While we are not quite in the holiday season just yet, it will be here before we know it, and operators who want to stay staffed and ready need to be proactive. Hiring early, training thoroughly, and mastering efficient scheduling can help you create a strategy for staffing success through the holidays.

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Hire for what you need

Does your restaurant typically fill up through the holidays? Are you overwhelmed with takeout orders? Will you be filling catering or corporate orders? Are you in need of bartenders? Start by assessing your needs and getting ahead of the competition with a strategic approach. Look for staff that possess the skillset you need to deliver for your customers without starting from scratch.

Provide detailed descriptions of your job openings with specific qualifications so you can be confident that candidates can be ready to hit the ground running. As well, if there is seasonal staff that you want to call back, give them as much notice as possible. This is a great strategy because it saves training time and allows you to welcome back experienced team members.

Onboard thoroughly

Hire and train your seasonal staff like they plan to stay all year. This means giving them full training, before they actually start so they are ready to go once your busy season is in full swing. You want your team to represent you in the best way possible and provide the best customer experience, so cutting corners on training is not the way to go. As well, you might find seasonal staff members that you want to keep and make permanent, so get them started on the right foot with an organized and thorough onboarding process.

Schedule like a pro

Once you have your team in place, set up your holiday schedule as soon as you can. This will allow you to plan ahead, taking into account any days or shifts where there may be gaps with your regular staff taking vacation or travelling. As well, this gives your teams a little flexibility to make holiday plans themselves, switch shifts, and manage work-life balance.

Hiring seasonal staff can be stressful as you work to manage increased traffic, inventory, scheduling, and more, but by being proactive you will set yourself up for a successful holiday season.