Improving Staff Retention in Restaurants
Crucial Elements for a Successful Restaurant Training Program
Restaurant operators consistently cite staffing and retention as one of the biggest issues they face. During the third quarter of 2018, limited service brands reported hourly employee turnover rates at 137 percent. This is up five percentage points from the second quarter of 2018. In the same quarter, hourly turnover rates were up two percentage points for full-service brands, at 105 percent.
The number of restaurant locations continues to increase faster than the population is growing. This industry saturation signals increased competition for operators to find and keep the best talent. In the annual Recruiting and Turnover Survey, Black Box Intelligence (formerly TDn2K) asked operators to name their most effective retention strategies. Some of the top strategies named were better training, higher compensation and better engagement for general managers (check out this blog post for reasons your general managers might not be engaged and what to do about it).
An effective training program is a must for successful operators. Onboarding is the first opportunity to provide clear guidance around your expectations. It is also the first glimpse an employee has of your organization’s brand and values. Finally, it is an ongoing process that doesn’t stop once an employee is hired. View the infographic below for five elements to include in your restaurant training program.