Improving retention is one of the most pressing concerns for any restaurant owner. Given the high turnover rates in the foodservice industry, implementing effective strategies for retaining staff is just as crucial as obtaining the best VA restaurant insurance.
For many owners, the obvious solution would be to keep their employees happy and fulfilled. But while this approach is essential for retaining personnel, there is a lot more to it than that. A successful employee retention strategy starts from the hiring process and continues through training and day-to-day work.
Implementing an overall approach to managing employees will pay off in many ways. First, it ensures that the restaurant is staffed by competent and qualified personnel who can support your vision. Secondly, it reduces turnover rates and keeps valuable members in your workforce.
Strategies for improving employee retention
It would be helpful to divide your employee retention strategy into the following aspects:
- Hiring
- Compensation
- Training
- Leadership
- Acknowledgment
Hiring restaurant staff
This is perhaps the most crucial aspect of managing restaurant staff. It is essential to take the time to seek out and develop workers that have the potential to become valuable members of your team. One of the worst things you could do at this stage is to settle for any worker to get your restaurant up and running.
Keep an eye out for workers who display initiative and a strong work ethic. Team players are always useful additions to any workforce, although it could be valuable to get someone who demonstrates leadership qualities. Ultimately, you want workers who embrace the opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Providing fair compensation
As a restaurant owner, one of your main priorities is to make a profit. But this need should not compromise the equally important responsibility of providing fair and adequate compensation. To attract the most competent and qualified workers, you will have to offer competitive salaries.
Consider also that cutting corners in terms of employee salaries could come back to haunt you. If your workers aren’t satisfied with what they’re making, they are much less likely to keep working for you. This could result in a high employee turnover rate, which is often a more costly alternative.
Provide training
It is your responsibility as the employer to provide your staff with training and support. This goes for experienced workers as well as those that have never set foot behind a counter before. Training and support ensure that employees know what is expected of them and perform their duties at the required level of competence and professionalism.
Well-trained employees are also much more likely to stay on board and keep working for you. Because of the professional investment in their careers, it will make more sense for them to stay put than to hop from job to job.
Exhibiting leadership
One other important aspect of being an employer is to function in a leadership role. It is your responsibility to provide authority and direction and to manage the priorities of the entire organization.
Being a leader means more than just laying down the law. You also have to set the bar for everyone in the team and hold yourself accountable for every decision you make. By maintaining consistency and conforming to the selected policies, you will be more likely to earn your employees’ loyalty and respect.
Acknowledging a job well done
Finally, acknowledge when your workers are doing a good job and don’t be shy about giving them praise when it’s due. Working in a restaurant is often demanding and stressful, and appreciation is often in short supply. When you give thanks, you harbor good feelings and encourage your staff to perform better.
Consider showing your appreciation in tangible ways as well. Even something as trivial as a free meal or preferred work scheduling can go a long way in fostering goodwill and cultivating a positive work environment.
These are only some of the ways to improve retention in your restaurant. You could implement many other strategies, all of which could provide many long-term benefits to your company.
About Blue Sky Insurance Agency
For over 20 years, family owned Blue Sky Insurance Agency has proudly specialized in insurance and tax services for Virginia residents. Our philosophy is simple: “If you can dream it, we can insure it.” We strive to provide value to our clients by establishing and building relationships and focusing on more than just rates. We are dedicated to providing holistic and strategically tailored solutions to protect all of your assets, and to provide peace of mind wherever life takes you. To get in touch with us, fill out a complimentary quote form, or call us at one of our two locations:
North Chesterfield
Phone: (804) 745-4044
PO Box 35674
North Chesterfield, VA, 23235
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Richmond
Phone: (804) 404-2030
9932 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA, 23235
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