Learn how to start restaurant staffing and build an effective workforce.

restaurant staffing guide, chefs, waiters

Restaurant staffing and workforce management is one of the most crucial aspects of running a great restaurant business, yet it’s often overlooked by new owners. Without the right people in place, even the best location and restaurant concept will be wasted.

Creating an effective restaurant workforce takes time and skill. Learn how to recruit effective restaurant staff in this overview.

Understanding Restaurant Staffing Needs

Identify Key Roles: Before you doing restaurant staffing, it’s important to understand the key roles needed to run your restaurant smoothly.

It is also important to determine staff to customer ratio before hiring restaurant staff. This depends on the restaurant type. Whether you are a fine dining restaurant, fast food, cafe, etc.

Back-of-House Staff (BOH Staff)

These restaurant employees are typically out of sight for customers but is the heart of the restaurant operations. The BOH staff plays a crucial role in ensuring the restaurant runs smoothly and maintains high standards of food quality and safety.

Chefs and Cooks: They are the backbone of your kitchen, responsible for preparing delicious meals. Types of chefs and cooks are the sous chef, line cook, executive chef, etc.
Dishwashers, Cleaners, and Kitchen Porters: They keep the kitchen and dining area clean and organized.

Front-of-House Staff (FOH staff)

FOH staff work in the areas where customers interact with staff and enjoy their meals. The FOH staff are the face of the restaurant, responsible for providing excellent customer service, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and ensuring that guests have a positive dining experience. Here are the key roles commonly found in the Front of the House:

Servers and Waitstaff: Takes orders from customers, serves food and beverages, answers questions about the menu, and handles payments.
Bussers and Cleaners: Clears tables, resets tables for new guests, assists servers with bringing food to tables, and keeps the dining area clean.
Host/Hostess: Greets customers as they enter, manages reservations, seats guests, and ensures the dining area is organized.

Administrative and Management Staff

Administrative and management staff are crucial for the smooth operation and success of a restaurant. Restaurant managers and administrators handle various tasks, from overseeing daily operations of the staff members to managing finances and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Recruiting the Right People

Job Posting

Creating clear and detailed job descriptions is the first step in restaurant staffing. This will make sure that the right people for your restaurant. A good job posting should include:

Job Title: Clearly state the position you are hiring for.
Responsibilities: List the key duties and tasks associated with the job.
Requirements: Specify the skills, experience, and qualifications needed.
Working Conditions: Mention any specific conditions, such as shift hours or physical demands.
Benefits: Highlight the benefits and perks of working at your restaurant.

Where to Find Candidates

Finding the right candidates involves using a variety of recruitment channels.

Job Boards: Post your job openings on popular job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Caterer.com.
Social Media: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to reach a wider audience.
Local Colleges and Culinary Schools: Partner with local educational institutions to find talented students and graduates.
Employee Referrals: Encourage your current staff to refer friends and acquaintances who might be a good fit.
Recruitment Agencies: Use agencies that specialize in hospitality staffing to find experienced candidates.

Using multiple channels when doing restaurant staffing increases your chances of finding the best talent for your restaurant.

Traits to Look For

In restaurant staffing, It is important to look for staff that are effective in their positions. When interviewing candidates, look for key traits that indicate they will be a good fit for your restaurant:

Team Player: Look for candidates who demonstrate teamwork and collaboration skills.
Customer-Oriented: Candidates should show a genuine interest in providing excellent customer service.
Adaptability: The restaurant industry can be fast-paced and unpredictable, so finding candidates who can adapt quickly is important.
Passion: Candidates who are passionate about food and hospitality are likely to be more committed and motivated.
Reliability: Dependable employees who consistently show up on time and perform their duties well are invaluable.

Building a Positive Work Environment

Employee Morale

As much as restaurant staffing, maintaining high employee morale is essential for creating a positive work environment. Happy employees are more productive, provide better customer service, and are more likely to stay with your restaurant long-term. Here are some ways to boost morale:

Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge hard work and achievements through employee of the month programs, bonuses, and public recognition.
Team-Building Activities: Organize activities such as team outings, workshops, or friendly competitions to foster camaraderie and teamwork.
Positive Work Culture: Promote a culture of respect, support, and inclusivity where employees feel valued and appreciated.

Conflict Resolution

Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace, but how they are handled can make a big difference in maintaining a positive environment. Here’s what you can to for effective conflict resolution:

Address Issues Promptly: Deal with conflicts as soon as they arise to prevent them from escalating.
Stay Neutral: Approach conflicts with an open mind and avoid taking sides. Focus on finding a fair and constructive solution.
Encourage Communication: Facilitate open dialogue between the parties involved to understand their perspectives and find common ground.
Mediation: In some cases, involving a neutral third party to mediate can help resolve conflicts more effectively.

Creating a Supportive Environment

A supportive work environment encourages employees to thrive and perform their best. This will improve employee retention. In this way, you would not hire and train staff only for you to lose them because they find the working conditions less than ideal.

1. Training and Development: Provide opportunities for professional growth through training programs, workshops, and mentorship. This not only improves skills but also shows employees that you are invested in their future

2. Work-Life Balance: Encourage a healthy balance by offering flexible and fair scheduling, reasonable working hours, and sufficient breaks. This helps prevent burnout and keeps employees motivated.

3. Health and Wellbeing: Promote health and wellbeing by providing resources such as healthy meals, access to fitness facilities, or mental health support. A healthy employee is a happy and productive employee.

Additional Resources

Check out other guides on starting a restaurant business in the UK: