Hospitality workers continue to leave the industry and seek new avenues for employment at a staggering rate. Some predict the worst is yet to come, with massive turnover expected toward the end of the year. Restaurant owners have been dealing with a labor shortage since the beginning of the pandemic, and just about every establishment you visit today is relying on fewer employees than needed to run efficiently. Retaining your current employees is typically far more cost-effective than recruiting and hiring new ones. Here we take a look at how to retain restaurant workers in 2021 and beyond.
Be A Compassionate Leader
Leadership has a great deal to do with employee retention in any industry. The service industry requires workers to have a thick skin as they are constantly dealing with the public. As a leader, you need to recognize the physical and mental stress your staff endures daily and take a compassionate approach to your interactions with them. Be kind, listen, take their side and treat them with respect. This is the easiest way to keep good employees from leaving.
Offer Bonuses And Pay Raises
One significant issue being driven home by restaurant workers is the lack of adequate pay. Many service workers rely solely on tips, and with so many consumers turning to delivery and takeout, many have suffered a significant reduction in income. Raising their hourly rate and finding reasons and ways to offer bonuses can help mitigate some of this loss and encourage them to stay. This can also be a handy thing to mention when recruiting new employees.
Allow For Flexible Schedules
Allowing flexibility is undoubtedly difficult these days with the labor shortage, but restaurant owners need to recognize the importance of a healthy work/life balance. When time off requests are put in and accepted, they need to be honored. Employees should not be shamed for not coming in on their day off at a moment’s notice. Big life events should warrant time off without jumping through hoops, and calling out sick shouldn’t come with a scolding.
Be Liberal With Perks And Incentives
Small perks like employee meals go a long way toward improving morale, but there are other things you can do in addition to that to improve employee satisfaction. Upsell contests, perks for most tables served, and the highest sales and bonuses for extremely satisfied guests can all incentivize your staff to work harder and more often and to stay with your establishment. In the long run, this is still likely cheaper than trying to find and hire new employees.
Encourage Communication
Communication is key for any business, or relationship for that matter. Encouraging open communication through staff meetings, one on ones, and simply being there to listen on a daily basis can make a world of difference in the employee experience. Restaurant workers want to be heard and respected. Doing so makes them feel like they have a genuine stake in the business, which will motivate them to do more and stay longer.
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