Some of the management are great - and I loved working with them.
But the rules are tedious, unnecessary & difficult to even humor.
Their turn-over rate is extremely high & there's a good reason for that!
(last season alone 150 people left. 150. that's almost half their entire staff!)
Working with them on the job was great, I loved the company policies that maintained a steady & proper work flow, great work ethic - however as a server, you're forced to take breaks, this is so unheard of in this industry - it made all my tips suffer as I was forced to randomly abandon a table mid-service. You're also never allowed to work overtime, so if you're expecting to bank hours - that won't happen! A staff member tried to put in more hours to make money he was promised & got in trouble for it - another is management on salary & is overworked to the point where minimum wage workers have been making more hourly than him! You aren't allowed to use en-site washrooms, so be prepared to either hold it, or mission across the ways to an outdoor public washroom. gross. Also - sorry smokers - no smoke breaks. ever. (which mind you, I think is an alright policy. who wants their food to be served by an ashtray)
Living there was simply a nightmare. Cleaning days, you'll have to clean after your inconsiderate & sloppy roommates - if not, even if its 1 dish left in the sink - you will be charged. on 3rd strike, you're kicked out. Best part is - they don't even supply you with the supplies necessary to clean to their standards. How you expect me to windex windows without windex, man?
Laundry is over priced & didn't work, discounts were a joke, there's no staff incentives really. 30% off a 20$ mini salad? hm.
We were promised basic necessities as an apartment styled dorm... we were given 1 fork, 2 plates, a cup... for 11 people. We were told the last tennants probably took them, and well, basically, tough luck.
Don't be fooled by their promises for a meal plan, on Thursdays they only provide you with salad & the rest of the days is basically slop & rice, if you're late/have to work during the hours, you won't even be getting that!
You WILL get in trouble for everything, (ex. not wearing a name-tag, walking with highheels up the stairs to your room, because it's waking up the owner, forget about reaping the benefits of a meal mess-up, they'd rather throw the food out & waste it as opposed to letting their starving staff even TRY the food.)
and don't expect to have any privacy - the security holds the right & abuses it to walk in unannounced to anyone and everyone rooms. There were allegations while I was there from a couple who were completely inappropriately embarrassed by said security.. I couldn't believe it, but it was true, even your parents won't barge in on you & announce it to your entire workplace, would they?
Bayshore holds no loyalty or commitment to anyone, and has no issue throwing anyone out on the street - once you quit/get fired you are banned from property... which is heavily enforced.
(They even consider their side of the lake property... even the officers in Waterton are annoyed with the amount of nonsense Bayshore puts people through, which they hold no accountability for, they will blame it on someone else constantly, but in reality - it's the owner creating a bunch of unnecessary rules, drama & an overall unpleasant living environment)
They used to hold server tips, (not sure how legal this was) as a way to keep you there for the summer, (They still hold your bonus' though - for back of house)
HOWEVER they have found a way to limit some taxes for themselves, so now you WILL get your tips (maybe). They use a cheap automated secondary system to deposit tips, however it's extremely delayed.. we're the trial staff for this system, we were told 3 weeks ago we'd get them weekly, so I'm not holding my breath. Don't expect to get your damage deposit back either, they'll find some pety way of holding it... scuff on the wall, dust bunny on the ground.. they'll find something, anything so they don't have to pay you.
Don't get me wrong - Waterton is beautiful, and Bayshore has a great venue & menu, you could maybe make some decent money with Bayshore, (so they claim anyways)
But it isn't worth it for what you have to endure... unless you're 18 and already used to being treated like a child.
You'll make double anywhere in Banff/Canmore/Lake-Louise/Whistler. Heck, I was making more money with less bologna in the Durham Region.. the armpit of Canada!
As someone who's been in the industry for many years, I felt as if I was taken for a ride - they promise you more than they are actually able to offer & realistically, the money just isn't there to be made.
Especially after the hit Waterton took with the fires last year - every trail is closed, no one will be vacationing there!
The town is way too small, drama is inevitable! We referred to it as "Bayshore High" so, again, if you're 18 and still in that highschgool mindset - you'll feel right at home.
& keep in mind - most people heading to a desolate resort town to work are in some sort of a desperate life situation, so most of the people there are severely unhinged (ex. addicts, drugs, theft, excessive partying, everywhere. beware)
like I said - the turnover rate is probably the highest I've seen at any place & there's a reason for that. My friends had warned me about all this as they had the experience first hand in 2010, & I wish I had taken their advice, figured it was so long ago, maybe things had changed - so here's mine to you, hope it helps with anyone considering it - RECONSIDER!!!
Visit Bayshore -
DON'T WORK THERE!!