Question about working at the Point

Ralph Wiggum said:
I have to disagree there, at least on the reasoning for it. Sure you take a risk of getting stuck when riding a ride, regardless of how small that risk it. But that can apply to any situation that could arise that would make you late returning from break. Slow cafeteria service (they don't know the meaning of the word fast), guests stopping you for 15 minutes to bitch about something you have nothing to do with, and a slew of other things could cause you to be late from break, but nobody just hides at their ride and worries about it instead of taking a break.

There is risks to everything a person chooses to do. I can get ran over by the little ambulance mobil while walking to the break room. But going on coasters is not prohibited while on breaks. I've said the reasons.

Well, considering the Challenge Park sups were ok with it, and I even saw Woulshuck a few times while riding things during by break, and told him I was riding things on break, I'm guessing it's at least officially ok for Challenge Park employees to ride on breaks. If it's not for other departments, then so be it.

I just scanned through the entire 2008 employee guidelines and there is absolutely nothing about not being able to ride on your break while personally i would advise against it it is not prohibited according to the guidelines for EVERY Cedar Point employee.

There is definitely nothing about it in the guideline book and I think it is more discouraged than enforced. It is probably not an "official rule" because it really has not been a major problem in the past. Most employees are more concerned with getting food and visiting the restroom on breaks. Therefore, the amount of employees who actually try to ride things on their breaks is slim, and then any problems with employees being late due to riding is slim. There is definitely plenty of time to ride when you're off, but if you're having a bad day and happen to have some extra clothes with you, a quick ride on Magnum or something with a comparable line is okay to me.

A lap around the lazy river during break made all the long hot days so much more bearable. :)

CP_Obsessed_Freak1987 said:But there is a chance that you could be on a coaster and it stuck on the lift for 30 minutes...then you're screwed. This is why you can not ride these on breaks.

There is also a chance of getting stuck in traffic if you leave Point for a break or getting slow service at McDonald's. Have you ever left Point for a break, Brandon?

I have to agree with those who pointed out that it says nothing in the Guidelines about doing it. If an employee was told they were not allowed to do it on break, then its that departments policy, which can be different from other departments. And it has nothing to do with Challenge Park being "lenient" but rather your department being strict, Brandon..don't tell me different because I worked in your department.

After my employee's have worked a rough day, I am not the one who is going to tell them what they can or can't do on a break. As long as they know the consequences of what will happen if they are late. Furthermore, from what I can recall, I don't remember anyone being very late from riding rides. But more then it should happen, I have had employee's late because of the service in the cafe, or because someone left Point for food.

Yes, I have left the Point to get food on my break a few times in a two year stint at Challenge Park. A few times, and luckily, I never had any problems. I don't know if its a CP rule or a department rule. At least in Rides, it's a rule, but I always assumed it was a CP rule because it's quite logical to being one. Now, having worked two years at RipCord, I don't know if it was a rule because if it were, it was never mentioned because of the leniency(sp?).

And even if your employees have a "rough" day, you should still tell them what they can not do. Whether it's screwing in VertiGo building or riding rides.

99er said:
And it has nothing to do with Challenge Park being "lenient" but rather your department being strict,

I think that sums it all up right there. Different departments, different policies. It doesn't mean one is in the wrong or one is in the right, so there's really no point to be argued here.

how many sexy people work hereeeeeee =]

like 3. Lots of uglies with bad teeth.

Only 2, now that I have left to work at another park.

Only 1, now that Chris and I aren't there anymore. Ralph has to hold it down for all of us if he goes back.

Telling people that they can't ride rides on breaks (which is UNPAID time) is about the most asinine and idiotic rule I could ever think of, as is the reasoning behind it. Better make a rule that you have to stay at your ride location during your entire break, because that's the only way you can ensure that "bad luck" doesn't happen and someone is late back from break. It's about as crazy as water jugs being out of guests' sight (like we aren't people and we don't drink water, better not let the guests know that).

CP_Obsessed_Freak1987 said:
Whether it's screwing in VertiGo building

Someone sounds jealous they never got to do that.

Right Randall. I'm totally jealous.

And Steve, it's an Ohio law that says you can not remain at the ride location while on break. Even if you are on break, unpaid time, you're still at work on a scheduled shift. They own you for that time.

I've never heard of any workplace ever that tells you what you can and cannot do on an unpaid break. As long as you're back at work on time, why the hell should they care?

When I worked at Zoombezi Bay this past summer, they tried to tell us that we weren't allowed to leave the park for our breaks, but that didn't stop any of us, eventually they stopped caring. I agree that its asinine to tell people what they can and can not do if they arn't being paid. Also i agree with the fact that its a risk to ride a coaster or leave the park on break for the fact that something could happen. Do i think its wrong? no, but its all a risk and if you want to, have at it.

^Exactly! Its a risk, a risk you have to be willing to take. Just as you would if you wanted to leave Point for lunch, walk to the cafe from the back of the park, or take a nap.

When I worked at Conneaut It was a rule we could not ride at the begining of the last year. As the summer went on they got more relaxed with the rule. When I was assigned to run breaks I only had to operate rides two hours in the day. I got payed for a whole day and we were aloud to ride so I got payed for riding rides all day. Also while running the Blue Streak there were days when we had only one group in the park. Fred (Formerly Rotor Fred from Geauga Lake) was our only custormer on some days. We had staff always taking a ride. I say let employees have some fun at the jobs because if you do that than it will carry onto the Guests who will be happy to see enthusiastic staff.

CP_Obsessed_Freak1987 said:
Right Randall. I'm totally jealous.

And Steve, it's an Ohio law that says you can not remain at the ride location while on break. Even if you are on break, unpaid time, you're still at work on a scheduled shift. They own you for that time.

What law?

Look it up.

I'm not saying the rule is stupid or smart. I am just acknowledging that there is a rule. It's like my grocery store not allowing us to leave the store while on breaks. It's just a policy of that certain employers. They do have that power, you know.