Inez D.
Yelp
TL;DR - I am never going back and you should stay away.
I used to frequent this establishment once every few months and as of today refuse to go back. I recognized some former employees at a pub this past weekend and asked what it was like working there. Collectively, they were there from 2018 to 2022. Let's just say I had to take notes.
The owners use cameras while they're not on the premises, like Big Brother from "1984", to dictate decision-making and behavior and will call the landline to do it, insisting employees "Treat the phone like a customer" and answer it even if they're the only employee behind the bar and people are waiting in line. Ummm...what?
Employees are told that every minute they stand still costs the business a dollar, and employees who talk to each other OR CUSTOMERS for too long are punished with reduced hours and removed from shared shifts.
The owner who runs in house operations micromanages to the degree of hand-timing bathroom breaks, pointing out when employees use the restroom "too often" or for "too long". They told me she has said she'd put cameras in the restrooms if she could. Think about that, for a moment.
The owners used to take tip money to cover normal business costs (like broken glassware) that should be part of the budget. The only reason they stopped doing this was because a former employee pointed out labor laws specifically designed to prevent this behavior.
There is no employee break room because employees are not allowed breaks unless they insist on the minimum legally-mandated amount of time. There is no safe, designated area to place personal belongings like purses or coats, and when employees NEED to eat they're expected to put their food on a scissor lift near the bar, eating as fast possible, serving customers concurrently. Gross.
Employees are encouraged to make rounds to clear tables with a frequency that's annoying to patrons - hovering near a table to collect glassware the literal moment a customer finishes their beer is implicitly expected.
Taking any time off from a part-time job there, even planned ahead of time and if the shift is covered by another employee, is considered "missing your shift" and can result in reduced hours.
Their standard employee shift beer is ten ounces, with employees having to cover the cost of an additional six ounces if they want a pint, unlike nearly every other brewery. They are not allowed to sit at the bar, even if the place is empty, and there is no employee discount for food.
Sticking up for yourself or other employees against this awful treatment will result in reduced hours.
I've heard the owner say when I was there that they can't find employees because no one wants to work, but having spoken to these former employees, I can understand why they perpetually have a "Now Hiring" sign on their door. If you read their google reviews, they like to say wait times are because because business is booming, but evidence would indicate it's due to an inability to keep people around.
On to treatment of customers...Third Act does not use pennies for cash transactions, and employees are told to round down when giving back change. Think about that for a moment, too.
Check the Third Act responses to google reviews. Pretty limited:
1. "Thank you for stopping in!"
2. "We've already thought of that suggestion, and won't do it for x, y, or z reason. We've found a couple of other places that do it like us, and that's enough justification, no matter how many of you tell us it's a good idea to do it differently."
3. "Sorry for the wait time. We were unprepared for such a dinner rush."
When I've been there, I've had an order of wings take an hour and a half, or JUST. A. BRAT. take half an hour. I didn't really mind, but perhaps the wait is from being chronically understaffed. Also, count how many times someone has complained and been happy with the customer service resolution they received. Don't worry. It won't take you long.
By all indications, this is a case of millionairesitis - "I am financially successful, therefore I know better than you and my decisions are never wrong."
One or two people is one thing. This was seven former employees and multiple customer reviews. These employees mentioned a dozen more names of people who were there for less than a month and quit due to management. I worked in the service industry for six years, which is why this is close to my heart, and I experienced some of these management issues, others not at all, and never this many at once. I bought them all a round of drinks by way of apology.
I'm not giving another dime to this establishment. They'd probably short-change my dime anyway.
