Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Employee Passes

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Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 11-02-2003, 02:53 AM:

Cinemark is about to embark on new pass guidelines for employees.

I was wondering what other circuits do in regards to employee passes? For both single and married workers.

Thanks
Paul

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-02-2003, 11:31 AM:

We're pretty small, so our policy is somewhat informal. Generally, an employee can come out to the drive-in on any night he/she's not on duty. Family is welcome, as is one guest. The employee must accompany the family or guest. We relax the "must accompany/when not on duty" rule a little when we're open weekends & the employee is working all 3 days.

Our indoor runs about the same, though there's a limit of 1 visit per week.

Our local (former) GCC outlet used to put a couple of passes into each employees pay envelope. They could save/use them as they pleased, but could not get any more until the next payday. That might now be a problem with the studios' 1%/2% rule, but it seemed to work well back then.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 11-02-2003, 12:36 PM:

Being dependant we can make it up as we go along. These are the rules so far.

An employee in good standing may come anytime they wish, if they haven't been previously scheduled. We have had instances of employees calling in sick and then showing up for a film. Shows severe lack of judgment.

They may bring one friend. Additional friends must pay. This rule is flexible.

Soda and popcorn are not part of the bargain. This is where the employees ignore me completely.

We value parents; so parents can come (with prior notice) to any show without the employee accompanying them.

Friends are never let in on passes without the employee accompanying them.

Fridays and Saturday nights are to be avoided, but not completely. If there are seats, the employees are welcome to them.

We encourage our employees to see our films because the ability to discuss films with our patrons is one of the areas that separate us from the competition.

We even allow our employees to attend "print verification screenings" as long as it doesn't turn in to a party. Friends are strictly forbidden.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 11-02-2003, 02:27 PM:

At the location I work at as of yesterday:

Employee plus ONE guest to any non special engagement movie, as long as it's not expected to sell out. Also employees may only watch movies when they have scheduled availability.

Posted by Marcial Feliciano Ramos (Member # 1989) on 11-02-2003, 04:12 PM:

We have the chance to go with the family or one friend, any day of the week after its first open weekend. So if you are looking foward to see a movie really bad you have to pay or wait til monday hopping isnt a holiday. the snacks we have to buy it.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 11-02-2003, 04:27 PM:

Our company is fairly informal. The manager is expected to adjust for his/her theatre based on whether it is abused or not. Basically immediate family living in the household are welcome. One non-family guest per week and we ask that they avoid weekends and holidays. Popcorn and soda are free to employee, not guests. Employees are also welcome at other theatres in our company, but no guests are allowed free of charge. I attempt to gather employees for viewing when the film is screened. It's fun and avoids pass concerns.

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 11-03-2003, 01:44 PM:

I also am an indepedent.
Employees can come basically when they want.

Immediate family is welcome as well. I like getting to know the parents - works out for when the employee is messing up, because the parents sometimes ask how their Susie is working out. Plus it helps to be in good with parents when you have to schedule someone that conflicts with family plans.

Non-family guests must be accompanied by the employee.

Everyone has to buy concessions at regular price up until their 5-year anniversary. At 5yrs, our sign of appreciation to them is that the employee gets all they want of popcorn and drinks for free any time ( to be consumed by the employee him/herself only ).

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-03-2003, 01:46 PM:

A friend of mine works part time for a small theatre chain in suburban Chicago. We sometimes attend shows at "her" theatre. She makes sure it's ok with the manager on duty and the box issues a couple of passes.

One time earlier this year she asked to not be scheduled a given weekend as she would be hosting a bunch of friends from out of town. The group decided that it would be fun to take in a film so they headed over to this same theatre. She secured two passes as she would ordinarily do while all the others paid regular admission.

Later she received a reprimand along the lines of 'if you could come to the movie to watch you could have worked.' Now mind you she had not been deceptive in asking for the time off, didn't claim to be out of town nor ill. And as an hourly employee it shouldn't matter what she does on her own time anyway. But the logic of being loyal to one's own employer and bringing them paying customers who buy tickets and concessions was a bit over the head of this particular manager and she was forbidden from getting any passes for a period afterwards. Naturally now given the same circumstances she delivers her friends' business straight into the welcoming arms of AMC or Loews.

