How to Keep Restaurant Workers Happy

There is no doubt that one of the biggest problems in running a restaurant is finding good help. Turnover is always a challenge for any manager. It is a constant struggle to keep workers happy so that they are not looking around for other opportunities. Employee incentive programs work well to keep people motivated and being as fair as possible in scheduling can avoid any hard feelings.

Restaurant scheduling can be very difficult because it is often tough to predict how busy the operation is going to be on any given night. Friday and Saturday nights are usually very busy but the rest are hit and miss. You never want to be caught in the situation where you have several servers standing around just waiting for someone to wait on. It not only is costing the restaurant money but it upsets the servers who feel like they are wasting their time since they are not getting a chance to make any tips. Another way that scheduling can cause hard feelings is when some workers are consistently getting more hours than others. Since compensation is based in large part on gratuities, the workers who are not on the schedule as much are not able to make as much money.

An excellent solution to the scheduling conflicts is using a software program to manage the process. The computer program will give workers a chance to let management know when they are available and will make it easier for the manager to balance hours and cover shifts. Some are sophisticated enough to track reservations and alert the manager when special events are coming up and more staff will be needed. They can even track past sales so you have an idea of what business has been like on a typical night and adjust your scheduling.

Treating workers fairly is a good start in keeping employees happy but managers should also be doing more to let their people know that they are appreciated. Incentive programs are a very popular way to reward people. The top billing server for the month might be given a gift certificate to the movies or tickets to an upcoming sporting event. Some places will reward their employee of the month a rare Saturday night off, with pay.

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