How to Keep Employees Happy at Their Work

By Lloyd M. Gordon, President
GEC Consultants, Inc.
Skokie, IL 60076

Like most restaurant managers and operators, you probably agree that the greatest problem you face after you find employees is keeping workers happy at their jobs. This task is the human resources portion of your business, and it is usually the most difficult undertaking to accomplish satisfactorily.

Here are some suggestions which may make personnel development a little easier for you. First, break human relations activity into four sections called Motivation, Supervision, Organization and Training.

Next examine each of these factors in turn. Motivation is a management tool used to induce workers to respond positively to achieve company goals. To motivate your workers, you must determine first what each of your employees needs and desires from his/her employment with you.

When you believe you know what each person needs, orient each job to provide those needs. The happy worker is the one that can attain predetermined goals. Remember, money isn't everything!

Other motivational factors to consider that are important to most worker are:

1. Interesting work
2. Appreciation of accomplishments
3. Ability to grow in the job
4. Recognition
5. Pleasant working conditions
6. Each person treated as a human individual
7. Member of a team
8. Self-fulfillment
9. Tactful criticism
10. Job security
11. Good wages.

Supervision is the talent to get your ideas and plans to actually work. Your best plans mean little if you can't get them enacted. Some believe that motivation is the answer to everything. However, supervision is the "doing" while motivation is the "structure" for doing.

Training as done by management creates the environment within which supervision thrives. To achieve good supervision, follow these rules:

1. Plan to train on the actual job site.
2. Aim to prepare the trainee adequately for achieving success.
3. Set an example for employees to follow.
4. Be able to overcome worker resentment.
5. Expect to get discouraged but retrain, again and again.
6. Create, in words, positive goals.
7. Convince trainees their self interest is served by the ideas you are promoting.
8. Get feedback on what trainees have learned.

And finally, your restaurant must be organized. A well organized restaurant has enough product on hand to serve the orders received from the customers. It must be prepared in an appetizing and consistent manner, it should be the finest product available for the price charged. Finally, employees must see that you respect your investment in your restaurant because you furnish the correct equipment to produce the results you seek, and you keep your equipment in top condition of repair.

Remember, keep a happy face to your people. Show them that you can smile even when things get tough. You must lead by example. If you run a happy functioning facility, the employees will tend to pattern themselves along the guidelines apparent to them. They will be happy in their work too.

Mr. Lloyd M. Gordon, President of GEC Consultants, Inc. has an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has concepted more than 390 restaurants and has been consulting for over 44 years. He helps people enter the restaurant industry, points the way to profitability, and helps keep them successful. To discuss "How to Keep Employees Happy at Their Work " he can be reached at 847-674-6310.

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