Treat Your Employees Like Customers (Ep. 160)
Restauranttopia: A Show for Local Independent Restaurants
Release Date: 11/29/2024
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In this episode, the Restauranttopia team explores how to attract, engage, and retain top talent by treating employees like valued customers. From creating a standout workplace culture to leveraging marketing strategies in recruitment, discover actionable tips and insights to build a loyal and motivated team in today’s competitive labor market.
Treating Employees like customers: Episode 160
Episode Highlights:
- Shifting Mindset: Treat your employees as you would customers—market to and retain them effectively.
- Culture Matters: Employees value workplace culture and want to work where they feel supported and valued.
- Marketing to Talent:
- Highlight your business's strengths during interviews.
- Use targeted platforms (e.g., Indeed, Facebook) to attract the right candidates.
- Retention Strategies:
- Daily interactions ("table touches") to build relationships.
- Recognize achievements—small gestures like quality uniforms or hats matter.
- Offer loyalty rewards and stay-on bonuses.
- Flexibility & Structure:
- Accommodate employees' work-life balance needs.
- Set clear expectations and deliver on promises.
- Autonomy & Growth:
- Empower employees to own their roles.
- Provide feedback and incorporate their ideas.
- Consistency in Leadership: Combine respect with approachability to build strong teams.
Pro Tips:
- Recruiting: Spend strategically on platforms like Indeed and experiment with creative approaches like including job ads in to-go orders.
- Retention: Regularly ask employees what they enjoy or dislike about the job and make improvements.
- Scheduling: Use scheduling software to create flexibility while maintaining operational efficiency.
Actionable Steps for Restaurateurs:
- Evaluate and improve your workplace culture—ask your team for honest feedback.
- Update job ads to reflect your business's unique values and environment.
- Implement a recognition program to celebrate employee achievements.
- Invest in tools to streamline scheduling and improve flexibility for employees.
- Follow through on promises to build trust and loyalty within your team.