This firm clearly gets an "F" for employee relations and, yes, that is a hint as to the name of the company. [Mad]

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 11-04-2003, 02:24 AM:

Yes Paul, I heard we're changing the pass policy. However, I always thought that the change (yourself and one other person ONLY) was always in effect except for the manager. Our particular location was always fairly leniant as far as passes went, so I hope these new "changes" won't change things too much. Of course, it is usually just myself and a guest or just me. Besides, being a projectionist, I get to screen most of the time with management. However, I feel for those who want to bring their kids or parents. We get paid [bs]

and the passes are a nice perk. Why be so strict to employees who are respectable?

AJG

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-04-2003, 02:51 AM:

If passes are not controlled, you eventually are letting the whole neighborhood in for free.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-04-2003, 04:52 AM:

Tony--five years? How many employees do you have who have worked at your theatre that long? I'd be very impressed if it were more than a handfull. With exceptions for managers and projectionists, most theatres I know have much faster employee turnover, since most floor staff are students, part-timers, etc.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 11-04-2003, 07:54 AM:

We have "Season Pass" cards which are good for the holder and one guest as often as you care to present it. Theoretically they are not valid for the first two weeks of certain special engagements, or Friday and Saturday at the discretion of management. I have never seen anyone turned away--special engagement, Friday, Saturday, or whatever!

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 11-04-2003, 12:44 PM:

Scott,
I have 2 employees with over 5 years.
One is an assistant manager.
The other is a gentleman who has worked for the theatre for over 40 years (started when he was 11). I think he plans on dying in the box office, which is where he is EVERY Fri, Sat and Sun.

I've had several make is over 3 years and a couple over 4 years before quitting.

I'd say that the average time that people work for me is about 1 1/2 - 2 years. They usually start when they are 16, then quit when they go away to college. But then that is the type of kid I try to hire - one that is college-bound material.

Getting back on topic - I do not think that it is a co-incidence that I don't have much trouble with my pass policy, since I have been able to (for the most part) hire good, honest kids.

Tony

Posted by Lance C. McFetridge (Member # 95) on 11-07-2003, 06:09 AM:

Reading eveyone else's policy may make me reconsider mine. I only give the employees free admission and they must buy any concession. I too have some long term kids working there. They started in high school, went to college, came back to a real job and still work nights and weekends at the theatre. A total staff of 10, three have been here 7 plus years.
lance

Posted by Blake Zaugg (Member # 1455) on 11-19-2003, 03:44 PM:

Employee and one guest free. They can come anytime as many times as they want. The only stipulation is that if the show is expected to sell out or does sellout, they should give up their seat to a paying customer or pay themselves.

Employees don't get any discount at the concession, but aren't forced to purchase anything either.

Passes are a privilege, not a right. If an employee is on a leave of absence, their pass privileges are suspended.

Posted by Mark Huff (Member # 480) on 11-19-2003, 04:17 PM:

So what is the new pass policy at Cinemark?

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 11-20-2003, 09:22 AM:

Actually, the whole new pass policy has been put on hold pending review.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 11-27-2003, 01:53 PM:

Every place I've worked at basically did the same. You and one guest on your day off. If you ask for a day off and then come see a movie, you have to pay. Only one place I worked at allowed employees to have free popcorn and soda when they came to see a movie.

There have been a few instances where I felt the management was being unfair. Like when I brought my mom and dad to see a movie, one of them had to pay "Because you are only allwed ONE guest." Come on now, folks. Grow a brain outside of those corporate memos and make your own judgement.

I also disagree with employees being allowed to see a movie only when "it looks like it won't sell out." This seems like pure greed to me. Unless the theater sells to 0 seats, this rule has no merit. And if I were already seated and asked to give up my seat because a "paying customer" who came late is going to fill it, I would come to the understanding that my boss would rather make $4 extra from a stranger instead of giving me $4 worth of appreciaion for my work and would seriously consider working elsewhere. Some of these places don't even pay their employees enough per hour to buy a ticket to the place they work at. Pathetic.

=TMP=

Posted by Lauren Fisher (Member # 1905) on 11-28-2003, 03:54 AM:

when i worked at hollywood theatres in south ft.worth, (wallace corporation), we were allowed family and guests (not excessively according to the manager). we also got free drinks, and as long as we gave notice to the manager that we were coming, we could get into any movie, seller out or not. in fact we were allowed to come to screenings. those were fun nights....when i left i was given 18 free tickets.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 11-28-2003, 10:52 AM:

We let our employees in on shifts that they are not working, with one guest as long as they don't overdue it. They get free drinks and popcorn (in their own cup).

