In busy restaurant kitchens, safety is paramount. Workers’ compensation claims can not only hurt the bottom line, but employee injuries can also lead to employee dissatisfaction on the job, which can lead to a decrease in employee retention. Employees who feel that they’re at risk of getting hurt while on the clock may be more likely to look for other opportunities where management demonstrates a more sincere effort at enacting safety measures.
However, keeping staff safe takes more than just routine new-hire training. Training should be continual to ensure employees remember protocol and best practices to prevent injuries. That training can ensure the safety necessary for retaining a staff that’s happy and enthusiastic.
Safety practices lower injury rates
As many as 60% of restaurant injuries are caused by the handling of cooking oil. From slips and falls to burns and back injuries, cooking oil is one of the biggest contributors to workplace incidents.
With proper oil management, those injuries can be greatly reduced. Beyond increasing safety, solutions such as these help increase employee satisfaction.
Continual training and BOH changes
Training new hires is a start when it comes to workplace safety, but it’s not all the training that’s necessary. Employees should have regular refreshers about best practices, as the cost of an injured worker—both in workers’ compensation claims and hiring a new employee if needed—can add up quickly.
Beyond the direct costs, having an unsafe workplace can cause a slow in productivity as well. Injured workers may not feel as enthusiastic to be at work, and their dip in morale can spread to other employees as well. Having to recruit, hire and train new employees is a far greater cost than simply keeping up with safety measures.
Additionally, back-of-house changes, such as having bilingual training manuals available for employees not fluent in English, can help reduce the amount of injuries on-site.
Employee satisfaction = employee retention
When employees like and feel safe at their place of work, they are more likely to stick around. Other factors that contribute to employee satisfaction include:
- Giving positive feedback.
- Mutual respect among team members.
- Mutual trust between employees and management.
- Encouraging a healthy work-life balance.
- Providing opportunity for growth.
When employees know that their work is valued, they’re more likely to maintain their enthusiasm and productivity levels. Employers should make sure their staff feels appreciated and well taken care of.
This post is sponsored by Restaurant Technologies