Filling temporary restaurant staffing gaps can be a tricky restaurant management responsibility.
The restaurant industry can be extremely seasonal, so it's always a good idea to have a few temporary staff members available for busy periods like holidays, events, or weekends.
However, finding the right temporary staff can be tricky, as these staff members won't have as much of a commitment to your business. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when looking for the right people to fill temporary staffing gaps in your restaurant.
How to Handle Temporary Restaurant Staffing
Clearly Define Job Roles
Filling up temporary restaurant staffing begins with clearly defining the job roles and responsibilities that you need.
Each position, whether it's a server, bartender, chef, or support staff, should have a well-defined set of duties outlined. The more detailed you are in job descriptions, the easier it will be to find the right people.
This clarity ensures that temporary staff members understand their roles and can perform their tasks more effectively. If you’re too vague about what to expect from staff, even if they’re temporary, then you’ll have a hard time managing them when they get started.
Providing detailed job descriptions also helps in matching the right individuals to the right positions. When temporary restaurant staffing is based on clearly defined job roles, it minimizes confusion, enhances staffing efficiency, and promotes a positive work environment for all team members.
Utilize a Staffing Agency
One of the biggest challenges in finding temporary restaurant staff is that you need to fill positions quickly. If you simply put out job listings and interview candidates one by one, this could take far too long.
Using the services of a staffing agency that specializes in temporary restaurant staffing can be an absolute game changer. These agencies have access to a pool of pre-screened candidates with relevant experience in the hospitality industry, saving you time and resources in the hiring process.
This way, you only have to meet with one agency and get all your staffing needs filled in one go.
Ask Your Current Staff
Another simple way to find temporary staff members is to ask your current full-time staff for any recommendations.
As your existing staff will want to maintain a good professional relationship with your business, they will only want to recommend trustworthy staff to you. Plus, these will be people that they’re happy to work with - something that can help you maintain a positive work environment for everyone.
As your current staff probably have years of experience in the hospitality industry, there’s a good chance they will know a few people that they have previously worked with.
Look Towards Schools and Universities
Schools, colleges, and universities are ideal places to find temporary restaurant staff. Students are always looking for part-time work, so consider posting job ads or handing out flyers at schools in your area.
Getting young students on board is also a great way to develop a pool of temporary staff. If they have a positive experience with your restaurant, there’s a good chance they’ll want to return for holiday work or part-time work when they’re available.
Maintain a Pool of On-Call Staff
If your restaurant requires temporary staff regularly, such as for holiday periods or weekends, then it's a good idea to have a pool of staff available.
Try to build up a list of people who are happy to work with you temporarily, and regularly keep in touch with them. These individuals, who are familiar with your restaurant’s operations and processes, can be called on to fill gaps in staffing during peak periods, special events, or unexpected shortages.
To effectively manage a pool of on-call staff for temporary restaurant staffing, it's important to establish clear communication channels and scheduling protocols. Keep detailed records of staff availability, preferences, and contact information to help you coordinate things efficiently.
Offer Competitive Pay and Benefits
This should go without saying, but the fastest way to attract quality staff is by offering good pay and benefits.
Temporary restaurant staffing can be highly competitive, as many restaurants in your area might also be looking for staff over the same busy periods. Offering competitive pay and benefits will help you attract and retain top talent.
As temporary restaurant staff won’t be part of your payroll for an extended period, they might expect higher compensation for the short time they do work. This means you might need to sacrifice paying slightly higher wages to help you secure temporary staff more easily.
Create a Positive Work Environment
If you want to get the right people excited to work at your restaurant, then you’ll need to make sure it’s a positive place to work.
Temporary restaurant staffing thrives in a positive and supportive work environment. All your team members should feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. As a restaurant manager or owner, it's important to cultivate a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and mutual respect among permanent and temporary staff members alike.
To create a positive work environment for temporary restaurant staffing, lead by example and prioritize open communication and transparency. Listen to your staff, understand what they want while working for you, and do your best to provide this.
It’s also a good idea to offer room for professional growth. Sure, most temporary staff members are probably just looking for some extra income, but some might be interested in developing their skills and opportunities in the hospitality industry. Try to help these people to build up the skills and experience they’re after.
Provide Proper Training and Onboarding
It’s easy to overlook training and onboarding when staff are only working for you temporarily. However, proper training is essential for a positive staffing experience.
Providing thorough training ensures that temporary staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to perform their duties effectively.
Develop comprehensive training materials and protocols for temporary restaurant staffing, covering topics like customer service standards, food safety procedures, POS system operation, and restaurant policies and protocols.
Assign experienced team members to serve as mentors or trainers to support temporary staff members during their onboarding process and provide ongoing guidance and support as needed.
Communicate Expectations Clearly
Clear and consistent communication is critical for temporary restaurant staffing to ensure all team members are aligned with expectations and objectives.
From the moment temporary staff members are hired, it's important to communicate job roles, responsibilities, and performance standards clearly and transparently.
Provide regular updates and feedback to temporary staff members to keep them informed of any changes or developments related to their roles or your restaurant's operations. Encourage open dialogue and feedback, welcoming input from temporary staff members on ways to improve processes, enhance service quality, and optimize the overall guest experience.
Just because staff are with you temporarily, it doesn’t mean you shouldn't put in the effort to establish proper communication with them.
Offer Flexibility in Scheduling
Temporary restaurant staff will have very different levels of availability. This is why it's so important that your restaurant can accommodate flexible shift scheduling.
Recognize that temporary restaurant staffing often involves individuals with varying availability due to other commitments, such as school, another job, or personal obligations.
When creating schedules for temporary restaurant staffing, try to accommodate the availability of your team members as much as possible while ensuring adequate coverage during peak periods and special events. Using the right shift scheduling software can play an enormous role in helping you stay more organized.
It’s also a good idea to try to overhire when looking for temporary staff. If you have more people available, you’ll have an easier time filling up last-minute staffing gaps.
Seek Feedback From Staff
Feedback is a valuable tool for continuous improvement in temporary restaurant staffing.
Encourage temporary staff members to provide feedback on their experiences, including their interactions with guests, challenges they encountered, and suggestions for improvement.
Create opportunities for anonymous feedback through surveys, suggestion boxes, or one-on-one discussions with management. Actively seeking this feedback can help you find room for improvement, and areas you should change to improve the staff experience.
Over time, this will make it easier to attract new temporary staff. It will also help to keep existing temporary staff interested in working for you.
Conclusion
As a restaurant owner or manager, it's important that you’re always open to receiving applications from temporary staff, and that you keep a bank of potential temp employees on call. You never know when you might need them, and having the right people available will make your scheduling tasks a whole lot easier.
This is especially true for restaurants that host events, as events often require a quick boost of extra staff for the occasion. If your venue hosts events, then having the right venue management software will also make your life a lot easier. Try Perfect Venue to see how the platform can improve your operations.
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