 Back in August, a survey of restaurant operators by the National Restaurant Association found that 65 percent of respondents did not have sufficient staff to meet guest demand. That means there are a lot of restaurants having to streamline tasks, adopt new technology to offset labor loss wherever possible, and make tough decisions about where employees are truly needed most in the business. If you’re struggling to do as much as possible with far fewer staff resources than would be ideal, start with that last point. Considering the people you have available to you, what is the most important function for them to serve? Talk to them about how their skills can best support the business in those places. Then get creative – or even ruthless – about making changes in other places. A recent Reuters report indicated that restaurant brands are taking such steps as introducing new equipment that can accelerate or automate aspects of cooking and cleanup, using more speed-scratch ingredients, and changing preparation procedures so that any time spent waiting for food to cook is time spent completing tasks that previously would have been handled separately at the start of a shift. Scrutinize any wasted labor at each step of a shift. When you look at the preparation of each menu item and your needs to keep your operation clean and safe, where is there room to optimize the staff resources you have on hand? Across a shift and across a restaurant chain, all of those labor efficiencies add up. You may be able to operate with less staff than you had previously thought.
 For many consumers, it can feel like life is returning to pre-pandemic times, complete with in-restaurant meals and holiday gatherings. But as we begin another winter with Covid hovering in the background, restaurant operators are still having to develop strategies for keeping business humming during uncertain times. Beyond efforts to make outdoor dining a comfortable reality, indoor dining well-ventilated, and off-premise sales seamless, the industry has also been pushing Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The effort has reached a critical point and the Independent Restaurant Coalition is urging operators to make noise in Congress right now by contacting representatives and encouraging restaurant patrons to get on board too. If you want to get involved but aren’t sure where to start, the coalition has developed some resources to help, including an outreach guide, which includes background about the fund and sample scripts that can be used as the basis for emails, calls and social media posts, as well as state-specific resources. If your loyal guests are willing to help you in the effort, here is a flyer you can share with them – it includes some information about the fund and how they can help spread the word on your behalf.
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