14 Pros And Cons Of Working For Hilton

Conrad Hilton opened his first hotel in Dallas, Texas in 1925.

The future hotel magnate installed a laundry chute so housekeepers would not have to lug huge, soiled bundles around.

This may seem an obvious requirement today, but he was the first to do it.

Hilton was also the first to install air conditioning in the common areas of a hotel for the comfort of guests and employees.

Through the years, Hilton has maintained its commitment to guest and employee comfort and satisfaction.

That’s why the Hilton hotel corporation is consistently listed on Fortune magazine’s “Top Places To Work” list.

But even the best work environments have their drawbacks.

Read on for a list of the pros and cons of working at Hilton.

Table of Contents

Pros Of Working At Hilton
Cons Of Working At Hilton
14 Pros And Cons Of Working For Hilton – Summary Table
Should You Work For Hilton?

Pros Of Working At Hilton

1. Benefits

The benefits at Hilton are excellent, and they kick in after 90 days for all employees that work 30 or more hours a week.

The corporation offers various plans that include medical, dental, and vision.

The rest of the package includes disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and prescription coverage.

Also included is 12 weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave with an additional option for an additional 6 weeks unpaid, 401K, and a pension program.

These benefits can ease your mind, knowing that you and your family are covered for any your medical and retirement needs.

2. Employee Perks

The perks are pretty exciting at Hilton.

As one would think, employees, get special deals on hotel stays.

A generous 100 room nights are allocated to workers.

The discounts range from totally free, or $5 per night to $75 per night (this would be the Waldorf Astoria (in NYC and around the world).

Employees also enjoy discounts at retailers in and around the hotels, tuition reimbursement, and stock options.

There are free coffee and tea bars at all locations.

Most hotels offer workers free breakfast.

These perks can certainly make for happier employees that enjoy going to work each day.

3. Training

Finding out that you must go through a training period for a new job can be a bit stressful.

You don’t know what to expect.

Additionally, employees at some companies say that they were poorly trained and learned nothing practical about the job.

Hilton, on the other hand, offers paid training that most employees have said helped them learn the ins and outs of the job.

During training, meals were catered and welcome gifts were handed out.

4. Workplace Culture/ Climate

One of the pros that Hilton employees always place high on the list is company culture.

They feel like the corporate values their employees.

Hilton has many initiatives in place that enhance and promote employee happiness.

A few of these include the employee recognition program.

Outstanding workers are recognized for outstanding service in a variety of areas.

They have a holiday turkey/ham giveaway at different times of the year.

Holiday parties and regular celebrations are by Hilton with 5-star food and world-class entertainment.

The company promotes opportunities to socialize with colleagues and has a strict policy against harassment, discrimination, and bullying.

Employees experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues are encouraged to use the employee’s mental health and wellness resources.

5. Flexible Schedule

Many positions at Hilton offer flexible schedules and even work-from-home opportunities.

This is usually appreciated by everyone but can be especially important when you have younger children.

Being able to schedule and balance work and family is more important than ever.

Hilton encourages its employees to continue their education by offering tuition reimbursement programs.

But, they follow up by working with them to ensure they have a consistent schedule around classes with time to study.

6. The People

A lot of employees state that one of the great things about Hilton is the fun, friendly, and diverse people they get to meet and work with.

Many people find lifelong friendships at the hotel corporation.

But even if it’s not a forever friendship, the chance to socialize and chat with guests, co-workers, and supervisors is always a great experience.

There’s also the bonus of meeting entertainers and celebrities who often stay at various locations.

7. Uniforms

For many employees at Hilton, uniforms are part of their job.

But most are happy with the policy, especially since they are paid for by corporate.

It takes the guesswork out of what to wear each day, and it saves them a small fortune in wardrobe expenses.

They can be comfortable and confident while performing their tasks.

Hilton’s uniforms are also pretty stylish when compared to industry standards.

Though they vary by department, the typical uniform is a snazzy polo with black slacks or khakis.

Cons Of Working At Hilton

1. Short-Staffed

More than a few employees have complained that certain shifts (especially overnight) are not staffed properly.

This would include a lack of on-site management.

Because of this, workers have complained of being overworked, and not given breaks, and an uptick in customer complaints.

This gets exacerbated when there’s no manager on duty.

Employees are left holding the bag and taking the blame for things that are out of their control.

2. Pay Is Not Always Great

Certain employees have complained that the pay for entry-level positions is not great.

Jobs in areas such as housekeeping, kitchen service, work-from-home scheduling agents, and maintenance are minimum wage and it’s difficult to get a raise.

This can be hard to swing if you are trying to raise a family or are a college student on your own.

3. Employee-Management Relations

One of the complaints that often pops up when asked is that management is not always on the same page with employees.

Some managers are simply not good at communicating changes in policies or protocols.

They behave like employees should have known and would write them up for it.

There have also been complaints of managers being rude and treating those that work under them poorly.

4. Dress Code

Some people may have an issue with a section of Hilton’s dress code.

The actual clothing is not of any real concern (employees wear uniforms or dress business casual).

Hilton does not allow any visible tattoos.

You can have them, but they need to be covered up while working.

Employees are also not allowed to have any visible piercings other than their ears.

Lastly, all hair coloring, make-up, and nail polish need to be kept neutral.

If these requirements are too many for you to comply with, then you’ll need to try a different hotel chain.

5. Working On Holidays

Though holiday pay is a nice perk for those who are home with their loved ones, some folks need to be at the hotel.

Holidays are based on seniority at Hilton.

So it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll be working all the holidays for at least a year or two.

If working days like Thanksgiving and Christmas are not something you’re willing to do, the Hilton is not for you.

6. Guests

Though the majority of customers are great, some can make your job insufferable.

It’s bad enough when you have an individual, overly demanding, rude customer, but it’s a whole other ball of wax when you have a convention full of them.

Hilton hotels often host several conventions throughout the year.

For employees, this can mean overtime, a lot more work, and many rude, demanding, and often intoxicated guests.

This can create not only a nuisance but stress and anxiety for workers.

7. Working Alone

Employees in certain positions have voiced concerns about having to work alone.

For some, it’s just a matter of not having someone to talk to, but others are not as petty.

Some workers have complained about having to do the jobs of two or three people (that they do not get paid for) and not being able to accomplish all tasks.

Others have even stated that they are afraid for their safety while around rowdy hotel guests, and are working alone.