Invest In Your Employees For Better Results

Dani Wellbrock, Human Resources Director at Ikes Love & Sandwiches

It is no secret that the QSR industry has a high turnover rate. It has been a focal point between the human resources and operation teams to address the core of why employees have turned over so quickly. As a joint effort, we have invested a lot of time into training programs, as well as in enhancing our company culture through employee recognition programs and opportunities for advancement. A major focus for us has been investment in our general managers. Providing them with extensive training and continued education we have found that it not only helps retain them as employees but has empowered them to make smart hiring decisions as well as be strategic about anticipated changes in demand for employees such as employees returning to school or seasonal employees. Our in-house recruiter is available to each general manager as a resource for hiring assistance and screening. It is a team effort between the HR and operations departments to ensure we are adequately staffed at all times. In making these changes, we have seen a steady decline in our projected turnover rate for 2023.

With our employees, any grievances are handled swiftly. We make our best efforts to collect all sides of any given situation as quickly as we can, as well as remain in constant communication with the involved parties and our operations team. It is important that these employees know that we are hearing their concerns and handling them with integrity. We have shifted our organization into a culture of coaching policy violations rather than the traditional write-up format. The idea is that we want our employees to have the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes if, of course, the violation is not egregious and would cause harm to any other employee or customer. We maintain a progressive approach and do our best to offer resources and suggestions on how to correct any policy violations. The point is to empower the employee to make better decisions.

"We maintain a progressive approach and do our best to offer resources and suggestions on how to correct any policy violations."

Our organization recognizes the importance of time off for employees at all levels, and we have enriched our paid time off benefits company-wide. We make sure that employees are set up for success when they decide to take time off by creating what I like to call ‘failover plans’ so any employee is covered during their time away. This structure gives our employees the ability to disconnect from their duties and know that when they return, their respective departments will be under control.

Prior to working at Ike's, I spent time in multiple industries, including fitness, automotive, beauty, and construction. The biggest takeaway from past experiences is to invest in your employees at every level. They are the lifeblood of any organization, and you, as a leader, cannot function without them. I also think that the leadership and communication style of your corporate team is imperative to the success of the organization. Everything trickles down from the top, so if you are having issues with your team as a leader, the first thing you should do is reflect upon what you could do better to communicate with your team, how you could have better trained your team, and how you can be better for them and not just for yourself. Communication and transparency create trust and loyalty to any brand.

My advice is to invest in your own self-care. If you cannot take care of yourself on a mental, physical, and emotional level, how do you take care of the needs of others? As much as we can try to compartmentalize our personal from our professional lives, inevitably, they seep into one another. When you can find balance in your life, you have the ability to better serve others because, in my eyes, that is what being a leader is all