How to Attract Restaurant Employees: Practical Guide

How to Attract Restaurant Employees

Sometimes, learning how to attract restaurant employees begins with something as simple as inviting them to brunch.

My son, a high school junior who buses tables at a restaurant, recently attended a complimentary brunch the restaurant hosted for its employees. Every staff member was invited to bring a guest.

I thought that was a wonderful idea.

The restaurant was showing appreciation for its employees while giving them an opportunity to share their workplace with someone important to them.

It also reminded me of something I've observed over more than 20 years of recruiting for independent restaurants: how a business treats its existing employees can be one of its most valuable recruiting tools.

How to Attract Restaurant Employees Through Appreciation

Consider what happens when an employee brings a friend to a staff event.

That friend gets to experience the restaurant, meet the people who work there, and see the atmosphere firsthand. They might not be looking for a job, but they leave with an impression of the business that no job advertisement could provide.

Perhaps they'll consider applying someday. Maybe they'll mention the restaurant to someone else who's looking for work.

Of course, there's no guarantee a staff brunch will generate applicants, and that shouldn't be the reason to host one.

The restaurant did something thoughtful for its employees. Any recruiting benefit is secondary.

That's what makes the gesture meaningful.

Your Employees Are Part of Your Reputation

Restaurants spend considerable time thinking about how guests perceive their businesses. Employee experiences deserve just as much attention.

When people feel appreciated and enjoy their working environment, they're more likely to speak positively about it.

Potential applicants often hear about restaurants through friends, former coworkers, and people already working in the industry. A recommendation from someone who works there can carry more weight than a carefully written job advertisement.

But employees also share their frustrations.

Unpredictable schedules, poor communication, and managers who don't follow through on promises can shape a restaurant's reputation as an employer.

You can't manufacture positive word of mouth. You have to give employees genuine reasons to recommend the workplace.

Employee Appreciation Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

A complimentary staff brunch is one example, but appreciation doesn't always require a special event.

It might mean recognizing someone who handled a difficult service particularly well, celebrating an employee's milestone, or giving people enough notice about their schedules.

It can also mean listening when employees raise concerns and explaining decisions that affect their work.

An occasional celebration won't compensate for consistently poor management or unreasonable expectations. But when employees already feel supported, thoughtful gestures reinforce their connection to the restaurant.

And compared with the time and expense of continually recruiting and training replacements, investing in employee appreciation can be relatively inexpensive.

Make the Opportunity Worth Recommending

Employee appreciation can introduce prospective candidates to your restaurant. The position itself still needs to make sense.

Compensation, schedules, benefits, responsibilities, and commute times influence whether someone considers an opportunity.

A line cook may be interested in the pay but unable to work six evenings a week. A sous chef might accept a slightly lower salary for a predictable five-day schedule.

Before advertising an opening, make sure the role is clearly defined and everyone conducting interviews agrees on the expectations.

Give employees something worthwhile to recommend, and make sure applicants receive an accurate picture of the job.

Remember That Hiring Is Hospitality

The way candidates are treated during hiring also shapes a restaurant's reputation.

I've seen promising applicants lose interest because interviews were repeatedly delayed or communication stopped without explanation.

Keep applications straightforward, respond promptly, and make sure someone is responsible for coordinating interviews and follow-up.

These simple practices demonstrate the same consideration for people's time that restaurants aim to show their guests.

Once someone accepts an offer, make sure their first days reflect what you promised.

For additional industry context, the National Restaurant Association's research on workforce hiring and staffing examines challenges facing restaurant employers.

Don't Overlook the Employees You Already Have

When a restaurant struggles to attract applicants, the instinct is often to advertise more aggressively.

Sometimes that's necessary. But it's also worth asking whether existing employees would recommend the restaurant to someone they know.

Would they describe the schedule as manageable? Do they feel respected by management? Would they feel comfortable inviting a friend to apply?

The answers can reveal opportunities to improve both recruiting and retention.

If your restaurant needs help defining positions, reaching qualified candidates, or organizing its hiring process, explore Mis en Place's restaurant recruiting services.

You can also share your hiring needs, and I'll personally review the information and follow up.

A Final Thought

I keep coming back to that staff brunch.

A restaurant invited its employees to enjoy a meal and bring someone along. It was a simple gesture, but one that made me think about how much goodwill can come from making people feel appreciated.

And consider the cost. A staff brunch is a relatively modest investment compared with the time, recruiting expenses, and operational disruption that can come with high employee turnover.

The restaurant may never know whether one of those guests becomes a future employee.

That's not really the point.

When restaurants take good care of the people who already work for them, they create something valuable: employees who have genuine reasons to stay and may be happy to recommend the workplace to others.

And that's a meaningful place to start when thinking about how to attract restaurant employees.