How Better Work-Life Balance Can Lead to Employee Retention

As work-life balance becomes a higher priority for employees, high-stress jobs are beginning to lose their luster, and the restaurant industry is no exception. From the fall of 2021 to the fall of 2022, restaurant owners faced an increase in employee turnover, with stress being the top reason cited. In addition to a less stressful environment, employees are looking for increased benefits. And here to help is tech. Keep reading for ways tech can help you work toward employee retention.

Reduce Employee Stress

One source of employee stress is kitchen chaos. The kitchen is the heart of every restaurant, and an efficient kitchen can reduce employee stress levels by up to 50%. A kitchen display system (KDS) like QSR Automations’ ConnectSmart® Kitchen helps provide this efficiency with solutions that improve workflow, communication, order accuracy and more. When kitchens operate with a dedicated order of operations, pain points are reduced and a calmer, less stressful environment emerges. The back of the house isn’t the only source of employee stress, though. Front of house staff also have their set of stressors. Tech like QSR Automations’ ConnectSmart® Host works to relieve some of that stress by streamlining reservations, waitlists, serving staff and more. From booking their reservation online to receiving up-to-the-minute order updates through KDS integration, guests are provided an improved dining experience, all without putting any extra stress on employees.

Expand Employee Benefits

Traditional health insurance is an excellent start, but restaurant owners can go even further to make their employees feel valued. Offering wellness programs like gym memberships, smoking cessation and life coaching can improve employee health and boost productivity. Benefits like transportation stipends can significantly improve employee morale as it not only saves employees money, but can decrease the stress of getting to and from work.

Commitment to Employee Wellbeing

Restaurant owners are already facing rising costs, making them hesitant to pass the increased costs of expanded employee benefits on to customers, but implementing tech can help offset that cost. KDS users have seen a 66% increase in operational efficiency, a 63% increase in service speed and a 44% increase in waste reduction. These cost savings can be rolled into increased employee benefits, leading to increased employee retention. The restaurant industry will always be a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, but that doesn’t mean employee turnover has to remain high. By implementing tech solutions like QSR Automations’ ConnectSmart Suite® as well as investing in employee benefits, restaurant owners can work toward employee retention. Subscribe to the blog for more interesting restaurant content!

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About the Author

Caitlin Soard is a Content Marketing Strategist with over seven years of marketing experience under her belt. She joined the QSR Automations marketing team in June of 2022 and has been hard at work improving their social media and content ever since. She attended Franklin College where she received a Bachelor of Arts, focusing in Journalism and Public Relations as well as minoring in English. When she’s not lending her social media wizardry to QSR Automations, you can find her playing Dungeons & Dragons or TCGs at her local card shop, enjoying live local music, or spending time with her cat and two dogs, Ellie, Laney, and Orryn.