Social Responsibility and Volunteerism at Eat'n Park
Social Responsibility and Volunteerism
Julius, General Manager, addresses as he sits in the lobby of an Eat'n Park restaurant.
"One of the reasons I chose Eat'n Park as a place to work was the level of social responsibility that the company displays.
Every year, I'm amazed by the amount of money we raise for Children's Hospital, Junior Achievement, and the United Way. I have taken advantage of opportunities
to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Pittsburgh Food Bank, and to help plant vegetables at local farms...all sponsored through Eat'n Park. "
As Julius speaks, a montage of photos runs, showing Eat'n Park volunteers at community events, waving to the camera, and helping plant at a local farm.
"We donate thousands of dollars each year worth of product, gift cards, and Smiley Cookies to help support our local churches and schools in their efforts to raise funds. The best thing about our volunteerism and charitable donations is that they're completely authentic. Nobody forces anyone to do it; our team members and managers genuinely care about helping others."
A photo montage shows two Eat'n Park volunteers with the Smiley mascot.
"Because of these factors, I don't just feel like a manager of a restaurant. I feel like my work is important and meaningful, and that it makes a difference in the lives of others."
The Eat'n Park logo appears as the Eat'n Park jingle plays in the background.
Corporate Careers
Eat'n Park Hospitality Group Corporate Support Center is the home base for all of Eat'n Park Hospitality Group's brands.
Our office environment is one that is like no other. We are located in the Waterfront shopping mall a few miles outside of Pittsburgh. We offer free parking, an onsite gym, riverfront deck, full kitchen, team engagement events such as monthly birthday celebrations, Kennywood day and office parties, as well as our full benefits package. Benefits include:
Medical/Dental/Life Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Schedule
Long Term Disability
Community Activities and Volunteerism
Employee Assistance Programs
Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Vacation/Paid Time Off
Flexible Spending Account
Service Awards
Salary Continuance
401K Plan
Meal Discounts
Prescription Plan
Access to Training Programs
The best thing is that you get to tell folks that you work for Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, one of the most well-respected organizations in Pittsburgh.
Eat’n Park needs individuals who know how to smile and have fun. Since there’s lots of hard work in the hospitality business, we try to enjoy ourselves while doing it! If you have a passion for teamwork and being involved with the community, then you have what it takes to be successful at Eat’n Park. Just take it from our managment team...
"I started at 15 years old as a greeter, and have moved my way up into management. There are so many opportunities and incentives within the company for both hourly employees and managers. It's nice to work for a company that truly cares about people!"
- Sarah H., Natrona Heights Eat'n Park (16 years of service)
"Eat'n Park is committed to providing advancement opportunities through continuous training, personal development classes, management seminars and tuition reimbursement. I was able to move from the training program to manager in just over a year!"
- Deborah B., Pittsburgh Mills Eat'n Park (2 years of service)
In order to join our management team you need to have either:
1 year of restaurant or hospitality experience; restaurant management experience preferred.
Once you have completed your training, the sky is the limit with how far you can go.
We take training and people very seriously. Everyone has a unique management training experience. Development does not stop after the management training program. We have ongoing training classes designed for every level of management,as well as a mapping plan to take you from Assistant Manager to Manager, and Manager to General Manager. Ninety-nine percent of our General Managers are promoted within.
Management Benefits
DISCOUNTS:
20% discount on any food purchase at our brands: Eat'n Park, Hello Bistro, The Porch, and Parkhurst Dining
Competitive National Discount Program
FREE FOOD:
One free meal while working
Free family meel once a month
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT:
Access to continuous development with our internal training platform Smile Universe
Rapid career advancement opportunities
99% of our General Managers are promoted interanlly
BENEFITS:
Eligibility for 401k, vision, dental, and medical plans
Bonus eligibilty
Paid Time Off & Salary Continuance
Life Insurance with no waiting period to join our team.
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Tenure Recognition
Community Activities and Volunteerism
If you are interested in a career in management, please apply here.
Hourly Careers
Whether you have previous restaurant experience or not, as long as you can smile and have fun, we can teach you the rest!
We want our team members to be happy and successful. We support this goal by offering great training, flexible schedules, and development opportunities for the following positions: server, greeter, buffet person, preparation person, cook, baker, dishwasher, or certified shift supervisor.
But don't take it from us. Here's what our team members have to say...
"I love working at Eat'n Park because of my fellow co-workers helping me out and being so understanding when I first started. My favorite part of being a greeter is getting to create smiles - on customers, and on cookies!"
