{"id":3777,"date":"2020-10-06T14:27:46","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T18:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgcassocprod.wpengine.com\/?p=3777"},"modified":"2023-11-03T12:13:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T16:13:57","slug":"covid-19-affect-restaurant-recruiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgcassociates.com\/es\/covid-19-affect-restaurant-recruiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospitality in the News |\u00a0Will COVID 19\u00a0Affect Recruitment in the Restaurant Industry?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week we comb through the news to find employment trends affecting the hospitality\u00a0<\/span>industry<\/span> so you don\u2019t have to. This week\u2019s topic: how will COVID-19 affect restaurant recruiting?<\/span><\/p>\n

Will COVID-19 Affect <\/strong>Restaurant <\/strong>Recruiting?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Although we\u2019re more than 6 m<\/span>onths into the pandemic, experts are still trying to answer the question, will COVID-19 affect restaurant recruiting?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>So\u00a0<\/span>far<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the emergence of\u00a0<\/span>the virus\u00a0<\/span>has led to capacity restrictions<\/span>\u00a0for dine-in service<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>new health standards<\/span>\u00a0across the board<\/span>, and\u00a0<\/span>thousands of business\u00a0<\/span>closures<\/span>\u00a0(many of them permanent)<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0but one factor not commonly considered is\u00a0<\/span>how COVID-19 will affect<\/span>\u00a0restaurant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>recruiting <\/span>post-<\/span>pandemic<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When\u00a0<\/span>looking at the future of\u00a0<\/span>restaurant\u00a0<\/span>re<\/span>cruitment<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0it\u2019s important to first\u00a0<\/span>think about\u00a0<\/span>some of the factors that\u00a0<\/span>could impact a job seekers decision to find employment in the hospitality industry.\u00a0<\/span>One of those factors is something the virus taught us, which is that restaurants are\u00a0<\/span>more essential than we thought.\u00a0<\/span>Even though\u00a0<\/span>dine-in has been restricted since the emergence of the pandemic, fast-food and delivery services have\u00a0<\/span>mostly\u00a0<\/span>been available\u00a0<\/span>the entire time.\u00a0<\/span>Not only do they\u00a0<\/span>offe<\/span>r lower-contact options, but they also provide a<\/span>n element\u00a0<\/span>from our\u00a0<\/span>\u2018normal\u2019\u00a0<\/span>lives<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>most people are\u00a0<\/span>missing<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another factor to\u00a0<\/span>keep in mind regarding how COVID-19 affect restaurant recruiting <\/span>is just how hard the industry was hit because of the virus. <\/span>In the past several months<\/span>, almost\u00a0<\/span>16,000<\/span><\/a>\u00a0restaurants closed permanently\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0over\u00a0<\/span>5 million<\/span><\/a>\u00a0employees<\/span>\u00a0were<\/span>\u00a0furloughed. As it stands,\u00a0<\/span>some states still have restrictions placed on restaurants and bars that do not allow them to operate at full capacity<\/span>, with s<\/span>ome suggest<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0that the restaurant industry won\u2019t return to pre-COVID levels until late 2021 or early 2022.\u00a0<\/span>In addition<\/span>, the pandemic has changed how we look at going to work;\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>ven with taking all possible precautions, employees are still risking their health to continue servicing customers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With all t<\/span>hese factors\u00a0<\/span>considered, it begs the question: Did careers\/jobs in hospitality lose appeal as a result of the coronavirus?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>it’s hard to say<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>or a lot of businesses,\u00a0<\/span>their current\u00a0<\/span>recruitment<\/span>\u00a0process<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>nvolves re-hiring previously furloughed employees\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>then<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>find<\/span>ing\u00a0<\/span>new workers to replace those who can\u2019t\/won\u2019t return. For that reason, it\u2019s difficult to determine how\u00a0<\/span>successful hiring has been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and whether the\u00a0<\/span>factors mentioned above have an impact on attracting\u00a0<\/span>candidates<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 which brings us to our next question: How can restaurants attract top talent post-COVID?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be transparent<\/span><\/b>
\nBefore their first day, new hires should understand what challenges your business is facing<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0how it affects their role<\/span>, and what they can do to ease any struggles<\/span>. Be transparent about any difficulties\u00a0<\/span>and set proper expectations up front to help\u00a0<\/span>ensure a successful beginning to your partnership.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be competitive<\/span><\/b>
\nIf you\u2019re worried that people won\u2019t return to the hospitality industry, then make it a place they want to return to by\u00a0<\/span>creating a great work environment and providing a competitive salary and benefits.\u00a0<\/span>We understand that\u00a0<\/span>being asked to spend money (especially during these times) is easier said than done<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 b<\/span>ut<\/span>\u00a0if<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>candidates\u00a0<\/span>know you\u2019re willing to compensate them fairly, they\u2019ll be more\u00a0<\/span>willing to put themselves at risk working with the public<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Plus, serious benefits will attract serious candidates.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be safe<\/span><\/b>
\nW<\/span>orking in a restaurant isn\u2019t the\u00a0<\/span>riskiest\u00a0<\/span>job you can have<\/span>\u00a0right now<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s certainly riskier than positions that allow\u00a0<\/span>working from home<\/span>. Employees will be looking to\u00a0<\/span>their managers\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>u<\/span>n<\/span>derstand<\/span>\u00a0what they\u2019re doing to provide a safe work environment and\u00a0<\/span>how they\u2019ll\u00a0<\/span>maintain any restrictions set by local or state laws.\u00a0<\/span>Without this, c<\/span>andidates will be hesitant to sign on if they don\u2019t think you prioritize health and safety.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Until we start to see hiring pick back up, it will be hard to answer, will COVID-19 affect restaurant recruiting? <\/span>Based off the new risks and the overall uncertainty of the industry,\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s safe to say that there will be new challenges surrounding recruiting and hiring post-COVID.\u00a0<\/span>The main point to takeaway is this:\u00a0<\/span>candidates will feel more confident taking jobs in the restaurant industry if they:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n