Hit the Ground Running with preparing your team for a successful reopening.
As parts of the country are beginning their reopening plans, restaurants are cautiously implementing new health and safety protocols to new staffing challenges. Running a restaurant in the post-COVID-19 era will be a challenge to face, here are some tips to help navigate through this time:
How to Manage Health & Safety
- Reviewing and revising your COVID-19 safety plan regularly for dine-in and takeout options
- Communicating to your coworkers the changes
- Compare your plans to the guidelines outlined by your Province, local public health unit and Ministry of Labour
- Follow-up with products that disinfect rather than simply sanitize
- Consider how to best communicate health and safety protocols with your customers to enhance their comfort and peace of mind
Strategies for Staffing
- Labour shortage is likely as restaurants begin to reopen
- Strive to keep in touch with former employees in hopes to rehire
- Maintaining communication with staff
- Begin retraining as soon as possible to keep staff connected to your business for new and returning staff
- Integrate formal training protocols regularly at pre-shift meetings
- Be attentive to your team’s mental health
- Creating open communication channels is key
Optimizing Operations
- Optimize the efficiency and safety of the patio set-ups
- Adjust so the restaurant movement flow is in a single direction, if possible
- Add signs to delineate these directions to maintain physical distancing
- Implement the right technology to enhance staff and guest safety
- Bringing back favourite menu items can foster a sense of welcome and familiarity
