Employee engagement is a proven way to reduce labor and the overall cost of labor in the workplace. This is especially the case within the restaurant industry, as there are so many moving parts of the food and beverage ecosystem. 

In this blog, we’re going to begin by defining employee engagement and its importance. Then, we’ll discuss several examples and how to improve employee engagement within your company. If you’re a business owner, these tips will help you streamline operations and maximize revenue at your restaurant. Now, let’s begin

Employee Engagement Definition 

Employee engagement refers to the excitement and participation that takes place within a workplace. It’s one of the top goals of workforce management, too. It defines the nature of the business as a whole, since it directly correlates to the way people feel, react, and respond at work.

Why Is Employee Engagement Important

Employee engagement is extremely important, as it ensures a positive work environment. When team members find their work engaging, they’re more likely to produce results. Have an understaffed business? That’s not a problem when the team members you do have are enthusiastic. In turn, it takes dramatic circumstances to feel the effects of work overload. 

In the service industry, there are many specific reasons why it’s vital for workers to find their profession engaging. Customer satisfaction relies so heavily on a great team, that it's hard to achieve it if staff engagement is nonexistent.

Employee Engagement Examples 

Okay, now you know why staff engagement is so important. But what if you can’t envision how this best practice plays out in the workplace? No problem–here are several prime examples:

1. Clear Communication

Open lines of communication can dramatically make the workplace more positive. Staff members can consistently stay on the same page, which eliminates confusion and mistakes. Plus, it makes the relationships much more comfortable between employees and managers. This is a foolproof way to dodge future issues.

2. Recognition and Rewards

There’s nothing worse than when supervisors only acknowledge errors and ignore major wins. Take this idea into account, and ensure that you celebrate each win and milestone in the workplace. Whether it’s a monetary bonus or verbal recognition, such behavior can result in loyalty. In turn, this can slow down employee turnover rates.

3. Staff Development

Finding ways for your employees to hone their skills is vital. If they’re unable to successfully do their job, they might become uninterested in it altogether. Plus, staff development will let the business evolve. For instance, hospitality software companies are constantly coming out with new labor solutions. By providing your team with professional development resources, they’ll be fully-equipped to use the brand’s tools to their fullest capacity.

4. Work-Life Balance 

Promoting a work-life balance is essential for long-term productivity at work. If a job spills over too much into an employee’s personal life, numerous issues can occur. First, it can cause burnout, which leads to inefficiency. Or, it can cause the employee to resent their job. Sadly, this is one of the first signals before experiencing turnover. 

5. Leverage Feedback

It's ideal to take feedback from employees and managers into consideration. It's inevitable for the organization to find new ways to navigate the workplace. Employees also discover areas of improvement quite often. The point is that many ideas may have the potential to have a positive impact. This applies to the financial health of the company just as much as the emotional experience for the staff. 

How to Improve Employee Engagement In Restaurants 

Chances are, you can already see how employee engagement can enhance your business. So, here are our top three tips that should be quite valuable. In fact, these are especially helpful for business owners across the hospitality industry.

1. Invest In Labor Saving Devices 

Digital solutions can significantly reduce the labor cost and manual labor necessary for a business to run smoothly. For example, restaurant tech companies can offer resources like an all-inclusive POS system or tablets run by cloud technology. Such tools allow employees to tackle more with less time or resources. In turn, they can be more in tune with their tasks.

2. Onboard Staff Optimization Strategies 

Supply your team with training manuals, professional development resources, and other tools to optimize their roles. Doing so will allow them to make the most of their time. In the long-run, this practice will generate greater results. Whether you want to maximize cart values or boost table turnover rates, there are techniques that can assist any facet of a business.

3. Cross-Train Each Unit of Employees

If there’s one thing you won’t regret pursuing, it’s cross-training your staff. You’ll certainly be thankful for doing so if you ever encounter a labor shortage. It allows each team member to be more productive alongside their coworkers. Not only will they understand the purpose and technicalities of other roles, but they’ll be able to assist one another.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the key to professional success. It’s the root of straightforward operations for the employer. Meanwhile, it’s the foundation for a happy workplace amongst the staff. With this said, there’s quite a few technical details about it. Read on to learn all about them.

What Is the Meaning of Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement refers to the participation of staff members in the workplace. Their enthusiasm and presence are huge factors when considering this concept. This is also a metric that will help dictate the performance of the workplace. It’s mostly due to its impact on the culture.

What Are the Five C’s of Employee Engagement?

The five C’s of employee engagement are:

1. Care 
2. Context
3. Clarity 
4. Clear the way
5. Celebrate 

What Are the Four Pillars of Employee Engagement?

The four pillars of employee engagement are:

1. Well-being: the health and wellness of each employee, in and out of the office. 
2. Company culture: the atmosphere that exists among employees.
3. Training and development: the opportunity to fully learn software and processes.
4. Recognition: the act of celebrating company wins and milestones.

What Are the Six Elements of Employee Engagement?

The six elements of employee engagement are: 

1. Authenticity, or the act of being genuine amongst coworkers and customers. 
2. Engagement, or the frequency in which employees participate in activities. 
3. Optimism, or the positive attitude in the workplace. 
4. Purpose and meaning, or the role of each employee. 
5. Social connection, or the company’s impact on society. 
6. Belonging, or the sense of belonging employees have with the brand. 

What Are the Three Types of Employee Engagement?

The three types  of employee engagement are:

1. Cognitive engagement, which is when employees are fully aware of the company's mission, goals, and values. This type also refers to employees who are in alignment with these elements of the organization. 
2. Emotional engagement, which is the emotional tie that employees have with their company, duties, and team. This type refers to the mental attachment that exists amongst the employees. In turn, this also determines how much of their personal life someone will bring to the workplace. 
3. Physical engagement, which refers to the physical activity that exists for a particular role. This type refers to how strenuous a job might be. Or, how much energy an employee needs to invest to get the job done.

Key Takeaways

Initiating employee engagement is the first step toward a stress-free work environment. Once the team is able to successfully manage each shift and complete their tasks with efficiency, they’ll begin producing greater results. Plus, it’ll reduce the risk of errors. Smooth operations are a must for lucrative business models. So, what are you waiting for? Utilize this blog as a guide and begin today!