Olive Garden Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Although I do enjoy working here, they do not guarantee that you, as a server, will make money. With no opportunity to add gratuity, I have had big tops not tip me and I later went home with less than $4 for hours of work. Coworkers are fantastic though."

"I've worked for Olive Garden since 2010. I loved it for such a long time but the past 2 years have grown very challenging and as a manager, I'm starting to feel like just a number and not appreciated for my hard work. The managers have worked so hard throughout this past challenging year and I feel like we've been taken advantage of. Work/life balance is OK if you don't mind giving up your evenings and weekends but that's what is expected of you to work in the restaurant industry so you know what you signed up for. I have grown so much with this company and for that I am grateful."

"Applied sales & problem solving skills to ensure customer satisfaction & upsell."

What do you like about working at Olive Garden?

"Direct client interaction, having an opportunity to upsell with the customers, ensuring customer satisfaction."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be positive, be honest, expect long hours, expect to work hard and be held accountable for standards."

What don't you like about working at Olive Garden?

"Unpredictable schedule made for difficult planning. Unpredictable wages also made it difficult to financially plan."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Ensure quality hiring and training from the start to keep quality employees and reward staff for exemplary work."

"As a Kitchen Lead at Olive Garden, the salary was reasonable, but the work hours were quite long, and there was a lack of work-life balance. The job was challenging and required a lot of physical work. The management was supportive, and the colleagues were cooperative. However, the job did not provide many opportunities for growth or learning. The work culture was good, but there was a lack of flexibility in terms of work hours."

"I worked for Olive Garden during the summer of 2017 as a part time job during college. The environment was nice, but some of the methods used for server weren't always agreeable."

"Great fellow employees. Managers are terrible at communication. I have one I mesh with but another who knit picks and gets off on making us feel bad, as bad as they feel about themselves evidently. The money is ok... nothing incredible. I like having no side work but the bussers hawk you for more tips after you already tipped off your sales. I'm sure I could be unhappier somewhere else but since the managers are always making people quit and we're always short staffed. Corporate needs to come and gut those managers and start all over!!!"

"So I have not been working here long but I seriously think they need to work on cleanliness. I think i only saw one person do any kind of sanitation on the line and the kitchen was a mess with things thrown all over. Also need to change their gloves after touching chicken as there is risk of cross contamination. It doesn't look like they take care of equipment either. I just think they could use to be more proactive with overall cleanliness. Also the set up isn't great for fast food production to get the food out to quests quicker the way its set up is if it were busier you would be bumping into each other and possibly burning someone or worse. And I think Trainers if they're going to train it should be properly. But the people there are nice and friendly like a family atmosphere."

"I enjoy my work here. My co-workers a very nice for the most part and also very helpful when they're not busy with their own work. However, management is not always on the same page which can make things confusing at times. Especially when one manager wants things a certain way but the others have their own way they'd like things done. This doesn't happen often, but when it does the job becomes unnecessarily stressful."

"I enjoyed working there at times. There was a constant problem of being short-staffed, so people were regularly asked to work longer hours and extra shifts."

"There is a law suit out against this company for a reason."

What do you like about working at Olive Garden?

"I enjoy 95% of the employees I work with, and there is always shifts available to pick up."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be very positive and energetic, and let them know you are all about pleasing the guests."

What don't you like about working at Olive Garden?

"Hardest serving job I have ever worked. For $4.85 an hour, you are expected to do a lot of duties beyond your job description, which they refer to as team work. The tips are the worst I've ever come across. Guests must think it's easy for us to run endless salad, soup, and bread sticks because it is reflected in the tips!"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Hire a food runner, and give us more than 3 tables! The economy is hard on everyone, an extra table could result in an extra $20 a shift, a $100 a week. When you work a lunch shift and walk out with $20 in your pocket, it's frustrating."

"There's only one good manager. Dan. The others make you feel like crap."

What do you like about working at Olive Garden?

"The people and the atmosphere it's like a big family."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Honestly I wouldn't do it. It's not worth it really."

What don't you like about working at Olive Garden?

"The managers shouldn't be managers they suck at it badly."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"You should treat your employees like people not like dirt"