The Power of Restaurants 2024

Creating Dynamic Teams in the New Normal?

Pandemic-era courtesy is officially over and reasonable or not, consumers expect that restaurants have largely solved their supply chain, service and staffing challenges. Discussions around workforce – how we work, when we work and the overall expectations of the workplace have evolved – emerging from background noise to breaking news as a dramatic shift in employee/employer sentiment has become prevalent. And while data shows that restaurant employment numbers have recovered to pre-pandemic staffing levels, some operators suggest that we are far from pre-pandemic staffing quality.?

2024 brings operators and their employees together in a relationship reset.

According to Gallup polling, our managers have been hit especially hard. Managers are more likely than non-managers to be disengaged, burnt out and job hunting. They were also more likely to feel that their organization doesn't care about their wellbeing, and to say that they’re struggling with work-life balance. ?These same polls show that only ?23% of employees strongly agree that they trust in the leadership of their organizations. ??

These manager struggles are bad news for organizations because they trickle down to their teams. Managers serve as crucial connectors for team collaboration and effectiveness and account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement. ?But that is not the complete story. ?Nearly five in 10 U.S. employees work fully on-site in jobs that can’t be hybrid or remote–which include restaurants–and Gallup’s research indicates that how employees are managed has about four times as much influence on employee engagement and wellbeing as their work location.?

Restaurants have an opportunity in 2024 as the epicenter of “the human workplace” where at its best, have an innate understanding and acceptance of the kaleidoscope of diversity and circumstances of people’s lives.No other industry embraces agility and resilience like the restaurant industry and the future of work isn’t just about technological advances, but is also about creating a culture that values versatility, inclusivity, mental well-being and innovative thinking. Our employees and future workforce aren’t off the hook and at the same time, must take responsibility to develop skills that can’t be automated–creativity, complex problem solving and emotional intelligence are all critical parts of these skill sets.?

Today, successful operators have a unique opportunity to craft new norms, structures, and policies around team development, and are looking toward opportunities, conversations and coaching that could positively shape work for decades to come.Strong operators understand and see the long term value in employee well-being, organizational strength, ?productivity and retention of an engaged and well-skilled team.?

Industry disruptors, like the next wave of generative AI, are having profound effects on the nature of jobs, the skills needed to succeed, and who stands to benefit versus who will be left out.This will be a shining opportunity for our industry where connection is still valued in our “human workplace” and where restaurants remain a true “unicorn” by offering opportunity for all and where flexibility is at its core, not coincidentally, and remains the most desired quality by the newest generation of workforce.?

As a society, we need restaurants. ?Restaurants provide that safe haven and take care of each other, their guests and their communities. ?Neighborhood by neighborhood and one table at a time, restaurants recognize the power and potential of its people and those they serve. They are the center and the force for economic and social change. ??

The restaurant industry is synonymous with resilience and will continue to thrive as operators continue to invest in their businesses and their people with enthusiasm– positioning themselves, in a growth mindset, to remain profitable and sustainable no matter the circumstance. ? What distinguishes them is their ability to innovate, adapt and fight for what hopefully continues to be their great American dream.

Carrie Leishman

President & CEO

Delaware Restaurant & Delaware Restaurant Foundation

?