Much like the retail industry, the restaurant industry is notorious for high employee turnover. The cost of regularly training new employees on a monthly basis can add up overtime. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS), the overall turnover rate in the restaurant industry was 66.3 percent in 2014, and this numbers continues to rise as the years’ progress. While these statistics aren’t as startling as the over 80% turnover rate of the 2007 economic downturn (JOLTS), the facts are, that having high turnover rates can be damaging to a restaurant’s bottom line. There are many factors that plays into the high turnover rates that restaurants industry faces, and while some are based on economic …show more content…
It is in our human nature that we grow accustomed to what we have. For example, if someone was to buy a brand new car with all the “bells and whistles”, over time it will eventually seem “normal” and the need for a new car will eventually come to mind, even though there is nothing wrong with that car. Higher wages are the same way and will eventually have the same effect for the need of more. Employees understand market conditions such as financial obligations and increased competition. Employees also understand when their employer can’t pay top salaries. What those employees don’t understand is when they don’t feel fairly compensated compared to other employees in similar positions whether it is from the inside and outside of the restaurant. Once they feel that the pay is reasonable and fair, other things become important and begin to line up such as recognition, respect, challenging work, opportunities for advancement and the feeling that their job is more than just a job (Haley-Lock, 2012). The happiest and most engaged employees feel they work for something more than just money. It is the responsibility of the restaurant managers and owners to provide a sense of belonging and meaning for their employees. Without meaning, employees are stuck simply working for a paycheck. Higher pay is great but the effects are respect, recognition, and a sense of purpose last