While the holidays are certainly one of the busiest times for our industry, many managers are now facing the challenge to effectively plan, budget and staff against the influx of seasonal demand throughout the entire calendar year. After all, “seasonal” depends on where you are. Here are a few key strategies restaurants can apply to prepare for the inevitable hiring challenges during the holidays and beyond.
1
Promote your brand as much as the position
Treat seasonal flux with the urgency it deserves, but continue to be extremely thoughtful and deliberate in how you position your brand as an employer all year long. Make sure you are projecting your unique values, team culture and employee benefits when advertising opportunities. Why should someone choose to work with you? What can this short-term role offer them that will benefit their long-term career goals? Highlighting the employee perks of seasonal opportunities, including the opportunity for talent to work alongside your existing star line-up, can make you stand out from the others.
2
Stay connected to past employees
When great employees leave on favorable terms, keep them close. Consider them as a backup option for the seasonal influx. We’re seeing more often now that when someone leaves a job, it’s not necessarily for another full-time job — they may be taking some time off to travel, explore another line of work, or simply recharging. When the holidays roll around these able bodies tend to be more receptive to temporary work and usually have the ability to hit the ground running.
3
Plan for employee overtime
Proactively budget for overtime. Instead of managing an influx of new seasonal workers, offering additional hours to those who want them and intentionally increasing overtime has worked for some. It can also boost morale for existing employees who have been looking to pick up more hours.
4
Be upfront and clear on what you need
Post jobs on trusted industry networks like Culinary Agents and target specifically for holiday or seasonal staff. Candidates may be hesitant to apply for a position because they’re looking for something temporary, not permanent. If there truly is an opportunity for them to stay on past the holiday season, say that. Try to be upfront and set expectations. How many shifts / hours will be available for the candidate to pick up? How flexible do you need them to be? Job seekers also need to plan and prepare. Help them understand what they’re getting into and what is expected of them before onboarding.
5
Be overly considerate to your team
Attracting (and keeping) the best talent starts with building a strong workplace culture all year round; one that recognizes that your staff are valued members of your organization and are critical to your success - especially during the highly demanding holiday seasons. Start communicating scheduling needs weeks in advance and across all levels of staffing so the team is clear on expectations and can plan accordingly. Being creative with family meals and other small gestures are highly appreciated by hospitality professionals. This industry works when everyone else is playing - small, thoughtful acts go a long way!
