The post-pandemic restaurant employee: Who wants to work and why August 2021 - Black Box ...
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The post-pandemic restaurant employee: Who wants to work and why August 2021
The restaurant industry has been on an unpredictable ride
over the past year and a half—and we’ve been adjusting
to every high and low in real-time.
We’re now facing the biggest Some experts point to enhanced
challenge to date—a labor shortage unemployment benefits as a
and retention crisis. deterrent for employees returning
to work (although recent evidence
To put it simply, it’s a job candidate’s shows that cutting those benefits
market and many are rethinking doesn’t significantly reduce
when, how and where they work. the labor shortage). A recent
study conducted by Black Box
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Intelligence™ revealed that 71% of
(BLS) reported that job openings operators believe higher pay through
had increased to a series high unemployment or even higher pay in
of 10.1 million by July with the another industry is the main driver
accommodations and food services behind the industry’s labor shortage.
sector accounting for a large portion
of the increases. According to
Black Box Workforce Intelligence™,
There are approximately
the current staffing challenges have
full service restaurants operating 70% more job vacancies
with 6.2 less employees in the back than pre-pandemic levels
of the house and 2.8 employees less across all industries
in the front of the house than they and 10% fewer people
did in 2019.
looking for work—that’s
the greatest gap in
recorded history.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 2
Adding to the issue, turnover rates have spiked
and voluntary quits are at an all-time high—
leaving restaurants scrambling to retain the staff they have.
Hourly turnover
in restaurants is high—
surpassing
pre-pandemic levels
Limited Service Full-Service
2019 June 2021 2019 June 2021
135% 144% 102% 106%
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 3
There are 4 driving factors contributing
to the restaurant staffing shortage.
1 Wages and benefits.
For the first time in decades,
the American hourly worker has
the upper hand in compensation
conversations. In response,
restaurants are offering higher Opportunities in
wages and unique incentives 3
to attract employees. Black Box
other industries.
Workforce Intelligence data reported When restaurants closed early
that in Q2 2021, limited-service in the pandemic, 51% of workers
hourly wage increased by 10% cited higher pay or the need for
year over year, the highest increase consistent schedules and income
the industry has seen in years. as their top reasons for
switching industries.
2 Childcare. Concerns about mental
4
In the second half of April a US and physical health.
census survey found that nearly The nature of restaurants
1 million households had at least creates an environment ripe for
one adult who could not look physical transmission of illness
and emotionally taxing social
for work because they needed
interactions—on top of already
to look after their children.
Restaurant workers with children challenging work. In May 78%
often rely on affordable childcare of workers said their mental
options like daycares, which are health had been negatively
limited due to the pandemic. impacted in the past 12 months.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 4
To further understand these labor shortage
factors, we surveyed 4,700 former,
current and hopeful restaurant workers.
Here’s who’s working
in restaurants.
69% 47% 14% 27% 13% 22% 3% 4% 1% 1%
16-24 25-34 35-54 55-64 65+
By age Limited-Service Full-Service
Restaurants Restaurants
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 5
Current or recent position:
27% 22% 11% 9%
Cashier Cook/ Waiter/ Manager
Kitchen staff waitress
Time working in restaurants:
26% 19% 19% 14% 21%Here’s who is looking
to work in restaurants:
17% 39%
first-time employed
job seekers but looking
for a new job
Here’s where they’re
searching for jobs:
36% Online job search
Restaurants located
33%
close to their home
Restaurants they
16%
enjoy dining at
9% Places their friends work
6% Social media
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 7Wages and Benefits
One of the primary sticking points for restaurant
workers is wages and benefits, including benefits.
5 most important Incentives that are most
things restaurant workers attractive to workers applying
look for in a new job for restaurant jobs right now
Starting Cash bonus
1 hourly wage
1 if hired
Promotion Cash bonus
2 opportunities
2 for interviewing
Flexible Retention bonus
3 schedules
3 (if they’re still with the company
after a certain period of time)
Health benefits and Free meal at
4 paid time off policies
4 the interview
Company culture/
5 work environment
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 887% of respondents
would rather have a set
livable wage than tips
Wages and Benefits
Actions you can take:
1 2
Ensure you advertise any of the If you’re offering hiring incentives,
benefits or perks your business make them clear to applicants.
offers in the job posting.
Whether it’s financial, cultural
or even free food—workers
appreciate the recognition.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 9Childcare
According to the McDonald’s The COVID-19 has created even
EVP and Chief Global Impact Officer, bigger childcare shortages and
problems for hourly workers. With
“This is the most schools and daycares closed or
difficult hiring operating at limited capacity, many
workers have been forced to take
environment in their matters into their own hands.
