Melanie Stafford’s Post

Employee Rewards NEWS ☕️: As the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact the UK, employees are increasingly looking to their employers for support with everyday expenses. A recent data report by Perkbox has revealed a significant rise in the use of employer-provided supermarket vouchers. Over the past year, usage surged by 54 percent. This spike in voucher utilisation is particularly notable across three major UK supermarkets. Asda saw a 69 percent increase, Tesco 45 percent, and Morrisons 33 percent. With food prices having risen by 25 percent over the past two years, these benefits are proving essential for many households. According to the Office for National Statistics, the stark contrast to the 9 percent increase over the previous decade highlights the persistent strain on everyday expenses despite the overall reduction in the inflation rate. Doug Butler, CEO of Perkbox Vivup Group, stated, "Despite fewer recent headlines, the continuing high cost-of-living continues to be a challenge for employees. Our data serves as a reminder that offering support through additional rewards and benefits to workers should remain a priority for employers." For those of us in recruitment, this trend underscores the importance of advising clients on the value of comprehensive employee benefits packages to attract and retain top talent. How is your organisation supporting its employees during these challenging times? Share your experiences in the comments below. #EmployeeBenefits #CostOfLivingCrisis #WorkplaceSupport

Although fast-food restaurants are faring better than other types of restaurants and businesses post-pandemic, most have seen decreases in key metrics like traffic and revenue. 🚙📉 Many fast-food and QSR restaurants are unable to open their dining rooms and operate at full capacity in their drive-thru, app, delivery, and takeout efforts. These restaurants need employees in the kitchen and drive-thru window to continue operations, but pay raises, promotions, and additional hours aren't available to employees. Savvy managers and owners know that they need to keep employees happy in order to retain them for as long as possible, but that's easier said than done. Earned wage access is setting some franchises apart from their competitors, including McDonald's. EWA helps both employers AND employees continue cooking up great food while ensuring financial wellness for workers — which means better employee retention. 🍔 Want to learn more? Read our whitepaper about EWA's impact on retention and recruitment in the fast food industry: https://bit.ly/3vTfpei #EarnedWageAccess #EmployeeRetention #FastFoodIndustry

A household cook on a variable pay structure :) When a friend mentioned that they have a cook on a variable pay structure, I couldn't help but chuckle. In the realm of Compensation and Benefits, we often discuss different salary structures and components to attract and retain talent in corporate settings. But the idea of applying a variable pay model to a household cook (still very much an informal sector) was quite amusing. Curious, I asked if it actually worked. My friend enthusiastically shared that it did and provided a few examples to substantiate their point. They explained that two major challenges they faced were the cook's absence, sometimes even without prior notice and the cook hurriedly making the food which affected the quality such as excessive use of oil and taste was also ordinary. To address this, they introduced a variable pay component, with an additional 1,000 rupees at stake. The criteria for earning this bonus were simple: the cook's regular attendance and the quality and taste of the food. As a result, both attendance and food quality improved significantly. My friend also narrated that in one instance, somehow the tomato was not in the house, so the cook took an extra step and went to the vegetable shop to purchase it. (Beyond the scope of the work) It was amazing to see how a concept typically used in the corporate world could effectively motivate and improve performance in a completely different setting. I see a lot many people complaining about their cook, especially in metropolitan regions, and if you are one of them, would you like to give this variable pay structure a shot : ) #VariablePay #IncentivePrograms #Motivation #EmployeeEngagement #PerformanceImprovement #InnovativeCompensation #LifeHacks #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateLessons

If you’re in the restaurant industry, you are probably aware of the recent improprieties related to staffing and HR practices that came to light.   The reality though is that staff wages remain one of your largest expenses and the spotlight on managing staff costs is shining brighter than ever on our sector.   Why not control costs in real-time, potentially lowering your wage bill by 2% - while adhering to all Labour department protocols?   Pilot’s Umvuzo integration streamlines restaurant operations by allowing managers to set turnover and wage budgets, monitor daily performance, and easily manage staff rosters by group or section. With the ability to approve shifts and make adjustments on the go, managers are instantly notified of absenteeism or clock-in issues. The platform enables direct communication with staff and simplifies payroll by exporting batches to systems like PaySpace, SimplePay, and VIP Payroll, ensuring seamless integration across essential functions.   Avoid these traps - https://lnkd.in/eJ2-vn9b #PointofSale #RestaurantSoftware #pos #pilotsoftware #possystem #restaurant #restaurantpos

