By Noah Rue, Contributor
There’s no denying that the restaurant industry took a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that things are starting to open up again, the industry is facing another problem – a worker shortage.
In April 2021, the restaurant industry added more job openings than any other sector, with over 1 million openings for the month. Unfortunately, workers aren’t interested in returning to the industry. But, for many restaurant owners, the real reasons behind the shortage don’t matter as much as finding qualified applicants to fill positions.
If you’re looking for people to hire but having a hard time attracting applicants, there are a few things you can do to stand out from your competition and make your business appealing. Let’s cover a few tips to help you find the workers you need.
Market Your Restaurant’s Culture
People want to work in a place that is comfortable, fun, positive, and encouraging. Promoting a positive company culture can make your restaurant more attractive to potential applicants. In doing so, it’s important to know what your employees want and value. One survey found that some of the most important things restaurant workers want include:
A strong team
Flexible schedules
Fair pay
Better technology
It’s also important to promote a restaurant culture that includes everyone and is passionate about diversity and equality. By creating an inclusive environment, you’ll attract a wider variety of applicants who will quickly become loyal to your mission. If you want to work on building a more inclusive workplace, educate your managers, incorporate more inclusive recruitment strategies, and talk with your current employees about their needs. Listen to their feedback, and take it seriously.
The restaurant industry is one of the most diverse in the entire country. Hiring people from different backgrounds and cultures will boost your inclusivity (a great marketing tool!) and let everyone know they have a place where they’ll be safe and treated fairly. It doesn’t hurt to learn another language, educate yourself, and be respectful of people from other cultures who might want to work with you. The more you’re willing to hire people from different cultures, the easier it will be to find qualified employees.
Offer Valuable Incentives
The restaurant industry is in such dire need of workers that it might be time to consider extra incentives and points of value to your hiring practice. Many foodservice establishments across the country are offering hiring bonuses to attract workers.
That’s a great place to start, but it may not be enough – unless there are conditions. Hiring bonuses can draw in workers, but unless there is a clause that requires them to work a certain number of months or other stipulations, you could end up with a lot of short-term workers and an empty bank account.
In addition to hiring bonuses, consider incentives that will make new employees want to stick around, including things like:
Attendance-based incentives (rewards for staff who have minimal absences)
Performance-based rewards
Individual bonuses
Team bonuses
Longevity bonuses
You can even reward your staff with small incentives to keep them motivated. Do you have an employee that has really been standing out lately? Offer them their preferred section or shift. Incentives don’t always need to be financial. Think about the things that will keep your employees on board and loyal, and communicate clearly how they can achieve multiple rewards for their work.
It’s Okay to Be Picky
Attracting applicants to your business is one thing; attracting good ones is quite another. Your goal should always be to create a great team. Not only is it better for your business, but it’s better for your employees.
With that in mind, don’t be afraid to promote your available positions to high-achieving applicants. Tell potential employees what you’re looking for within your posted positions. Doing so will help you weed out those with weak resumes, so you can focus on the CVs of people who have taken actionable steps to better themselves, overcome challenges and obstacles, and know how to handle almost any situation.
You can also create a great team by talking to the previous employer(s) of a potential employee, or testing their skills, yourself. Don’t automatically turn someone away due to a lack of experience. Instead, find someone who is a quick learner with a positive attitude – especially if they seem to have a natural talent. Each person you hire will be a functioning component of a larger team, and they need to be able to do their part while getting along with others.
So, don’t be afraid to be picky. That might seem like crazy advice right now in the midst of a worker shortage. But, settling for less when it comes to your employees could put your business in danger. Keep these ideas in mind while you’re looking for applicants, and you can attract the best ones to your business who are willing to put in the work for an establishment that values them.
