The hospitality recruitment crisis
Our sector faces a unique set of challenges as 2022 unfolds. The ‘Great Resignation’ appears to have hit us harder than most. For the hardened caterers, still addicted to the service professions, it is slowly dawning that a different life may be possible, away from weekend and split shifts.
Our beloved industry was just starting to mature into a respected and recognised career prospect, and now any new recruits are faced with fighting fires overseen by stretched managers.
It’s time to think smart and form a truly efficient management team. These steps will help you:
1. Protect those who are left
Now is the time to change how we manage our businesses and look closely at what is being asked of the managers in each site. Standards must be maintained, and reporting needs to stay accurate. Maybe by delegating some of the office-based monitoring requirements, site managers can be released to run the business and get back to being in front of the customers.
2. Outsource tasks where possible
Supply chain issues and rising energy costs squeezing profits later in the year mean that managers need to be more agile, less burdened with weekly stocks, till monitoring and compliance checks. These are services that can be delegated as required. A cost that can be controlled and turned on and off as the business builds.
3. Be open minded to change
Third party stock auditors can help bridge the gap between operators and a stretched area management team. Trusting a supplier and truly learning from their expertise can lead to sustainable change and allow you to adapt and control costs within your business. You might not have the staff to complete these tasks internally, but at the end of the day your business information still needs to flow. Standards of cost control need to be maintained and with the strategic appointment of stocktakers, a manager and chef can concentrate on feeding the customers.
4. Guard your team’s time
Stocktakers can help with this. They give a full final debrief after a day of counting, will complete their analysis and will require the shortest of meetings at the end of the audit to give targeted advice and recommendations. The manager’s day has not been spent counting stock and now the area team have a fully independent assessment on the profits achieved.
5. Strip the till system data
So many till systems now have the facility for remote monitoring. The reports created can be endless and often require a team of people to translate into usable data. Many companies are now turning to experienced till monitors to feedback till information to the business.
Venners has a team of experienced caterers and publicans who know the hustles and understand the controls required to run a secure till system. Monthly or quarterly reports at a fixed cost can often earn their fee many times over. Reports would detail control weakness or highlight training requirements highlighted by poor till use. The manager has specific advice that cuts through the reams of reports and can be swiftly actioned.
6. Maintain authority and controls
These difficult times have seen support teams and regional managers get closer to their businesses. Getting into the trenches when it gets tough is laudable and long may it continue. The trick is maintaining authority at closer quarters. Caterers are by their nature empathetic and when pushed, there is a temptation to overlook some controls and standards.
7. Stay connected with the team
Considered use of compliance auditing is being found to be especially useful to free up support manager’s time, whilst at the same time allowing them to uphold the rapport they built with staff. Outsourcing these key tasks allows your managers to take a step away from being ‘bad cop’, but still gives them everything they need to know to manage the business better.
8. Keep on top of the scores
Investing a few days into building an audit and setting pass and fail parameters allows the auditors to understand the business, its procedures, and standards. Findings can be ranked and scored and a detailed report with specified actions can be delivered after each visit.
9. Welcome tighter controls
Venners Compliance auditors often find that site managers welcome the confirmation of procedures and the targeted advice on tightening controls. Our auditors confirm details with the area management team and find themselves embedded in the continual professional development of the team. Training sessions can be arranged and return visits often help cement the changes.
The use of compliance audits frees up area managers to develop strong teams and to keep a close eye on the customer experience. Audits can partner this work, raise standards and be a cost-efficient tool.
Venners has a range of stocktaking and support services that can provide key business controls. If you need help to beat the great resignation and manage your way through the recruitment crisis get in touch with us today!