Welcome and training are, by definition, the first signs of attention you give to new employees joining your team. It's the starting point for a professional relationship which, to be successful, must be satisfactory for both parties. So how important is it to train your staff properly? What are the best practices to adopt? Find the answers in this article.
Why train your staff properly?
Here's why it's so important to welcome and train your new recruits:
- Ensuring service quality: well-trained staff know and respect service standards, which improves the customer experience.
- Improve team cohesion: a warm welcome and good training help new team members to integrate quickly, fostering a harmonious working environment.
- Increase employee satisfaction: Well-trained employees feel more competent and valued, which improves their well-being and motivation.
- Enhance your establishment's reputation : training raises staff awareness of hygiene and food safety standards, which promotes a positive image.
👉 Find out more: 5 tips for managing your restaurant team
7 best practices for training new restaurant recruits
By following these 7 best practices, you can not only successfully integrate your new team members, but also create a working environment that fosters the satisfaction, motivation and loyalty of all your staff:
1. Welcoming new employees
When restaurant professionals are asked about hospitality, the majority stress the importance of "welcoming well" their customers. However, it is just as crucial to properly welcome new staff, be they waiters, cooks or any other member of the team.
In fact, a warm and well-organized welcome is essential to help your new employees integrate, succeed and stay with your company.
👉 To find out more: How can you reduce turnover in your restaurant?
2. Pass on the welcome booklet for new arrivals
Right from the start, it's important to give new employees a solid grounding in how your restaurant operates. The welcome booklet, ideally sent out before the first day, enables new team members to get to grips with the restaurant's values, standards and overall operation right from the start.
A complete, well-structured welcome booklet must cover several essential points:
- Presentation of the restaurant's history: An overview of the establishment's genesis and development to provide historical and cultural context.
- Corporate culture and values: The fundamental principles and mission that guide the restaurant.
- Team organization chart: An organization chart to show the hierarchy and different roles within the team.
- Attire : Dress requirements to ensure a professional and consistent appearance.
- Tasks to be performed for each position (and corresponding schedule): Specific responsibilities and schedules for each role.
- Menu highlights (and recipes): The restaurant's signature dishes and their recipes, to familiarize new employees with what's on offer to customers.
- Equipment available : A list of the equipment available and how to use it.
- Behavior and type of communication with customers: Expectations in terms of interaction with customers to guarantee quality service.
- Hygiene and safety protocol: Standards to follow to ensure food safety and cleanliness.
- Waste management: Waste management practices to keep the environment clean and green.
Remember to update this welcome booklet regularly to keep up to date with developments and changes within the establishment.
3. Set up an onboarding system
Onboarding is an essential step. It consists of planning the arrival of the new employee, introducing him or her to the team and giving him or her a complete tour of the store. Good onboarding helps new recruits feel welcome and at ease in their new working environment. This period should also include initial training sessions to familiarize the new employee with the tools used in the restaurant.
For example, it's during this phase that you demonstrate the use of utensils in the kitchen, or the use of the touch-sensitive cash register at the counter.
4. Make your first observations
At the end of the first few days of training or the trial period, it's crucial to give constructive feedback and evaluate your new employee's performance, whether in the dining room or in the kitchen. This should be done in a sympathetic way, highlighting strengths and suggesting areas for improvement. It's also important to offer advice on how to improve and feel comfortable in the job.
This analysis should be detailed, covering technical skills, attitude and team integration. Strengths should be highlighted, and areas for improvement addressed with practical advice.
5. Focus on continuous training
In the long term, it's important to encourage your employees who would like to take further training to improve their skills within your restaurant. Inform your employees about the various existing schemes to which they are entitled: skills assessment, validation of acquired experience (VAE), certifying and qualifying training courses, etc.
👉 To find out more: How can you reduce absenteeism in your restaurant?
6. Retain new employees
If things are going well with your new employee, encourage them to continue working in your restaurant. It's important to show your new recruits that they're important to you, and to invite them to continue growing with you. This includes offering ongoing training and professional development opportunities to keep them motivated and loyal over the long term.
7. Equipping your restaurant with the right tools
Did you know? By equipping your restaurant with cash registers and production screens, you can considerably boost the operational level and well-being of your new team members.
Here's how!
With a touch-sensitive cash register, your waiters can quickly enter orders, which are then transmitted directly to the kitchen, reducing communication errors and stress. In the event of errors (quite frequent at first!), the cash register makes it easy to modify the orders just sent in.
Orders entered on the cash register are immediately displayed on the kitchen production screens. This means that each kitchen team member can see the orders clearly, reducing transmission and preparation errors and the risk of disorganization.
By following these 7 practical tips, you can ensure that your new employees feel supported and ready to give their best, thus contributing to the overall success of your establishment!
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