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 11-28-2003, 11:55 AM:

I tried the "free drink in their own cup" until one day I realized how bad it looks to the customers for someone who is not working to get a drink in a private cup.
Plus I am very strict on no outside food or drink.
So it looks funny when my employee is drinking from a 7-11 cup watching a movie.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-28-2003, 03:51 PM:

Lauren:

I find it hard to believe that the policy you stated is the "official policy" ... more like a GM that decided to skirt around the rules.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-28-2003, 11:45 PM:

From Tom:

quote:
I also disagree with employees being allowed to see a movie only when "it looks like it won't sell out." This seems like pure greed to me.

You probably won't care much for our policy then, either...

We have pretty large auditoriums, by local market standards... so we don't sell out often. However, if there's any question whether a seat will go to a paying patron or a staff member, the patron will win every time. Sorry, Tom, but we're doing this for the public, not the staff. Passes are a bennie... subject to availability.

You might like this even less: If a staff member comes into either of our theatres as a freebie... and we find ourselves so busy that we need extra help, I expect the freebie staff member to pitch in... until the rush lets up enough that I can let that person off first. That's part of the price I expect for the free movies I offer my staff, their family and guests.

In my mind, this is an entirely reasonable policy. If I'm fortunate enough to have a sell-out here, no staff member, expecting to occupy a seat on a pass, is going to displace a member of the public with cash in his hand. That's just the way it is.... sorry.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 11-29-2003, 12:19 PM:

But Jack, you missed my point. Do you sell your seats out to zero? If not, there's no reason you should kick your employees out so that paying customers (who probably came in late if they can't find a decent seat) can have better seats.

And if I came with my family or friends to enjoy my day off and was asked to "pitch in" during the rush, thus missing part of the movie, I would simply say "No" walk outside, buy a ticket, flash it in the manager's face with a sarcastic grin, and waltz into the movie. Now I am a customer. After which I would seriously consider going to another theater in the future. To play OR to work...

I can't ration the thought of, "Sorry, but this $7 that this person has, of which 90% will go to the studio anyway, is more important that the hard work you have been doing for me. Now vacate that seat."

Would your tune change if the employee and his/her guests had purchased concessions exceeding the value of the tickets to the seats which they occupy?

=TMP=

Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 11-29-2003, 02:57 PM:

I take it that if this "freebie" employee is willing enough to lend a hand on his time off, he gets finacially compensated for it, on top of being able to see his movie, right?

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-29-2003, 03:49 PM:

quote:
And if I came with my family or friends to enjoy my day off and was asked to "pitch in" during the rush, thus missing part of the movie, I would simply say "No" walk outside, buy a ticket, flash it in the manager's face with a sarcastic grin, and waltz into the movie. Now I am a customer. After which I would seriously consider going to another theater in the future. To play OR to work...

You would have to, because the manager's face that you flashed with your sarcastic grin would belong to my wife, my daughter or me.

quote:
I can't ration the thought of, "Sorry, but this $7 that this person has, of which 90% will go to the studio anyway, is more important that the hard work you have been doing for me. Now vacate that seat."

The $7 is much less an issue than the PR surrounding whether we can put that member of the public into a seat. I'll go out of my way first for them. If you work for me, you will too.

______________

From Darren:

quote:
I take it that if this "freebie" employee is willing enough to lend a hand on his time off, he gets finacially compensated for it, on top of being able to see his movie, right?

Yes. I also pay a 2 hour minimum whenever I call someone in to clock on.

Again, however... the attitude of my staff is pretty important. If they don't enjoy being here, and if the customer doesn't hold some level of priority, they don't last very long. The free movies come with the package. However, If I get unexpectedly slammed and I have staff in the place that refuses to help out because they're in on a freebie... I'd just as soon see them work for the competition, and would likely write a recommendation to encourage it.

Besides... both of you... this isn't something that has high odds of happening often. It's not likely that a sell-out picture would be on the pass list anyway, making this even less an issue. But on the off-chance that it might happen, this is what I expect, and it's made pretty clear to everyone before they get very far into their training here. In the past 17 years, I don't recall that I ever had any employee flash his pass at me and snicker on his way into one of my auditoriums whether we had lines around the lobby or not.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 11-29-2003, 03:53 PM:

Jack,

You sound like you'd be a good employer to work with/for. It is, after all, the customer who keeps us in business. Seems like folks keep forgetting that important factor. A paid admission bests a 'giveaway' at all times.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-29-2003, 04:02 PM:

Thanks, Jason.
For better or worse, the system works pretty well here... and we do have staff here that have been with us the whole 17 years.

