PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Summer 2021

12 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Summer 2021 Job flexibility is a key value for a lot of workers in our current environment, so be proactive about getting their input for your staff schedule. 5. PERK UP EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Maybe you’re in a position to offer competitive wages—if so, that’s great! What you can’t offer in wages, however, you can likely offer in other types of perks. This is a good opportunity to get a little creative and come up with some original incentives you can offer your staff, like professional training and development opportunities, company events, overtime opportunities, and more. If you’re able to convert some of your part-timers into full-timers and offer them salaried positions or benefits packages, that’s even better. People work harder when they feel valued, so come up with some new ways to show your appreciation for their hard work. 6. CHANGE YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE Traditional management styles keep employees in the dark about high-level decisions, even when those decisions impact all staff. Trusting your employees and involving them in those decisions is proven to empower staff to work harder by showing them how their work impacts the restaurant’s overall success. Open communication and transparency will also strengthen the relationship between you and your staff. It fosters a culture of shared ownership which is empowering to everyone involved. 7. OPEN UP TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE We tend to hire people who match our existing team. It’s human nature to look for candidates you can see yourself in. But , when you create a more diverse, equitable work environment, it not only widens the pool of people from which you can hire, it also adds a wealth of new perspectives that can strengthen your business. Wider pool, more candidates, better hires. For instance, consider what message an all-male staff might send to potential female applicants. Or, how a highly-skilled worker living with a disability might feel about applying to a restaurant that isn’t accessible. Adding a little bit more diversity to your hiring practices will open up the pool of people you can pull from and improve your business overall. Win-win. WHEN Will the Labor Shortage End? In the words of Willy Wonka, “There’s no knowing where we’re going, but it shows no signs of slowing.” There are a number of predictions about the future direction of the U.S. labor shortage. Many focus on whether the shortage will lead to more minimum wage increases and how they will handle the increased cost of labor. Nobody is entirely sure when the trend will shift, but for now it’s important to recognize that you are operating in a “seller’s market” as far as employment goes. That is to say, lack of demand puts the power in the hands of the employees. While low unemployment rates are usually celebrated by the mainstream public, it doesn’t change the fact that a labor shortage is challenging for small business owners—especially restaurant owners who are still struggling with the impact of pandemic-related closures. Trust in your business concept and restaurant brand while exploring ways you can adapt to the evolving labor landscape, like the seven creative labor shortage solutions we’ve discussed here. • Dana is the former Content Marketing Manager at TouchBistro, sharing tips for and stories of restaurateurs turning their passion into success. She loves homemade hot sauce, deep fried pickles, and finding excuses to consume real maple syrup. This article was first published on the Touch Bistro blog.