I’m fascinated by how the California FAST Act will change the dynamic for mom-and-pop restaurant chains. 🤔 Let’s take a dive, shall we? 🏊♂️ Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the FAST Recovery Act, primarily aimed at fast food chains with 100 or more spots–think McDonald's and Burger King. This law sets up a Fast Food Council that can regulate wages and working conditions. Wages could skyrocket to $22 an hour, making every Cali-based Mickey D’s operator sweat bullets. But what about the smaller joints? 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫? Initially, it seems like smaller spots might benefit by avoiding this new law. But the real question is whether people would prefer to work for less in a local spot versus a guaranteed living wage at a large corporate chain. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐦-𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐏𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 Many smaller restaurants pride themselves on their tight-knit vibe and low turnover rates. They can create an appealing atmosphere compared to the corporate grind. As big chains scramble to adapt to new rules, local spots could shine brighter for dissatisfied workers. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 However, with fast food wages rising, everyone will expect a pay bump. Mom-and-pop shops might need to rethink compensation to attract talent, which could strain their budgets. Though workers appreciate a cozy environment, money talks. If larger chains offer $20-$22 an hour, it will be tough for local restaurants to compete. I’ve lost great employees at Steamboys because I couldn’t raise wages by $3-$4. 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 So, how wouId I handle this for Steamboys in California? Let’s break it down Show Off Our Culture: Promote the unique vibe of each store. I’d highlight flexibility in scheduling to help employees build their perfect workweek. Rethink Our Pay Packages: Raising wages is tough, so I’d consider incentives like flexible hours, skill-building opportunities, and generous staff meals to foster community. Build a Strong Brand: I’d position my restaurant as a community gem 💎. When locals feel attached, they’ll want to work there and bring friends. Tell Employee Stories: I’d use testimonials from current staff to showcase the personal impact of our brand. Real-life stories resonate with potential hires. Get (More) Social: While I'm currently weak in this area, I’d create weekly posts showing off our restaurant vibes on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. A strong online presence can attract younger talent looking for more than just a paycheck. 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 𝐔𝐩 Shout out to anyone navigating the new landscape brought on by the FAST Recovery Act. May the odds be ever in your favor. What do you think? Will the FAST Recovery Act help or hurt mom-and-pop shops in their recruiting efforts? Let’s chop it up in the comments! #FASTAct #restaurantindustry #smallbusiness #recruitment #communitybusiness

In the news: Minimum wage increases to $20 in CA, competition for employees, benefit packages for part time employees, employee pay, tech stacks for maximizing profitability, data driven decisions on hiring - that's just part of it. Employers are focused at modernizing so many parts of their business, but the employee's pay choices remain old and tired. How do you plan on modernizing your employee payment in terms of payroll delivery, tips, even mileage. Optionality is key. Check out this 3 minute read

If you're NOT listening to your employees, you're failing 🤷 We did a survey and found out that 33% more people would take a pay cut knowing a job aligned with their goals. If you want your employees to stick around, ask what they want to do and give them tasks that align with their goals. No need for $25,000 raises when that's not exactly what their looking for. This is just one of Bonnie Iavaroni's (Turning Point Restaurants CFO!) tips for employee retention that she dished on the latest episode of Late Checkout. Check out the rest of her retention and expansion strategies on Late Checkout now ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q02l-N5Q0

“In order to help lessen employees’ financial stress, Valor Hospitality Partners decided to offer EWA through DailyPay.” Read more in HR Brew to learn how forward-thinking companies are offering DailyPay to improve the financial wellness of their team members.https://bit.ly/42cnsPm

By championing employee development and promoting internal growth, operators can cultivate a future where frontline workers see hospitality as the incredible career path that it truly is.

"We were able to increase the wages of our team members by up to $4 per hour." 🥗 Dive into MAD Greens' remarkable transformation as Nick D'Antonio reveals how PAR Pay revolutionized their operations to boost staff happiness. Get ready to be inspired by real-life success stories and unlock the secrets to happier employees and exponential growth! Catch the full on-demand webinar here: https://ow.ly/f8L650Relht #businessgrowth #webinar #foodtech