2009 Pay Rate...5 cent bonus here we come!

Ohio requires the state minimum wage to rise on Jan. 1 each year in line with a rise in inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. This will require the Ohio minimum wage to increase from $7 to $7.30 starting on Jan. 1st.

So what are the options?

1. Cedar Point raises the base rate to $7.30 and offers a new 5 cent bonus incentive.
2. Cedar Point eliminates the bonus and base rate is $7.35
3. Cedar Point raises the base rate to $7.30 and keeps the 35 cent bonus incentive.
4. Cedar Point fights the state of Ohio until it is again exempt from minimum wage requirements and pays the same rate as last year.
5. Cedar Point feels compassion for it's employees and raises the base rate to $7.30 and go back to the old school 50 cent or $1 bonus.
6. Cedar Point pays the lowest possible rate and establishes the lowest possible bonus feasible in the best interest of the company. Which would figure out to $7.30 base rate with approx. 10 to 20 cent bonus.

Number 6 is my guess. What are your thoughts?

Also FYI, for the 2007 season, amusement parks were exempt from paying minimum wage, (Though CP still did.) However in 2008 that exemption was dropped and CP was then required to offer atleast the $7 an hour as a base rate, (Reference http://www.myemploymentlawyer.com/serendipity/categories/9-Ohio-minimum-wage )

Anyone know about 2009?

I heard the bonus was still going to be 35 cents.

Why not just pay $7.30 and cut the bonus or offer a set rate if you stay through halloweekends - Like $250 or something?

The problem with a set bonus is you have those local employees who are only available on weekends, or during HalloWeekends are only available 1 out of the 3 days. These people (usually minors or elderly) are more in Foods, Merchandise, and Accommodations, than in Rides, but still would you pay them the same bonus as someone who works a full CP load? Wouldn't more locals try to get less hours since there's no connection to their bonus?

When you cut the bonus and have a set rate it causes a lot of problems with people staying through halloweekends. Like I worked 1100 hours last summer and got a nice check in the mail near Thanksgiving, I think it is only fair to have the bonus at a certain amount per hour for those of us who work a whole lot more than others.

the dollar per hour Halloweekend incentive bonus was to keep their employees during the weekends coming back...dropping it wouldn't be a good idea. I'd love for number five to happen but I'm thinking its gonna be number 6 or maybe keep the 35 cent bonus with the dollar per hour halloweekend bonus incentive. We're going to find out soon enough though, apps should be available next month and hopefully they'll have pay information up by then.

http://www.com.ohio.gov/laws/docs/laws_2009MinimumWage.pdf

It looks like our 14 and 15 year olds will be getting a significant raise this year. As I recall, last year they were making $5.80/hr. This year they will be bumped to at least $7.25.

Also of interest is this article from 2007 which specifically states that amusement park and agricultural employees are no longer exempt from minimum wage.
http://www.myemploymentlawyer.com/serendipity/archives/29-Ohio-anno...tions.html

BTW, if you look at the Geauga Lake website, they are paying $0.35 bonus again this year and have already started accepting applications.

I worked for a small amusement park in Ohio for the past two years and they claimed that they didnt have to pay minimum wage either, but an employee took them to court and they got in trouble because legally they had to, so starting in 2008 every place like Cedar Point should from now on have to pay minimum wage.

heavner2728 said:
I worked for a small amusement park in Ohio for the past two years and they claimed that they didnt have to pay minimum wage either, but an employee took them to court and they got in trouble because legally they had to, so starting in 2008 every place like Cedar Point should from now on have to pay minimum wage.

The only normal hourly employees that are exempt from Ohio minimum wage are those who are under the age of 16 and those who work for a company that grosses less than $267,000 per year. Those who are exempt under those clauses are still required to pay federal minimum wage, which goes up to $7.25/hr. in July.

The are some people who still fall into a special category, such as tipped employees (paid at 50% of minimum wage), those who are in work-study programs, certain government employees, certain non-profit employees, commissioned salespeople, etc.

The exemption for amusement parks was removed from Ohio law in 2007. The only exemption that now applies to amusement parks relates to overtime and only applies to seasonal employees at seasonal resort type establishments. That is why hourly employees at Cedar Point don't get minimum wage but those who work at Castaway Bay do. That could be up in the air now though as Castaway Bay is now a seasonal hotel as well.

Actually the minimum wage exemptions for amusement park employees, farm hands ect.. were taken away from the new minimum wage law right before Bob taft left office, almost 3 years ago to the day, it was one of the final things he did before leaving office.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/NEWS24/701030436/-1/NEWS

RidePhoto101 said:
BTW, if you look at the Geauga Lake website, they are paying $0.35 bonus again this year and have already started accepting applications.

Are you sure that website is up to date? The Employment page also states on the same page...

"Wildwater Kingdom operates May 24 through September 1, 2008."

Which I would think would mean that this page hasn't been updated for 2009. Unless somewhere in the application process it states the .35 bonus returns for next year.

Also if the .35 cent bonus was to return it would be largest raise for CP employees in years.

5 years ago- $6.25 +$1=$7.25

Last year- $7.00 +.35=$7.35

Next year-$7.35+.35=$7.70

I am still very skeptical that Cedar Point will let this happen.

Yea, but if they were to lose the bonus all together, or make it to small... what keeps those employees who have had enough of the job from just up and walking off the job. There was already enough staffing issue this year as it was. Also, I'm sure to preserve the bonus and increase hourly wages there will be big staffing cuts park wide this year.

I feel that CP will be surprised this summer. They will probably have a good summer because people that usually take a big summer vacation cant afford to do it because of the economy. In turn for most of the focused guests for cp this is a day trip where people can save money on hotel bills. I think they will be very happy with this summer... Just my opinion.

in 2007 pay rate 6.85 + .50 = 7.35...

The bonus is there so that you complete your contract

I loved the $1.00 bonus. I think it was a great

incentive, I see why they do it.

well its getting closer to the times we should find out. Last year apps were available Jan 5....HR is rumored to having told seasonals who have asked that it won't be out till mid January...either way within the next couple of weeks we'll be applying again and the base pay levels should be available by then if not soon after. Either way Cedar Point's website is getting visited often by us returnees who want to get that step out of the way so we can get back to the point. Something, by the way I didn't think I would be saying...but HA isn't this the way that is always happens. See ya all there...and lets hope for the best though we're all probably going to be realistic enough to not be too surprised when the actual pay (and hopeful bonus) does come out.

Also to the person that mentioned the bad economy as an incentive for Cedar Point to be happy this year. While we have MANY "locals" (tri-state area) who do come CP relies a lot on many visitors from out of the area too. So its either going to even it self out with more locals and less visitors or worse, though I am hoping that more people will at least want to come locally since I know from personal experience more people are staying closer to home instead of travelling afar...CP heads are happy so are the rest of us ;).

I guess we will all hope for the best and either way make it a good year...this is what I'm planning to do anyway. :) Good luck everyone with apps and such.

All I know is, the crappy pay and horrible living arrangements are the two huge reasons I'm not going back, among other things. But the pay is a joke, and the bonus is an even bigger joke at 35 cents.

update on application availability...it says on the site to come after January 12th to apply for the 2009 season just thought you guys would like to know...pay rates are still not available however.

So i just did my app and there is nothing about pay yet. It makes me wonder