It’s that time again — time to build up your workforce with an eye toward the busy holiday season. Here are some tips to help you find and retain top-quality employees to keep business running smoothly this fall.
The People’s Plan
Before posting, meet with current staff to find out their availability so you have a clear idea of how many people you’ll need and where you’ll need to fill vacancies. Update your employee handbook if needed and meet with your managers to go over the onboarding program and ensure they’re clear on the training process.
Review your budget and determine what you can offer, including perks beyond pay and benefits, to stand apart from the competition. Look at POS sales data from your busiest periods, year over year, so you know where your seasonal help will be best utilized. Research companies such as our One Source partner, TouchBistro, to help you streamline your operations and make informed hiring decisions with analytics that provide deep insights into sales trends and guest engagement.
Cast A Wide Net
Once you’ve got your plan in place, it’s time to recruit. Use every channel you have at your disposal to spread the word that you’re hiring. Share on social media, create job listings on employment websites, post signage in your restaurant, and use word of mouth to ensure you receive the biggest response possible. And by using a hiring platform like Qwick, you can find high-quality staff quickly, choose from more than 25 shift types, and save money.
Job fairs are also excellent sources of seasonal help, especially to attract students. High school and college students are the most available to work a seasonal job and are the biggest pool looking for temporary work. According to data, 55% of teenage restaurant employees work part-year schedules, and there were over 100,000 more teenagers in the labor force in April 2022 than in February 2020. 29% of 20-to-24-year-old employees also work part-year schedules, so consider targeting these groups heavily when finding seasonal help.
Get Specific
Well-written job listings are essential for attracting the right people. Make sure you clearly outline the requirements and responsibilities of the job, as well as any other information candidates might need to know. Make sure to share if the position is seasonal or if there is an opportunity to stick around after the season is over.
If the position is strictly seasonal, tell candidates how long the position will last. Share something about your restaurant that would make candidates want to interview with you. Describe your work culture, your history, and what makes you stand out from the pack.
Get Competitive
Consider creating a hiring bonus structure that rewards candidates for coming on board and staying for a certain amount of time. You may also want to offer meal compensation, PTO, and other perks to further incentivize this workforce.
And turnover is one of the most expensive parts of running a business, often costing thousands to find replacements. With early access to pay through the on-demand pay app program, Fuego powered by Fourth Solutions, you can attract and retain the right talent.
