News: Cedar Point raises wage, lowers bonus

They still do not have to pay overtime. That has NOT changed. Castaway might pay overtime, but good luck finding a job where you will work more then 35 to 39 hours a week.

I would say that the bonus system was widely used throughout the industry at one time. I'm not too sure that it still is. I know that SFI kind of cut it out at the Aurora park around 2001. But it wasn't just a bonus system in Aurora. In the retail departments the management actually worked on commission contracts. A good manager could expect to pull in well over 10,000 (10.00 and hour in the mid to late 90s) if they worked the full term of the contract and met the numbers. And 15 an hour wasn't out of the realm of possibility. Area supervisors made more. In fact it was this bonus/commission arrangement that allowed for long term retention of park staff for about two decades. Even if the company wouldn't allow competitive wages during the season the bonus would make up the difference for those who busted their humps.

And to speak on the outragous hours that seasonal park employees work. I remember one week in the summer of '96 or '97 when i pulled o-c for at least 9 days straight. The other two managers for my department were out on vacation in July i think. I don't remember how they pulled that one off on me. Well the park was on the 10-10 schedule and the am was in at 8 or 9 depending the day and the pm left at 11 or before. As i recall it was a 90+ hour check. Ahh the good ol days. Not to say that this is the norm by any streach, but 60+ in departments like foods, park ops and rides should be anticipated i would think. I just thought i would share to illustrate a point.