7 Restaurant HR Policies & Procedures to Improve Employee Satisfaction

Every year, we see the same challenges crop up for restaurant operators: hiring and retaining top talent. It’s a tough gig, and great restaurants need great teams. High turnover rates can disrupt operations, increase costs, and negatively impact customer service.

One way to address this issue is by implementing restaurant HR policies prioritizing employee satisfaction. 

From labor law compliance, employee benefits, and scheduling to health and safety, having well-defined guidelines can create a positive work environment and motivate your team. 

1. Workplace policies

Workplace policies outline your concrete plans for adhering to federal and state labor laws. Ensuring your team understands their rights and responsibilities helps you foster a positive culture that empowers your workforce and protects your business.

Labor law for restaurants

Federal and state labor laws cover wages, working hours, and employee rights. You must stay compliant to avoid legal issues and create a fair environment for your workers.

One law you should consider is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets the federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour. However, the rate can vary based on the state you’re operating in, with Massachusetts, New York, California, and D.C. having the highest minimum wage rates of up to $17.50.

Full violations of the FLSA can lead to fines of as much as $10,000 and potential prison time. A dedicated restaurant labor compliance software can help you avoid hefty fees and reputational damage through overtime alerts, custom break management, and tags for employees who are minors.

To create your restaurant’s labor law policies, review the FLSA and any applicable state-level regulations. You can also consult a lawyer to keep your police legally sound.

Anti-harassment and discrimination for employees

Another important policy to comply with is Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), which ensures all employees are treated equally regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Implementing a zero-tolerance policy shows that you are serious about maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all staff. Any form of harassment or discrimination should be dealt with immediately and firmly.

Employees should know how to report any issues and feel confident that their complaints will be handled swiftly and confidentially. This can include a designated HR manager or an anonymous reporting system. Regular training on these procedures helps ensure that all staff members know and understand them.

2. Hospitality employee benefits policies

Not having access to benefits is one of the main reasons for a high restaurant turnover rate. Offering healthcare and insurance benefits, establishing reasonable Paid Time Off policies, and recognizing employees' hard work can help reduce turnover and build a loyal, motivated team.

Healthcare and insurance for restaurant employees

J. Willard Marriott, the founder of the renowned hospitality chain Marriott Corporation, once said, “Take care of associates and they'll take care of your customers.” And what better way to do this than by providing your restaurant staff with comprehensive healthcare and insurance benefits?

Offering health, dental, and vision coverage shows your employees that you value their well-being and are invested in their long-term success. To make healthcare benefits more appealing, you can contribute a portion of the insurance premiums for better benefits.

Paid Time Off (PTO) policy

PTO is also an important factor to consider. From sick leaves, vacation days, and maternity and paternity leaves, you should have a clear employee time off policy so that your team knows how much time they can take off and how to request it.

For example, a policy might state that employees earn one day of PTO for every month worked. Having a generous PTO policy helps prevent burnout, which is particularly high (98/100) for restaurant employees.

Restaurant staff recognition and incentive programs

Lack of recognition is among the top three reasons why restaurant workers quit. Acknowledge and reward your team’s hard work through Employee of the Month and gift cards or bonus initiatives that can boost morale and encourage excellence.

When creating these programs, remember to stay consistent and fair. Recognition should be based on clear, measurable criteria so tha all employees understand how to achieve these rewards.

For example, you should outline specific metrics, like achieving a certain number of positive customer reviews, consistently meeting sales targets, . 56% sayor maintaining perfect attendance for a set period.

It's also essential to tailor the incentives to what your staff values most, whether it's additional paid time off, financial bonuses, or public recognition. We found that 67% of restaurant employees prefer paid bonuses as rewards. 

3. Employee scheduling and timekeeping practices

Flexible scheduling is the key to attracting and retaining restaurant employees, with 56% saying that it’s one of the primary contributors to job satisfaction. Allowing your team to have a say in their schedules can go a long way in keeping your workforce engaged.

Creating fair and balanced shift schedules is crucial for maintaining a happy and productive restaurant staff. Start by evaluating your restaurant’s peak hours and staffing needs.

Keep the busiest times well-covered without overworking anyone. Rotate shifts so that all employees can work desirable hours and days off. For example, if one employee works a Friday night shift, make sure they get a chance to have a Friday night off next week.

Restaurant scheduling software can make the process easier and more accurate. 7shifts automates schedule creation and changes and communication to prevent double-booking and ensure that all shifts are covered.

Case in point: Jason Elmassian, general manager of Hugo's Studio City, has highlighted how easy managing shift swaps has been through 7shifts.

A significant chunk of the Californian restaurant’s workforce is performers and artists who may need to request time off or swap shifts at the last minute. 7shifts' shift swapping and communication features have made it easy for the restaurant to accommodate these requests without disrupting operations.

"I just get a message, "Hey, I'm swapping shifts'. I hit accept or decline, and that's it. That's the end of it for me. It's wonderful. It's super nice. I cannot stress enough how much time I save not micromanaging people's schedules and their shifts," Elmassian says.

Additionally, clear timekeeping policies ensure that employees are paid accurately for their work hours. This could include guidelines around clocking in and out, break times, and overtime pay. Automating timekeeping with a digital system can also help eliminate errors and streamline payroll.