- Savannah, Greeter at the Austintown Eat'n Park (6 months of service)
"My management team has always been flexible with my schedule while I was raising my children. Then, when my mother was bedridden and living in another state, my managers never hesitated to give me time off for weeks and months at a time to care for her. Now, I'm a grandmother of 2 (and soon to be 4!). They continue to work around my schedule while I take care of my grandbabies. I'm thankful for Eat'n Park's family values and loyalty."
- Ellen, Greeter, Server, Trainer, and Shift Supervisor at the McKnight Road Eat'n Park (18 years of service)
"I enjoy the flexible hours and having off whenever I have something important I need to attend. I also get to work with my grandma, aunt, and brother. And the rest of my co-workers are nice, wonderful people, too! To be honest, I couldn't be happier working with this group of outstanding individuals. Eat'n Park is awesome!"
- Mitchel, Cook, Salad Bar, and Buffet Person at the Butler (Clearview) Eat'n Park (5 years of service)
Here are just a few more reasons to join the team at Eat'n Park...
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Regardless of your position, we offer our team members a competitive benefits package that is based upon minimum hourly requirements.
These benefits include:
Flexible Schedule
Paid Time Off
Medical/Dental/Life Insurance
Vision Insurance
401K Plan
Meal Discounts
Short Term Disability
Service Awards
Community Activities and Volunteerism
Additionally, team members are offered the opportunity to advance their careers with Eat’n Park by entering our management training program. In fact, over 50% of our management team began their careers as hourly team members.
We always have room for another smiling face. Click here to apply online. Visit our locations page to find the Eat'n Park nearest you.
Internships
At Eat’n Park, we offer several exciting internship opportunities. As an Eat’n Park intern, you’ll be immersed in our culture while gaining valuable hands-on experience. Our internships include experiences on Team Smiley, in our restaurants, and at the Corporate Support Center.
Team Smiley Internships
Looking for a sweet internship? Have an appetite for adventure? Do you love Eat’n Park?
If you answered yes to these three questions, you may be interested in joining Team Smiley! As a part of an elite group of marketing interns, you’ll represent a leading restaurant chain and work with the public in a high-profile role. It’s a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, both in the field and in the office. Team Smiley interns are the driving force behind Eat’n Park’s mobile marketing program and operate and maintain Smiley’s Cookie Cruiser – plus they have fun while doing it! Our intern team spreads goodwill (and Smiley Cookies!) all summer long at community and family events throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. While in the office, interns work hand-in-hand with the marketing department to brainstorm and develop new projects, execute promotions, and create smiles for guests and team members.
Learn more about this exciting opportunity from Team Smiley themselves:
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Become a better leader, work as part of a team, and experience marketing firsthand all while having fun! To apply, click here.
Restaurant Internships
If you have a real interest in the restaurant industry, our paid Management Residency Program (MRP) program is your chance to explore career options while earning valuable experience.
During the MRP, you will be trained in several hourly departments. After being certified, in each department, you will direct the entire team during your scheduled shifts. You will learn cash handling procedures, product ordering, and effective team member management, and you also will experience guest interactions. Our MRP is ten weeks long (400 hours) and is modeled after our management training program.
Interns are required to complete a project at their restaurant and present it to senior leaders. This is an outstanding opportunity to network with executives and showcase your talents. The MRP is only available once a year. Click here for opportunities.
Corporate Support Center Internships
Our Corporate Support Center team is comprised of friendly, talented individuals in the following departments: IT, Real Estate, Accounting, Finance, Payroll, Benefits, Facilities Maintenance, Human Resources, and Marketing. Our internships vary by department.
What Makes Eat'n Park Special
There’s a reason that we’ve been in business for over 70 years: team members who are passionate about delivering a fantastic experience for every guest, every day. We recognize that our team members make us who we are, so we strive to support them and their communities in any way we can.
Below are some of the ways that we stand out from the crowd.
Tailored Training Programs
Everyone is unique and every job demands different skills. That’s why you won’t find a one-size-fits-all training program at Eat’n Park. Our training programs are customized to meet our team members’ needs as they advance through our organization. Whether you are an hourly or a salaried team member, your training is individualized based on your education and work experience. We offer over 30 different classes, including but not limited to:
First Aid/CPR/AED
ServSafe®
Valuing Diversity
Interviewing Skills
Time Management
Bill Moore (left), our Director of Safety and Security, teaching a class to team members.
We believe that we offer a quality of training that is above the crowd. Training Magazine thought so too! In 2008, they ranked us among the country’s Top 125 training companies.
