What are they thinking ?!

The point that it may be a simple change to the page itself is not that relevant. In a professional environment you follow the same change management protocol regardless of how extensive the change is.

This is my one and only contribution to this topic. And I have not read all 16 pages so excuse me if I repeat anything.

I have worked at the park for 3 seasons, in 2 different departments (games 2006-2007 rides 2008). I am also hold some partnership units (very few but some none the less). I love the park, and have, in the past been very loyal to the company despite popular opinion. My loyalty has cost me at times, and has come with few rewards above the usual paycheck, but alas I remain loyal.
That being said, I am very disappointed that the company would not raise wages to meet not only the minimum wage, but the standard of living. Cedar Point is in fact the only park in the company (that has pay clearly put on the website) that does not offer the $1 bonus, and has the lowest pay of any park. It is also the only park where employees have to pay to live. Cedar Point brings in more money, attendance, and has higher ridership numbers per capita than any other park in the company. The board of directors should be ashamed. John Hildebradt should be ashamed. Most of all Dick Kinzel should be ashamed. They are taking advantage of a poor economy, because they know there are too few jobs to go around and plenty of people who will work for next to nothing because it is a job.
I was lucky enough to get a job as a sales associate at a medium box retailer in Sandusky for the off season. I make more there hourly than a rides sup makes including bonus. That is not right, I stock shelfs and work a cash register, and they are running from ride to ride walking at least 10 miles a day, in 95 degree heat, and driving rains, dealing with guests that would not be happy even if you named a freaking ride after them. I think anybody who wants to see an increase in not only pay, but overall respect from the company should think twice about applying this season. That is the only way that the company will see decline in the quality of employees.

Larry Nearhood

If any member of management would like to discuss this further or offer an explanation to any facts that I have laid out feel free to e-mail me at larry.nearhood@utoledo.edu.

Gr8Point said:
the only park where employees have to pay to live.

Untrue. You actually have to pair more at Valley Fair for their housing.

they are running from ride to ride walking at least 10 miles a day, in 95 degree heat, and driving rains, dealing with guests that would not be happy even if you named a freaking ride after them.

And to think Larry, there are supervisors in operations that due much more work than them and make less. About $1.35 less an hour. Crazy, huh?

I have an explanation:

It's called choice. End. Of. Story.

You do not have the right to b*tch and moan about your wage when you have a choice to work at said job. The contract CLEARLY states the terms of your employment. You don't like it? Walk away.

I have remained silent throughout this ridiculous topic and cannot believe that there are employees posting here (who are also returning) and complaining about how badly the park treats them, the living conditions suck, blah blah blah.

You don't like it? Quit. And don't try the b.s. about.."it's hard to find a job.." no, it's not hard to find a job if you choose to work for Cedar Point. Burger King, McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, any store in the shopping mall will hire you for at least minimum wage and guess what? You don't have to work for the evil Mr. Kinzel any longer.

I don't agree with the work ethics that the park uses, but I don't have to work there either. Some of you act surprised that Cedar Point would "stoop so low"...where the heck have you been all these years?

It's an amusement park job. That's it. If you made friends during your time there, great, and I'm happy for ya, but continuing to work for an employer whom you feel treats you like crap simply for your friends, tells me a lot about just what kind of person you really are.

There are those of you who truly love your job, and to you, I say keep at it. If you find passion in what you do, no matter the job, then keep it as long as you can. A job loved at less money is worth far more than a job you hate for all the money in the world.

But to remain with an employer, and return year after year and complain about your unfair treatment and low wages, that's just a total lack of common sense.

Weather you have a choice of working there or not, it's not right what they are doing with the pay scale.

^And just what is it exactly they are doing with the pay scale?

Because last time I checked, NO ONE here can explain EXACTLY whats going on with it. Until that park cuts a check or a press release that clearly states the pay at less that minimum wage, I don't want to hear that the park is doing "illegal things" or "unfairly paying employees", blah, blah, blah.

Come the month of May and someone gets a check that says they are in fact making $7 an hour, then I invite all of you to come back here and yell at me for how wrong I was. But I assure you at that point, I won't give a damn.

