Labor shortage - a topic we wish we didn't have to keep discussing and a problem that doesn't seem to be going away soon. The thing is, while businesses might not be running back to full pre-pandemic operations, especially in terms of labor - consumers are certainly resuming their daily habits and eating out again. How do you manage that volume with limited staff? Implementing the right strategies is now more important than ever to providing efficient and quality service. It's time to commit to standardizing processes and cultivating an environment people want to work in.
Standardize your processes -
We understand that challenges are unique to your location. However, standardization of your processes will prove to your consumers that you can serve them with confidence. PFSbrands strives to implement franchise-wide procedures, offering multiple levels of support for each of our branded programs, that really takes the guess work out of standardizations. Be sure you're reading communications and implementing these procedures so that you're running as efficiently as possible. Reach out to your Regional Growth Advisor if you are unsure how our levels of support guarantee your success.
Implement our technology -
We’ve implemented many new technological advances within our branded programs this year, in order to keep up with consumer trends. Retail operators that have embraced technology are seeing significant success. Mobile ordering, self-order kiosks, third-party delivery services, and other trends are not going away. We cannot stress enough that embracing these trends in your establishment will be crucial to standardizing processes and keeping up with other QSRs.
Get the right people in the right seats -
Good training is essential to efficient and quality service. Because, let's face it, there just isn't time to keep re-training someone, it has to be right the first time. Implementing a thorough training process sets your employees up for success - if your employees are confident in their ability to do their jobs, their going to do it well! But it doesn't end at a good training program. You need to make sure you've got the right people in the right place. Your rush hour will quickly descend into chaos if your team is not prepared or cross-trained to fill any role. Be sure you are providing these resources and check in frequently to see if there are any tools your team needs to remain afloat. If your team is empowered to be successful, they are more likely to remain engaged with your business - closing that revolving door of turn-around employment.
The right work environment -
The biggest thing you can recognize is that your employees are an essential part to your business! Do they enjoy working in your establishment? If you're unsure, unfortunately you are probably at risk to have a higher turnaround rate. However, you can remedy this by simply showing your staff that you appreciate them. Share customer feedback or implement fun sprints to keep your team engaged. You can also engage in monthly coaching sessions as a way to check in with your team and allow them to provide feedback on their own performance. And always keep in mind, tolerance of failure - mistakes will be made, let's learn from them instead of chastising them.
Remember, you're never done recruiting -
Everybody needs to be recruiting within your company and work towards "building a bench." No different than a good sports team, you should always have a bench of players to pull from, as some turnover in employment will always be expected. Be prepared and constantly recruiting, even when you don't have open positions, because the worst position you can be in is to not have any one to reach out to when you do have an opening.
We're here to help -
As you face this nationwide labor shortage, remember that our People Success department is a great resource if you need help engaging existing employees or hiring additional employees. Remember, you’re not in this alone either!
askhr@pfsbrands.com | (573) 632-3370