Hiring for Restaurants

Strategies to Hire Great Restaurant Staff

Great customer service starts with a great team, and building that team begins with a smart hiring strategy. By implementing the right approaches, not only can you attract the best candidates but also keep them engaged throughout the hiring process. Setting up your employees to succeed from day one creates a ripple effect of positivity that empowers your team and drives your restaurant’s success.

Here are six strategies to help you hire the best staff for your restaurant:

1. Make the Application Process Easy

Having a mobile-first recruiting process is a must for today’s restaurants. Modern systems enable candidates to apply with just a text or QR code, removing barriers and meeting job-seekers where they are. Even better, let candidates self-schedule their interviews, eliminating the back-and-forth and making the process more convenient — giving you a speedy competitive edge.

2. Encourage Employee Referrals

Tap into your current team’s network by offering incentives for employee referrals. With 67% of restaurant operators citing referrals as their top recruiting method, be sure to recognize employees who bring in strong candidates to create a proactive and effective recruiting pipeline.

3. Write Well-Crafted Job Descriptions

A clear, engaging job description is your first chance to attract talent. Highlight key responsibilities, requirements, and unique aspects of your restaurant. Don’t forget to emphasize perks like competitive wages, on-demand pay, growth opportunities, and benefits to stand out as an employer of choice.

4. Optimize the Candidate Experience

Speed matters. With 38% of restaurant job candidates applying after hours, responding quickly is essential to securing top talent. Keep candidates engaged throughout the process by maintaining communication, streamlining steps, and making the hiring experience as seamless as possible.

5. Showcase Your Company Culture and Values

A strong workplace culture is a powerful draw for job seekers. Reflect your values in job postings and reinforce them during interviews. Highlight how your culture supports employees, fosters teamwork, and aligns with a candidate’s goals to attract like-minded talent.

6. Invest in Onboarding and Training

A well-executed onboarding process can reduce turnover and set the stage for long-term success. Integrated tools for recruiting and onboarding ensure a smooth transition for new hires. A supportive start helps employees feel valued and connected, building a strong foundation for retention.

How to Retain Restaurant Workers

Keeping great employees is more important than ever, especially with 30% of restaurant workers planning to leave the industry within the next two years. Retention efforts need to focus on creating a positive employee experience that emphasizes satisfaction, recognition, and clear communication. 

When restaurants invest in their teams, they can not only reduce turnover but also foster an engaged, motivated workforce ready to contribute to long-term success. Here are some practical strategies to help you retain your best workers.

Improve Communication: Restaurants face challenges like varying shifts and multiple locations, making effective and consistent communication critical. Use internal digital platforms to share updates, celebrate wins, and foster connections. From announcing volunteer events to celebrating milestones, good communication helps employees feel informed, valued, and part of something bigger.

Offer Unique Benefits: Competitive pay is crucial, but not enough for today’s workforce. Perks like on-demand pay, flexible scheduling, tuition assistance, and mental health support attract and retain employees who want long-term security. These thoughtful benefits show you prioritize their well-being and value their contributions.

Recognize Excellent Work: Consistent appreciation boosts morale and retention. With 76% of leaders citing recognition as critical to improving the employee experience, gestures like a thank-you after a busy shift or shoutouts on digital platforms show employees they’re valued. Building a culture of frequent recognition helps workers feel appreciated daily.

Engage Employees: Employee engagement directly links to increased profitability, reduced absenteeism, fewer safety incidents, and decreased turnover. Provide opportunities to strengthen team bonding with after-hours events like food tastings or community initiatives. Engaged employees bring passion and purpose to their work, enhancing both team dynamics and the customer experience. 

Hire Smarter with a Modern HCM Solution

Restaurant work is physically demanding, emotionally intense, and often requires giving up weekends, holidays, and typical mealtimes. At its best, it can be incredibly rewarding — bringing people joy through food and hospitality. But only if employees feel welcomed, appreciated, and connected.

In the fast-paced hospitality industry, turnover will likely continue to be a challenge. But today’s HCM technology makes finding, engaging, and retaining top talent easier with solutions for:

• Talent Management that integrates recruiting, onboarding, performance, and headcount planning.
• Compensation to ensure fair market pay while managing your budget.
• Employee Experience tools that provide consumer-grade access and utility.

Paylocity does all this and more. Discover how Paylocity can help you create a more connected, compliant, and engaged workforce — so your team runs smoother, your guests leave happier, and your business keeps cooking.