Getting time off is a huge hassle. I've missed every holiday (with the exception of one Christmas) and countless celebrations such as birthdays, graduations, etc. This is definitely an industry con, but it is also a Four Seasons con as I find management doesn't bother to think outside of the box to help give you these special days off once in a while. I'm a very reliable employee. I've called in sick once (in two years!!!) and only request two or three days off per year. I also volunteer to work at every event put on by the hotel and I feel that I am never recognized for it by management (aside from HR recognizing me).
One big con in is that employees do not work as a team. Everyone is there to put in their eight hours and go home. It is a very cold and lonely feeling as co-workers are also not afraid to point fingers. Not only is it stressful enough to work in a leading hotel company by giving our guests flawless and intuitive service, but it also feels like I need to please my senior co-workers with their personal preferences so they do not try to make me appear bad to management. I can handle my own workload, but I wish we could work as a team to deliver even better service to our guests, and to make a very demanding work place feel like a second home.
When we are short staff, which feels like most of the time, they really work you to the bone. We were short staff in quarter 3 and some of 4. (July/August/September/October) In one month I worked six days every week and it wasn't uncommon to work 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 day scheduled stretches (no overtime). You are able to say no to overtime and you don't have to come into work on your day off when someone else calls in sick, but I was scared to say no because I felt like I had to try very, very hard to be liked and to be seen as a good, solid worker. Luckily I am young an have the energy for this work and do not have kids. I don't think I could have this job if I had a family to take care of.
