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Six tips how to beat skilled staff shortage in your kitchen

By: Reading Time: 2 Minutes

It’ll all be okay… but how?
Contrary to what you might think from the atmosphere in the culinary world, the industry isn’t actually on the brink of an apocalypse. We need to get past the myth that it’s all miserable cooks, waiters, and dishwashers toiling away under some angry kitchen boss for slave wages.

Here are six innovative, creative, and success-oriented ways of how you can handle the shortage of qualified staff.

1) Play nice

Kitchen Nightmares is over. Seriously. Young professionals know that the world is their oyster, and they’re not going to waste their time working somewhere that makes them unhappy all the time. Create a pleasant working environment, and practice showing appreciation.  Keep your people motivated, react flexibly, and take care of your team—it helps foster well-being.

2) Make your presence known

Be seen and heard, both online and at events. One great way of drawing people in as an employer is to cooperate closely with a nearby cooking school. Or start doing your own training. (see the US)

3) Be digital and connected

Digitization is here, and the gastronomy world is no exception. Top-quality apps can make your life a lot easier. investing in things like digital cash register systems can really pay off. Networking appliances (whether for cooking, washing, or refrigeration) is becoming more and more important. Technology is on the march! Examples include Connected Wash by Winterhalter, ConnectedCooking by Rational, or Metro’s cloud-based solutions.

4) Save your strength

Intelligent cooking technology and other types of “smart” appliances can save you and your kitchen team energy in a lot of ways. Whether you’re cooking for 30 or for a thousand, they can boost your efficiency immensely.

5) Offer employee benefits and incentives

People want to feel wanted. Be generous! Wouldn’t your chef love to attend that international trade fair? Professionals who value personal growth and want to develop their careers will appreciate you finding (and financing) continuing-education and training opportunities for them. And your wait staff needs a little “me time” at least as much as your customers do, so maybe you could spring for a spa day for the team every once in a while…?

6) Do employee branding

The best advertising you can ask for is through your own employees, your brand ambassadors. Who else is in a position to extol the joys of working in your kitchen? Try coordinating an Instagram takeover, for example—something fun and enthusiastic.

 

Further information:
Full house, empty kitchens?
How seriously is the shortage of skilled professionals affecting the fine-dining world?

 

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