program. Where did all of this come from? That's a big difference from what we're seeing now.

Lastly, it's going to take them having a real hard hit before they make a change. Enough people work there because they love the park or it's nearby, or they've worked there forever, that they keep getting enough employees to do, okay... and only, okay. It's going to take them having a big hit at some point, such as during peak July and August, for them to realize that people won't settle for the minimum, in my opinion.

What's the most disturbing is that the chain's Ohio parks are the lowest paid employees in the chain, and they make up 2 of the biggest 4 parks in the chain.

*** Edited 12/12/2007 3:07:10 AM UTC by DBCP***

Gomez said:
The sole reason of me coming back is the for the experience and the people I met. The pay sucks and like other have pointed out the park doesn't do enough to show appreciation for their workers.

The overall attitude of the work environment always felt like they don't really need you, but looking at the number of employees they have in August through the end of the season shows that they really do. I think the attitude comes in because of their strict policies, but that's no reason for so many people to be unhappy by the end of the season.

I definitely agree here...I have noticed that this past season (07) that around the beginning of August employees were NOT feeling appreciated and had a very apathetic attitude towards their job because of various reasons but more importantly the PAY(bonus), which is what ultimately led to a severe shortage of employees from September on.

That shortage then caused everyone to work MORE hours and tackle MORE responsibilty at there rides which then led to MORE employees being overworked and feelings of not being appreciated which then led to MORE apathetic attitudes.

Now with the .35 bonus what is that going to do to help that shortage? Or the question may be...What is the .35 bonus going to do to further hurt the shortage of employees

Like Gomez, the reason I am coming back is solely for the experience and the people I meet...

Cedar Point does have some very dedicated employees (like me, I have been there from training week to closing day in 06 and 07 and even then some) and I would like to take the time to thank them all for their hard work and their dedication because you are all an example for others to follow, without people like you guys a lot more people would be quitting and everyone would have to work even MORE hours than they already do.

Well, considering we were sitting at 200+ under by the time I left (I hear it was close to 300) at the beginning of the last week of August, this may be the year they experience a hit big enough to think this through.

Thing is, if you want to work for the 'experience'...there are other parks that care about their employees more than Cedar Point seems to.
I honestly LOVED my job this summer and was all about going back. (and still am *considering* it)...but like I said earlier, when you don't feel appreciated, where's the incentive to do your job well..if at all?

I know the comparison between the old Six Flags and the current Cedar Fair are thrown around a lot, but that comparison fits here as well. Six Flags has gotten a lot of good reviews the past season or two thanks in part to employees who seem to care about their job. Cedar Point seems to want to go the other direction with their employees.

Already people are complaining about the smoking policy not being enforced very well, if at all, this year. well, if you were getting paid minimum wage, working 60+ hours a week, getting little sleep, and not seeing much appreciation from higher-ups, would you want to take the extra initiative to stop a smoker? I mean, you know you're not going to thanked or even acknowledged by management for doing it, and you're more than likely going to get bitched out by the guest for stopping them from puffing.
No, I wasn't one of those types of employees this summer. I, again, loved my job and did everything I could to help out...But there are going to be a lot more people who just don't give a **** next year, and in future years if this trend continues.

Just because the hourly pay rate is going up doesn't mean the bonus should go down. Minimum wage...all wages really..are going to go up as time goes on. So what's that mean? When pay rates go up and there isn't a bonus to lower anymore?

Just throwing this out there...
But, based on the pay "package" for 2005, and the current inflation rate of 3.54%, the package should be $8.05 for 2008.

Doug, please stop... you are making me sad. :)

Me too.. I really don't know what the park is going to do to keep employees to keep their job in July... I really don't think $100 is going to keep many people there...

Sorry... I suppose I'm trying to talk myself out of going back... :)

I may not have to talk myself out of it, if I don't make the Live E cut (nevermind I may be hurting my chances by posting this, I no longer care, these tough opinions need to be heard).

Hard Rock may see an influx of employees that Cedar Point does not want to lose.

Does Hard rock park have employee housing?

I'm not sure, but I sent an email asking them. I'll post when I figure out an answer.

I don't like it either.

Now with that out of the way, I've got some real discussion here:

What are they thinking with that $1 Halloweekends bonus? That isn't going to keep people. Just because your rate went up doesn't change the fact that your long summer of work has only gotten you a bonus of $200. That $200 yesterday with .35/hr is the same $200 today that now increases at $1/hr. It isn't going to do any better of a job at keeping you at work because the bonus itself hasn't changed. The only thing it might do is bring more new employees to just work Halloweekends (maybe that is what they are hoping).

Here is my idea (even though it is going to fall on deaf ears, I dont know why I am wasting the effort): Have .35/hr or .25/hr or whatever for May, then in June all the bonuses retroactively increase to .50/hr so all your hours worked in May are now worth .50. In July it goes up to .75. In August $1. Etc. Etc. Up to whatever to keep people through Halloweekends. That way employees are motivated to keep working as their bonus gets bigger and bigger with each milestone they pass.

Of course, they could just have a good bonus all the time. That might work as well and be simpler overall.

That is a good idea, never thought of that. Still dont know if im comming back, i want to work there for the experience, but the pay motivates you to wake up every morning. I also heard the rumors of $8 an hour plus a $1 bonus, I wonder what happened to that.