66 year history, and
According to Snagajob data,
the lack of care is
the top reason our 35%
employees are citing.” of current hourly
McDonald’s already offered paid
workers and job
parental leave, and recently seekers are parents
reported adding emergency
child care and other benefits to
attract more workers.
18%
of unemployed hourly
workers had to leave
their job to take care
of family or children
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 10One third of all U.S. In 2020 alone, women
employees have left a globally lost more than
job during their career 64 million jobs,
in order to manage which equals 5% of the total
caregiving responsibilities. jobs held by women. A majority
left the workforce to stay home
and provide child care.
Childcare
Actions you can take:
1 2
Highlight any flexibility that Talk to your staff, find ways
you offer that would be to support them if they are
helpful to working parents struggling to juggle childcare
in your job description. responsibilities and work.
It may be as simple as
adjusting their hours.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 11Opportunities
in other industries
Many hourly restaurant workers have not left the
workforce, just the industry, in the past 18 months.
Voluntary turnover is higher than ever.
Top 5 reasons workers have left the industry:
28% 16%
Higher pay in other industries Work hours
(late nights, weekends, holidays)
23%
Needed consistent 15%
schedule/income Work environment/
company culture
17%
Lack of professional
development & promotion
Of surveyed employed hourly
opportunities workers, 15% have changed
industries in the last year and
another 33% want to.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 12When restaurants closed early in the pandemic, many
workers turned to other thriving sectors, those with a high
demand for labor created by shifting consumer behaviors.
According to Snagajob data:
Warehouse and logistics On demand
jobs are up 278% jobs are up 183%
compared to compared to
pre-pandemic norms pre-pandemic norms
Opportunities in other industries
Actions you can take:
1 2
Focus on retention. Talk to your staff before it’s too
Build a culture that workers want late. If there are things being
to be part of and meet their offered by other employers that
needs so that they will stay. have them looking, maybe you
can offer that to your team too.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 13Concerns about mental
and physical health
It’s no secret that restaurant workers Restaurant workers
juggle a lot of responsibilities in their
put up with a lot.
day-to-day work; adding the stress
of personal responsibilities and
working through a pandemic has only 62%
compounded the issue. Many hourly emotional abuse/
workers are picking up extra hours or disrespect from customers
responsibilities and it’s taking a toll
on their mental health.
49%
66% of workers emotional abuse
from managers
would return to
the restaurant 15%
industry if the right sexual harassment
from customers
conditions were met
15%
sexual harassment from
managers/co-workers
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 14The nature of the restaurant environment makes it easy to transmit illness.
Despite many governments and businesses implementing mask and vaccine
mandates, the reality is that diners can’t wear masks while they eat,
and many workers simply don’t feel safe coming to work.
65% 83%
of hourly workers want plan to wear a mask while
businesses to keep mask working to keep themselves
mandates for customers safe regardless of business/
state requirements.
Mental and physical health
Actions you can take:
1 2
If you are asking workers Create an open dialogue
to enforce mask or vaccine between staff and managers to
mandates, provide support get ahead of any potential issues
and ensure they are comfortable that could hurt retention.
with taking on this, sometimes
uncomfortable, responsibility
at work.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 15Conclusion
The restaurant industry isn’t for everyone,
but that’s ok! 17% of restaurant workers chose
the industry because it was a career choice;
they want to be in the industry long-term.
Recently, restaurants have been
hit with higher than usual turnover
and this is a moment for restaurant
owners and managers to take a look
at how they do things and what
their staff is up against. By creating
a positive work environment and
meeting workers’ needs, restaurants
can reduce turnover and hire top
talent in the tightest labor market
we’ve ever seen.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 16About us
Black Box Snagajob
Intelligence Snagajob, the country’s largest
marketplace for hourly jobs and
Black Box Intelligence™ is
shifts, connects more than 47
the leading data and insights
million hourly job seekers with
provider of workforce, guest,
employment opportunities at
consumer and financial
470,000 employer locations
performance benchmarks
in the US. Snagajob’s mission
for the restaurant industry.
is to put people in the right-
With the recent acquisition
fit positions so they can
of MillerPulse, Black Box
maximize their potential
Intelligence is home to the
and live more fulfilling lives.
largest and most reliable
Through Snagajob, workers
set of real restaurant data
gain the flexibility of working
in the marketplace. Black
when and where they choose
Box Intelligence is also the
while employers are assured
producer of The Best Practices
every shift stays filled. For
Conference held annually in
more information, visit www.
Dallas, Texas.
snagajob.com or connect with
us on LinkedIn, Instagram,
Facebook and Twitter.
Black Box Intelligence + Snagajob: The post-pandemic restaurant employee 2021 17You can also read
