In an industry with staggeringly high turnover rates, it pays to invest time and resources into keeping great hires. Why do they leave and what can you do to retain great people? ?
In this guide we will cover the following: the top 6 reasons staff leave their jobs, the 5 areas to focus on when it comes to staff retention, and the 8 checklists that will reduce staff turnover. Let’s begin.
When it comes to complex challenges, before we try and solve an issue, we first of all have to understand it. So we turn to the data. Based on a 2021 study conducted by Statista, these are the top 6 reasons people are leaving their jobs:
With this in mind, let's look at how you can retain the talent you have!
(Source: Statista 2021, Leading reasons restaurant workers are leaving their jobs in the United States)
Onboarding and retention are linked, so it is paramount that you have systems in place to help you retain great talent.
We recommend you implement the following procedures when hiring to help you keep great people.
When onboarding, be sure to cover these bases:
An employee handbook should include the following:
58% of employees who went through a structured onboarding stayed with their company for 3 years
(Source: Contract Recruiter)
As mentioned above, two of the leading causes of low staff retention include not getting enough pay or transitioning into a different industry. Yet, with proper training, staff members' work experience can be optimized, as can their wages.
Staff members should feel that they can succeed and make money. Ideally, they can complete their job confidently and efficiently. And if you set them up correctly, there could even be a path to career development beyond the more entry-level food-services roles.
That is why training is so paramount to retention. Consider the following when training staff.
When onboarding, be sure to cover these bases
A BOH Checklist should include the following.
22% of staff turnover occurs in the first 45 days of employment.
(Source: The Wynhurst Group)
Many people are leaving the services industry to pursue other avenues; however, having a career in foodservice remains a fantastic choice. So how can you support those who may not only want to stay but dig deeper into the industry? Why not ask the talented team you have?
Your staff will stay if they are happy, and the great thing about running a business is that you get to decide how you go about doing that. Based on the top reasons staff leave, we believe that these checklists will help increase retention tenfold.
34% of employees feel disconnected from their company
(Source: YOOBIC, 2021, the State of the Frontline Employee Workplace Survey)
Sadly, two of the highest reasons for employee turnover are based on safety concerns. Whether it is health concerns due to the pandemic or stress surrounding customer behavior during tense times, you need to take full account of safety concerns to retain great talent. Here are some added safety measures to consider:
If you had to walk off with one takeaway from this guide, our advice would be to remember the golden rule. How would you want to be treated, and are you treating your staff accordingly? If you reflect on the top reasons staff leave jobs, the underlying thread is that they are unhappy and aren't getting what they want, need, or deserve. If you take the time to invest in understanding your staffs' needs, check-in with genuine curiosity, listen, and stand by your word, you will do just fine.
We mentioned that streamlined onboarding, hiring, communication, and prompt payment are linked to retention, but what tools do you need to get the job done? We have you covered.
Push have developed an integrated software solution, built specifically for restaurants, to help you streamline your HR, payroll, time tracking, and scheduling, all from one flexible and easy-to-use platform.
When you use Push, you can communicate with staff via the messenger app, allow them to self-onboard, set and adjust their shift schedules, and receive payment promptly and effortlessly directly to their bank accounts. It’s the solution you need if you are looking to increase employee retention and engagement.
Want to learn more? You can book a demo with our team below to understand how this integrated solution can help you keep great people.
You’ll Learn
“In the labor numbers, we were reporting about a $300 to $400 difference than what we were getting through Push!”
-Tara Hardie, ZZA Hospitality Group, 16 locations
We've just signed up with Push and are excited to streamline our scheduling and payroll into one platform. Our account executive Kelvin has been excellent to work with. Thanks!
I did payroll myself for many years and I was skeptical to change that, but I am glad I did! The use of the tablet is easy for staff to sign in and out and the payroll is done perfect! I like the direct deposit, it saves lots of time, and I don't have to be at the business to do payroll. Great product and service!