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Resources to Build Your Perfect Team

A restaurant’s success is dependent on having a fully staffed, happy team that believes in the mission of where they work.  Whether you’re finding it tough to staff your shifts or are one of the lucky ones that doesn’t have a hiring problem, the resources here are great for any business at any time.

What can we help you with?
Recruitment Tips
Workplace Culture
Local Hiring Resources
Great Leadership
Inspiring Students
Managing a Multi-Generational Team

Retain a Strong Workforce

In this business, any restaurant owner’s greatest asset is their employees. In an increasingly competitive hiring market, it’s essential to retain top talent. 
Labor costs associated with recruiting, training and onboarding employees in a business can ratchet up quickly.  

Creating a stellar culture, offering employee benefits like health coverage, developing reward systems, encouraging flexible work schedules and supporting higher wages than industry standards are all ways to keep your best employees happy and loyal.

WRA supports its members by having a variety of cost-effective employee health benefits available that become options for you to extend to your team.
Health Benefits
Restaurant Owner

Recruitment Tips

Restaurant owners and managers wear many hats and work long hours. Now throw open staff positions into the mix during a time when we’re dealing with a challenging labor market. That takes your stress to a whole new level!

​Our hope is to remove some of that stress for you by providing you with some tips here that help you be efficient with your team member search.​
Articles:
“No More No-Shows:  Eliminating Candidate Ghosting At Your Workplace”
The good news: the country is slowly but surely recovering from the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
​

The bad news: it has been extraordinarily challenging to find workers for the hospitality industry lately.
​

Source: CHART Blog authored by Patrick Yearout
Restaurant Team
“Generations in the Workplace”
Statistics show the impact of the pandemic by age…

​Source: HR Exchange Network
Restaurants Recruit to Connect Jobseeker and Foodservice Employers
Derek O. Small USN, (Ret.), Director, Military Programs National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
​
SOS Infographic from NRAEF
Job Interview

Local Hiring Resources

JOB CENTER OF WISCONSIN
Check out the search resumes option and labor market information under employers. The Job Center also has an internship portal you may want to look into.
Check out these other job boards and services that specialize in foodservice employment.
Facebook WRA Career Board
WRA Career Board Facebook Group to post Restaurant and Hospitality Job Openings
LinkedIn WI Restaurants Group
LinkedIn Jobs in Wisconsin Restaurants Group​
Colorful Connections
shiftgig
restaurantjobs.com
CareerBuilder
Clock'd
iHireChefs

Inspiring Students

Middle & High School

We know all the great career opportunities the restaurant industry offers, but the next generation may not. These programs promote the foodservice industry to young people as a career option.
Learn More
Teen Working in Catering

Workplace Culture

The best hiring resource is word of mouth from others that have worked for you. Over and over again we have heard that this is how hospitality operators find the very best team members. And to build that positive hiring brand, developing a positive workplace culture is crucial. The workforce market is full of opportunities these days. What reason are you giving to your team members to stay? Focusing on your employee engagement will lead to positive customer experiences and the reduction of costly turnover. Enjoy some of the tips here that will help ensure you have a happy, productive team in place.
Pizza Server in Mask
“The power of employee engagement: Redefining the restaurant experience”
​
This detailed report provides a lot of information on how restaurants can gain a competitive edge if they invest in their employee engagement.

Source: The Deloitte Center for Industry Insights
Read the Deloitte Report
​“What Do Frontline Employees Want From Restaurants?”
COVID-19 has only complicated the challenges.  But there are ways to fix them.

Source: QSR Magazine
Read Article
​“50 Rewards and Recognition Ideas to Boost Employee Recognition”
Check out this article for some creative ways to recognize your staff. Studies show that the positive effects of recognition and awards are many. And it’s becoming an integral part of the company culture of various organizations.