Team Member Benefits
At Eat’n Park, we pride ourselves on taking care of our team members. In fact, in 2010, the American Business Ethics Award Program (ABEA) recognized Eat’n Park as a national award winner for our commitment to our team members and our local communities.
Depending on your role at Eat'n Park, you may be eligible for benefits such as:
Scholarships and Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Time Off
Flexible Scheduling
401K Plan
Health/Life/Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Volunteer & Community Activity Programs
Meal Discounts
Extensive Training Opportunities
One weekend off per month for restaurant managers
Click here to see benefits available for hourly, management or corporate support center team members.
Sustainability Initiatives
We are a leader in the family dining industry when it comes to sustainability. Company-wide programs aim to reduce our environmental impact through lowered energy usage, decreased waste, and local sourcing.
In fact, the introduction of our FarmSource program in 2002 pioneered the creation of the infrastructure needed to get local products into the hands of our suppliers and onto the plates of our guests. Through FarmSource, we offer fresh fruits, produce, meats, and dairy products that are produced within a 150-mile radius of our restaurants.
Jamie Moore (left), our Director of Sourcing and Sustainability, visits Dan Yarnick (right) of Yarnick's Farm in Indiana, PA. Yarnick's Farm supplies Eat’n Park Restaurants with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and yellow squash.
Inside our restaurants, small steps have a big impact. 100% of our trans-fat-free fryer oil is recycled into bio-diesel fuel. We’ve eliminated placemats in our restaurants to preserve trees and reduce landfill space. We use recycled raw materials during restaurant construction and remodeling. And in 2010, we made our biggest move yet: We opened the first LEED-built restaurant in the city of Pittsburgh. This Eat’n Park location is packed to the gills with features that improve our energy efficiency and reduce our environmental footprint. The restaurant even generates some of its own power through a 40-foot wind turbine on the roof. Interested? Read more about this innovative restaurant here.
Community Involvement
Community involvement is woven into the fabric of the Eat’n Park culture. We're more than just a business; we're a neighbor. And as a neighbor, we're dedicated to doing our best to make the communities we serve as strong and vital as possible. Every year, we donate five percent of our pre-tax earnings to local charitable organizations. Working with community partners, we’re able to leverage our resources to raise funds for important causes. Perhaps our best-known program is our annual Caring for Kids campaign, which has raised over $10 million for local children’s hospitals over the past 30+ years.
In fact, in 2011, we received the national Restaurant Neighbor Award from the National Restaurant Association for our fundraising efforts through Caring for Kids. Our team members have poured their hearts into this campaign, and to be selected from all of the restaurants in the country was truly an honor.
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For more information on how we get involved with our communities, click here.
Volunteerism
We don’t just make financial donations; sometimes, the gift of time is even more powerful. Our team members annually donate more than 40,000 hours of their time to causes close their hearts. We support these team members in their efforts with a company-wide volunteer program that enables team members to make time for this important work, and recognizes them for their service. Thanks to the dedication of our team members, our volunteer program has been recognized by the national Points of Light Foundation, and we’ve been a recipient of the Corporate Partner of the Year award from Pittsburgh Cares.
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Every year, we also like to recognize team members who have gone above and beyond in their community by presenting our Volunteer of the Year award. From over 1,000 dedicated volunteers, we pick one winner who receives a donation on behalf of the company towards the charity of their choice.
Pictured above: Kayla Frattini, our 2019 Volunteer of the Year Winner.
2019 Volunteer of the Year finalists:
Aubriana Henry (Indiana Eat’n Park)
Joel Grimm (Clarion Eat’n Park)
Autumn Grimm (Clarion Eat’n Park)
Michael Riek (Somerset Eat’n Park)
Heather Hibala (Corporate Support Center)
Regina Diana (Avalon Eat’n Park)
Magail Heaps (Greensburg Eat’n Park)
Corporate Giving
Throughout the last six decades, Eat’n Park’s core values have driven our growth: provide great dining experiences, great food, and great prices for every single guest while being a good neighbor in the communities we serve.
We invest at least 5% of our pre-tax earnings to support nonprofit organizations. We’re passionate about leveraging our dollars and resources to Enhance our Communities- One Smile at a Time.
We support a wide variety of causes, but our three primary areas of philanthropic focus are:
Supporting family wellness and fitness
Providing access to healthy food and education about food choices, particularly for kids
Enhancing the lives of military veterans and their families
Awards
We are constantly striving to exceed our guests' and team members' expectations. Click here to check out just some of our awards.
