The operational aspect of any restaurant is a crucial part of ensuring its success. Serving delicious food and expanding the market works when you streamline day-to-day operations with the help of qualified workers. However, common restaurant staffing issues are rising rapidly –even long before the advent of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has only enhanced the manifestations of these problems.
Amidst the ongoing pandemic, businesses across the globe have undergone both temporary and permanent closures. Restaurants that are fortunate enough to go through closures struggle to acquire and retain the right talent. The abrupt shift of significant consumer behavior following social restrictions strictly has urged business owners to change industries. So, with the ongoing issues at hand, what can restaurateurs do?
Common Restaurant Staffing Issues and the Solutions
Labor shortages are not new to the restaurant industry. Tight labor markets existed at around 5.4 percent during 2019 for all jobs in the restaurant industry. A majority of them were unfilled. As per another study report, only 10 percent of full-service restaurant businesses reported being fully staffed at the start of 2021.
It is projected that around 14 percent of the growth of the food & beverage industry will take place. It is estimated that the restaurant industry is poised for around a 6 percent rise in the upcoming decade.
Now, with relaxations across industries to some level, as restaurants wish to get back to business, the staff is not available readily. However, unemployment benefit is just one part of the entire puzzle –not the entire picture. Here are some more common issues to know about:
#Recruitment
Even before the pandemic, attracting recruits to the restaurant was not easy. However, the ongoing situation makes the market appear even more volatile and highly unattractive to job seekers. Therefore, it is recommended for businesses to make the offer quite competitive. In addition to salary, employees are also nowadays looking for additional benefits.
#Limited Talent Pool
Restaurants used to be once a hotspot for the younger groups seeking employment. However, lately, the younger generation is moving away to other lucrative industries.
#Onboarding
Hiring new employees has become more expensive than bumping up the current compensation plan. If obtaining new talent cannot be helped, you need to ensure that the talent is well-integrated into the respective teams.
Inadequate training will lead to poor job performance. At the same time, a comprehensive onboarding plan will not always equate to a more extended program. Therefore, you should simplify the process to save ample time and money.
#Employee Retention
The employee turnover rate in the restaurant industry remains at a whopping 75 percent, and the restaurant industry will require around 150,000 more staff by 2026.
In desperate requirements for labor, some businesses resort to either under-qualified or undependable staff. When the workforce might be scarce, focus on individuals you already have and aim for maximum retention.
#Administrative Work
In addition to client-facing work and food preparation, administrative work in a restaurant setting makes up for a significant chunk of the time of the restaurant employees. It will include tasks like estimating the number of customers, the number of deliveries, and determining items that sell and those that do not.
It is easier to be overwhelmed by the given tasks as your business grows, especially when you do it alone. Some of the responsibilities might even get out of your expertise. Therefore, you should recognize the requirement for help in such cases — reliable help from a professional restaurant management service provider like sVang.
sVang is a dedicated restaurant management platform that streamlines the day-to-day operations of your online restaurant business –right from ordering to delivery services.
#Lack of Motivation
Work can get both physically and mentally taxing on the workers in any restaurant business. It could easily lead to demotivation. Eventually, it will adversely affect the overall quality of work.
sVang Staffing Solutions
Rapid technological protocols and advancements with the current state of society have observed an increase in online services. Some of the restaurant staffing issues can be quickly addressed by intelligent solutions –like the one offered by sVang.
sVang Self-Ordering — QR Code & Dynamic Menu(Full Service restaurants)
-Decrease wait times with dynamic menu(No more PDFs)
-Increase order size, tips, and Faster check out
-Get customer data for targeted marketing
-Convert customers waiting for service into paying customers
-Decrease wait times with faster table turnaround
-Increase customer satisfaction & loyalty
How to do it
-Order through your phone by scanning the QR code
-Keep the tab open throughout the dining experience and pay through our phone
-Capture customer information during checkout
-Add the customer to wait for list by scanning a QR code
-Text the customer a link to order ahead while waiting
-Provide a personalized experience for your customers based on their previous purchases