Source: Vantage Circle Blog
Read Article
Team Meeting

Great Leadership

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association conducted a survey during the Summer of 2021 to understand how employees within the restaurant and hospitality industry right here in Wisconsin feel about their jobs, what they value in an employer and what motivates them. We’ve created an infographic of those key findings.
Get Infographic
File Size: 173 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Managing a Multi-Generational Team

Your team can easily span four or more decades. Whether it’s a teenager looking for their first job, someone retired looking to have fun or someone else looking to make a career out of it—our industry’s multi-generational workforce is what adds to the dynamic feeling of hospitality. But are you leading your team in a way that acknowledges the unique differences of each generation? To create a high-performing, happy workplace it’s critical to understand the unique differences of each team member. Being younger or older doesn’t mean someone is better or worse. It just means they have different experiences, have learned how to “learn” differently and can contribute in different ways. The resources below provide some insight on how to successfully lead a multi-generational team.
Teen Workers
​Managing your Multigenerational Restaurant Food Service Staff
As new generations enter the workforce, it’s important to build relationships that capitalize on diverse skills…
Read More
Courtesy of Gordon Food Service
Gordon Food Service logo
Generation Z:   Manager Survival Guide
Presented by Steve Bench of Generational Consulting 

​The best hour that you can spend is watching this video of Steve Bench!  So many take-aways from this talk will make a difference in how you understand and work with your Gen Z employees.

Tips for Managing Across Generations
By Chrissy Carroll, MPH, RD. Reprinted with permission from 
Nutrition & Foodservice Edge, published by the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals, Jan/Feb 2020
Read More
​Your Guide to Generations in the Workplace
The key to building a team that works well together is understanding their values and what drives them.
Generations Chart
generation_differences_chart.pdf
File Size: 41 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Other Useful Tools

WRA and National Restaurant Association have developed some useful tools for restaurant operators

Interview Guidelines (PDF)
Position Descriptions
Restaurant Industry Background and Stats
Get a little context with this background information and these industry stats.

Background on Restaurant Industry Careers 
Restaurant Industry Stats
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2801 Fish Hatchery Rd  |  Madison, WI 53713
Tel: 608.270.9950 | Toll: 800.589.3211 | askwra@wirestaurant.org | sitemap | terms | privacy
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  • Membership
    • Member Login
    • Membership Savings >
      • Employee Retention Credit
      • Manufacturer Rebate Program
      • Marketing Tools
      • Property & Casualty
      • Workers Compensation
      • Credit Card & Payroll Processing
      • Health Solutions
      • Music Licensing
      • Office Supplies
      • Email Marketing
      • Shipping
      • Technology
      • Other Products & Services
    • Restaurants
    • Suppliers >
      • Members Only Login
      • Supplier Member Benefits
      • Interested in Joining
      • Live Events
      • Sponsorships
      • Advertise
      • Donate
      • Get Involved
    • Students
    • Join
  • Resources
    • Members Only
    • Humans Of Hospitality >
      • Humans of Hospitality - Share Your Story
    • Solutions on Staffing
    • Industry Insights
    • Tax Credits
    • COVID-19 >
      • Coronavirus: Resources for Restaurants
      • Exposed Employees Guidance
      • Restaurant Revitalization Fund
    • News & Alerts
    • Business Support >
      • Ask WRA
      • Supplier's Directory
      • National Restaurant Association
      • Laws & Regulations
      • Publications
      • Materials to Purchase
      • Popular Topics
    • For Diners >
      • Dining Guide
      • Gift Certificates
  • Advocacy
    • MKE Kitchen Cabinet
    • Donate
  • Events & Training
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Fresh EX
      • ProStart Golf Classic
      • Southern Shootout
      • Auction for Education
    • Webinars
    • Food Protection Manager Certification
    • High School Culinary
  • ServSafe
    • ServSuccess
  • Foundation
    • ProStart
    • Scholarships
    • Get Involved >
      • Volunteer
    • Endowment Fund
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    • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team >
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