Perhaps more impressive... to me, anyway... I have 3 daughters that work in the business. One is a manager here and actually has a passion for the work. That she can work for her "old man" is a frequent source of amazement! [Smile]

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 12-01-2003, 02:09 PM:

When any of my staff are at the theatre to see the movie, I do not have to ASK them to help if we get slammed. They just automatically jump behind the counter and dig in.

I'll offer to pay if them if they spend more than 5-10 minutes, but they usually just ask for their concession for free, if they take anything at all.

I guess I'm just lucky enough to have this type of people working for me.

Hour-counting people working here just for the paycheck don't last very long working for me. They get bored and move on to "a better paying job."

Posted by Blake Zaugg (Member # 1455) on 12-03-2003, 11:20 PM:

I agree with Jack again. It's not about the $7 or ($3 at our theatre) but all about image. If a show is expected to sell out, I would rather not see any of my unscheduled "off shift" staff at the theatre at all. (More times that not they are a distraction to the working staff) but it's all about image and PR. Customers recognize staff whether they are working or not. Customers should never feel like it is our staff before them. The customer should always come first.

As a side note, just like Jack says, it rarely happens at our theatre, and staff have more than ample time to check out the show another time, 4 shows a day 7 days a week. If a sell out is expected it is usually only the 7:00 show on a Fri or Sat. So that is 2/28 shows I'd rather they weren't here. I don't think that is asking too much.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 12-04-2003, 02:54 PM:

You all make it seem like the customers KNOW that it's a staff member that's sitting in the seat you are depriving them of. When your employees come to see a movie, just make sure they're not in uniform and it should be fine for your image. [Smile]

I've worked at a few places that were much too concerned with "Image and PR" which resulted in disgruntled employees working long hours between reading ALL-CAPS memos on things that MUST be done AT ALL TIMES. Both companies went bankrupt.

Most managers I've worked for, and this is not to imply that it's the same everywhere, were also confident that they had a happy and helpful staff because the staff would never voice their contempt around the management. Just because there's no smoke in the henhouse doesn't mean the rooster isn't on fire... or something like that.

Customers may come to you with their money, but it's your employees who see to it that it ends up in your pocket.

=TMP=

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-04-2003, 11:32 PM:

quote:
Customers may come to you with their money, but it's your employees who see to it that it ends up in your pocket.

Thomas,

That's a good point you try to make. Allow me to counter...

A thief will always be a thief regardless of what you do or don't do for him/her. Free movies won't mean [bs]

to an employee concerned with taking money, or anything else that doesn't rightfully belong to them for that fact, away from the employer or anyone else.

While I understand where you are coming from, a paying customer takes priority over en amployee ALWAYS. We're not in this business for employee handouts/perks/bennies/etc, we're in this business to make money...

Would you like to go to your favorite restaurant to eat a fat steak only to find that they were out... becuase an employee came in and ate the last one?

Cheap anaolgy, but it helps reiterate the point...

Posted by Warren Smyth (Member # 1838) on 12-06-2003, 06:20 AM:

A large exhibition chain for whom I once worked, had an innovative policy to staff passes. This is surprising as they were not noted for their generosity.

Staff could obtain a pass for two admissions from the manager except for Saturday nights. There were no questions asked as to who they were for, just as long as the requests were not too frequent. The manager exercised his judgement and refusals were very rare.

Here's the innovative bit. The recipient of the pass traded them at the box office for two complimentary tickets together with seat number chits (if we were on block). They were charged theepence per seat. This equated to about 10 percent of the admission, so today it would be about a $1.40. It was explained on the pass that the funds were contributions to the staff benevolent fund. No one ever complained as the scheme was for the benefit of the employees. I remember it was used to pay, for example, the cost of an eye operation for the wife of the projectionist who trained me. When full time staff had an addition to the family, they received I think about three weeks wages to help with the additional bills.

This was forty years ago. The corporate culture of today would probably consider it inappropriate, but the fact is, it worked successfully for decades and was appreciated. Then again, perhaps there was a stronger community spirit in those days and working in theatres, made us feel part of a family.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 12-06-2003, 02:38 PM:

I know many companies had EBF's and some still do. EBF stands for Employee Benefit Fund. I wonder if those chains actually use that money for additional benefits, or of they use this money to help recoup money that they're paying out for pre-existing medical benefits.