^^ thanks for telling us that again. Everybody keeps saying its a choice to work there. You guys don't get it. 35 cents an hour isn't reason enough to not work there. It is however, more than reason enough to complain on a message board.

A job at Cedar Point isn't about money. If it is, you've got something wrong with you. A job at Cedar Point is about the experience, but theres no reason you can't complain and wish the job was better.

^I suppose it could be enough reason to complain, Randall. But I want to know why all the complaining this year. I don't recall much bitching when it went from $1 to $0.50, and then again when it went to $0.35. So why now? Is it just because of the frenzy the CP website started when they posted the pay? Because that $0.35 is no different than it was last year.

I would say its because the posted wage was lower than its supposed to be. Then it snowballed.

Amen to mk522.

If you truly hate the job, you probably shouldn't work there anyway. Have you forgotten the joy you get to witness each time a child gets off one of the coasters? Or the excitement they have when they are actually tall enough to ride? I don't continue to return to CP for the money. There are plenty of other opportunities at home where my family and "other" friends would prefer me to be during the summer. I continue because this is a job I enjoy. I know I'd rather work with folks that want to be there in the end. There are far worse things in the world to complain about than this pathetic argument.

Because a lower bonus was not illigal, it was what it was....a bonus.

True the first check has not been cut yet, and they removed the wage from the website. But if it was a simple mistake, coulden't it have been an easy fix to put the right wage online?

I used to work at the park and I know it was/ is a tuff job. Sure it was a fun job as well, but I still had bills and needed money for school also.

I hope they do fix the issue on the website(if thats what it is). Untill then, I have lost a lot of respect for the park that I love.

adanidacp said:
Amen to mk522.

He was just saying what 15 other people have said at least 3 times a page in this thread. I would hardly say amen to that.

I have never suggested that you should be able to "make a living" by working a seasonal job at Cedar Point. (Heck, I barely made a living working full time at Cedar Point).

But, the Federally established MINIMUM wage is what it is. There are a thousand reasons (and a million political reasons) as to why that is. No one on here, nor Cedar Point for that matter, can claim that the park shouldn't have to pay the minimum wage because it is a "fun" job. I love my job...but I'm not about to tell my employer I would take less money. Baseball players, for the most part, love what they do. Do you see a lot of them turning to their agents and saying, "hey...I'll play for nothing"?

Forget the bonus. It shouldn't be part of this discussion. The minimum wage is X and Cedar Point either willingly or mistakenly was going to pay < X. That isnt't right. And, it is HORRIBLE PR for a company that struggles to recruit enough staff every season.

The CP website has to be somewhat easy to update. Remember, they do updates for the 'today in the park' page everyday during the season. That's not really the point though.

The point is that removing the wage value averts controversy. No one can claim that the wage is $7 for this year because it's no longer posted anymore. Personally, I don't think they should put it on the website at all. It's not like having it there is going to attract people to apply.

Not true. They most likely have a web app similar to what is used for the blog, or for this message board. They just have an admin page that allows them to update that message each day. That makes the most sense since you wouldn't want to do a full deploy to update ride status on the webpage.

^ I would guess thats how every page is, if any of them are.

It is my understanding from talking to the folks over at WDD (the Wadsworth, OH company that does the major layout and graphics work for CedarPoint.com, among others) that there are a few designated people at Cedar Point that have access to update the body portions of the website. Obviously Tony & Tyler have access to the blog and there was one other person whos name I can't recall, who is chiefly responsible for keeping the content of the site up to date. Updates to things like the text on the Benefits page most likely come from Sandusky, while major changes like the graphics on the home page or any layout changes come from the team at WDD in Wadsworth. The actual "webmaster" for CedarPoint.com has a true passion for amusement parks and actually works as a part-time seasonal employee at the park, in addition to his full-time job at WDD.

I blame Mr. Pistachio too.

It's all his fault! Lynch him!!!! ;)

I heard it was the Lemon Chill Guy secretly getting revenge for being replaced with "Electric Lemonade"

The pay is now posted on the website.

• $7.30/hr base rate for most positions
• $3.65/hr base rate for tipped positions
• $6.55/hr base rate for employees 14 and 15 years old

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/jobs/benefits/index.cfm