Artcile Content
The restaurant industry is experiencing an unusual labor shortage in 2021. In the face of the labor shortage that threatens the industry, restaurateurs in the U.S. are doing everything they can to retain and recruit employees. The main reason for the lack of employees seems to be that many workers are simply leaving the restaurant industry searching for more stable work. This covid-19 pandemic forced many restaurateurs to let go of workers. Many of these workers took advantage of the opportunity to find stable careers and have never returned to work in restaurants after being laid off. This shortage of workforce affecting restaurants in different ways such as:
Negative impact on guest service
Fewer sales and smaller profit margins
More time spent recruiting and training
Here are four tips to help you overcome the restaurant industry labor shortage:
Take advantage of technology
Because of the labor shortage, everyone on the team will have to work even harder than usual. Make sure that you are not piling non-essential responsibilities onto the plates of your skilled workers. Instead, invest in technology like third-party order integration, in-store KIOSK ordering, dine-in QR code, in-store POS ordering that can automate some of the more time-consuming administrative tasks that your staff are currently responsible for. Taking advantage of tech & becoming a smart kitchen will utilize your current workforce well and ensure everyone gets enough time to rest and recharge.
Offload your workload with Restaurant Call Center
One of the important reasons for low-profit margins is sometimes no one is answering when customer calls or busy lines as restaurant staff is busy taking care of other stuff. By partnering with IVR & call center services, you will never lose precious business due to unanswered phone calls. In addition, by partnering up with services like this, you can also save on your staffing cost and improve your restaurant's brand image.
Change Your Management Style
Your staff are not machines. When planning your employee schedule, consider staff preferences such as the number of shifts per week, time of day, and their outside lives before putting them into the spreadsheet. Job flexibility is a key value for many workers in our current environment, so be proactive about getting their input for your staff schedule. If you treat people with respect and make them feel valued, they will stay longer and help you get the word out.
Get creative when recruiting
Once you have done all you can to retain and engage your staff, you can use social media to spread the word about your job openings to a wider audience. You can also offer sign-on bonuses & referral programs to help you attract employees to your business. But this only works if your employee morale is good and your business has a positive reputation.
There are several forecasts about the future direction of the U.S. labor shortage. The pandemic may be ending, but the restaurant labor shortage is still in a crucial stage. That's why it's time to start thinking long-term about what you can do for your business.
At Bistrostack, our philosophy is simple: You focus on the food while we take care of the rest. So please check how Bistrostack can help you or drop us an email at info@bistrostack.com to connect with one of our experts.