4. Health and safety regulations

Proper sanitation policies protect your customers and employees. In fact, 46.5% rated sanitation efforts as very important for their job satisfaction, garnering a score of 4.1 out of 5. As such, you should have clear protocols in place for tasks like handwashing, sanitizing surfaces, and proper food handling. 

Food safety and sanitation rules

Ensuring food safety starts with proper handling and preparation procedures. Train your employees on handling food safely, including washing hands frequently, using gloves, and avoiding cross-contamination.

One of the best things you can do is to establish a cleaning schedule that includes daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. With 7shifts, you can assign tasks quicker through task templates.

Pita Way, a Michigan-based fast Mediterranean food restaurant, leverages 7shifts task management feature for an average of 19 tasks that each of  its 10 locations has to deal with daily. The company has already checked off more than 36,000 tasks, helping its servers easily eep up with daily to-dos easily.

Workplace safety

Aside from food safety, you should also have protocols in place to protect your employees' physical well-being. Conduct regular safety training sessions to educate employees on how to avoid common hazards like slips, trips, and burns.

Moreover, require your employees to wear non-slip shoes to prevent falls, which account for 27% of kitchen injuries that result in time off.

Create a straightforward procedure for reporting and addressing safety concerns. For instance, train employees on how to spot safety hazards and report them immediately. Use a logbook to document safety issues and track their resolution.

Additionally, have an emergency plan in place for natural disasters, fires, or other unexpected events that could threaten your staff's well-being. 

5. Dress code and grooming standards for a restaurant employee

Having a clear dress code policy helps you maintain your restaurant's professional image. Provide guidelines to help employees maintain a professional appearance. This can include wearing clean and wrinkle-free uniforms, tucking in shirts, and keeping shoes polished. For instance, if your restaurant has a casual theme, specify acceptable casual attire like khaki pants and polo shirts.

Remember to keep your dress code policy inclusive by allowing for religious and cultural accommodations. You can permit employees to wear religious head coverings or cultural attire as long as it meets safety and hygiene standards.

Additionally, set precise personal hygiene requirements for all staff should be set, including regular handwashing, using deodorant, and keeping nails trimmed and clean. If you run a more formal full-service restaurant, you have to lay out policies regarding hairstyles, perfumes, and colognes, as well as piercings and tattoos. 

6. Staff training and development programs

Equipping new hires with the necessary skills and knowledge can boost the likelihood of employees staying with your company for three years. An effective restaurant onboarding process helps them feel welcome and ready to succeed in their roles.

Create detailed onboarding checklists to ensure no steps are missed when welcoming a new employee. These lists should include completing the necessary paperwork, introducing them to the team, and providing a restaurant tour.

For instance, an onboarding checklist can help managers ensure that new hires understand their duties, know where to find supplies, and are familiar with restaurant policies. It should also cover training on customer service, food safety, and point-of-sale systems.

Aside from training new restaurant employees, you should have ongoing development programs to help them master their roles. One example is scheduling quarterly workshops that tackle skills like conflict resolution, time management, and leadership. 

7. Social media and communication guidelines

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your restaurant and engaging with customers. 22% of diners are more likely to visit a restaurant due to its social media presence. However, it's essential to have clear policies to protect your restaurant's reputation and ensure consistent messaging.

Employee rules for restaurant social media

Set clear rules for employees when posting on both personal and business accounts.

After seeing content on TikTok, 55% of customers order food from a restaurant. That’s why you should assign specific staff members to follow a content calendar and post about new menu items, events, and behind-the-scenes looks.

Ensure guidelines are provided on appropriate content, tone, and response to customer comments.

For personal accounts, remind employees that their behavior online can reflect on the restaurant. For example, you can outline guidelines that prohibit sharing confidential restaurant information or making negative comments about the workplace. 

Internal communication for restaurant staff

Setting policies for internal communication will make operations more efficient. Establishing a transparent chain of command for reporting issues or ideas and providing guidelines on appropriate language and tone improves collaboration and prevents misunderstandings.

gusto!, a restaurant in Atlanta serving fresh, fast, and healthy food, maximized 7shifts’ Engage dashboard to reach employees at 11 different locations. It allowed them to stay on top of different teams and gave management an overview of late, no-show, and dropped shifts.

“We discovered the tool early on, and just because all of our teammates have the [7shifts mobile app], they started automatically being prompted to fill out surveys,” Richmond Green, Vice President of Operations, said. “It gives us a lot of valuable feedback on what's happening on the shifts.”

Implement an open-door policy to encourage employees to report issues or concerns. Make it clear that they can approach managers or HR with any problems without fear of retaliation, fostering a supportive and transparent workplace culture.

Keep employees engaged with effective HR policies.

Effective HR policies balance protecting your restaurant's interests and supporting your employees' well-being. As you establish clear guidelines and foster open communication, you can retain your team’s rockstars.

Keep the headaches at bay by using 7shifts to automate your scheduling, enhance communication, and manage labor compliance easily. With our restaurant management tool, you can spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time caring for your employees and guests. 

Vahag Aydinyan

Hello! I am Vahag, Content Marketing Manager at 7shifts. I am writing about content marketing, marketing trends, tips on restaurant marketing and more.