May 6, 2008

Handle Your New Employees With Care (or you'll be doing a lot more hiring)

Many restaurants lose lots of newly hired employees (some as much as 30% to 50%) during their first 2 weeks of employment.

Turnover is expensive, disruptive to operations and makes the job of managing a restaurant even more of a challenge than it already is.

Here are some proven ways to take better care of your new hires so less of them leave during those critical first two weeks

1. Never start a new employee on a Friday or Saturday or any super busy day. In most restaurants everyone is scrambling on
these days so new people get scant attention and often get thrown into what appears to be unorganized chaos. For many it's overwhelming and they don't return.

2. Never start a new employee at the beginning of a shift. At the start of most shifts there is lots of commotion and activity.
Insulate them for a few days and have them come in at a slower part of the day so you'll be better able to give them the personal attention they need and deserve.

3. Have a planned, organized and written orientation period outline to give to each employee. Show people you truly care
about their success and have a plan for getting them familiar with your organization, how they'll be trained and will soon become an important contributor to your team.

4. Give every new employee a job description, training manual and an employee policy handbook. Good people want to work for good companies that have their act together and are serious about what they do. Don't give new people a bad impression by not being organized and not having professional-looking forms, training manuals and handbooks.

5. As an owner or manager, personally follow up with your new people to see how they're doing. Positive attention and reinforcement from an owner or manager during the first few weeks is extremely powerful. It says "you care", and you have a personal interest in their success.

Always remember, the first exciting moments of a new job can never be recaptured. Use this to your advantage by having a well
conceived system to take good care of your new employees and chances are you'll have less turnover and a happier, more
productive team.

MARKETING TIP: Josephine Amato, owner of Roma's Italian
Restaurant in Bowling Green, VA Sent Birthday Cards and Gift
Certificates to Her Neighbors and Pulled in a Remarkable 16%
Response.