Happy Holiday Sales Predicted for Restaurants

The holiday season is upon us, and it would appear that restaurant sales for the new few months are looking up. Sales in November were up and according to a recent survey, consumers’ restaurant spending plans over then next 90 days jumped by about 7%. This is the largest increase in expectation to spend in over a year, according to an article published by Nation’s Restaurant News.

Restaurants are expected to see the highest increase among consumer sectors, with a projected growth of around 4 percent. Analysts are optimistic that the growth trends will carry over into the first quarter of 2012.

More than Minimum Wage

Recent findings indicate that it takes more than money to retain restaurant employees. QSR magazine writer, Jordan Melnick, recently published an article on employee retention in the restaurant industry. While the restaurant industry may be of the largest employers in the country, it also has a reputation for high employee turnover.

Melnick cites successful restaurant owners as saying that the key to employee retention goes beyond money and benefits. Employees want to know that advancement is an option, and they want to be able to see a clearly defined path on how to get to the top. Restaurants that invest money in employee retention and advancement will end up with an increasingly loyal workforce.

Sometimes it is easy to forget that the employee who applied for the dishwashing job, does not necessarily want to wash dishes for the rest of their life. As an employer, anything you can do to encourage employees to move up within your business will benefit both of you in the long run.