The report revealed that food service operators may want to turn to technology to solve business concerns. |Photo: Shutterstock.
Employment, especially labor attraction and retention, has been a pressing challenge in the food service industry for some time. As food service professionals look to the future, it's no surprise that business concerns aren't going anywhere. That's at least, according to the National Association of College and University Foodservice 2030 and Beyond report, which identified labor as a concern moving forward in the industry. According to the research, when it comes to business, food service leaders may need to explore the role of technology in mitigating business issues, the importance of culture and environment in attracting and retaining employees, and the need to attract student labor.
The research was collected through focus groups consisting of food service leaders at colleges and universities, as well as food service academics, technology experts and facility design professionals. The focus groups were developed with the goal of understanding the issues facing food service providers today. The team has also formed an advisory board that includes food service experts such as Zia Ahmed, senior director of dining services at The Ohio State University and Ken Tong, executive director of dining at the University of Massachusetts.
Here are five tips from action focus groups.
1. Technology as a solution to business problems
Focus groups examined technology as it relates to business challenges and the role it can play in solving them. For example, the report urges food service leaders to consider the role of robots in assisting the business.
One example of this is the recent popularity of smart vending options, which has expanded their ability to offer a wider range of foods including nutritious options. Concepts like Blendid, a robotic smoothie kiosk, and SavorEat's plant-based robotic chef appear often on college campuses.
However, another consideration, noted in the report, is the need for new technical jobs to deal with new technology, which creates another labor problem in itself.
However, technology provides answers elsewhere with concepts such as online ordering, eliminating the need to have a person at the point of service. Independent markets have emerged more often. For example, Amazon's Just Walk Out technology is popping up on more campuses.
2. When it comes to attracting workers, it's not just about wages
While wages will of course play a role in attracting workers, the report reveals that it is not just about wages. Employees are looking for benefits in addition to pay, and it can be helpful to make the job seem exciting.
At a panel discussion at last year's MenuDirections conference, three graduate students from Ohio State University's Hospitality Management program took to the stage to discuss what the future workforce is looking for in a job. The panelists revealed that while fair pay is their top priority, worthwhile benefits also play a role in what they look for from employers.
Another consideration for employees is professional development, so it may be helpful to teach transferable skills as well as include a path to management through mentoring programmes.
3. Appealing to student employment
One challenge discussed in the focus groups was finding student employees willing to work the required hours. One solution was to create a hybrid work model that might work better with students' busy schedules. Another challenge is the idea that students don't want to work, so teams have to get creative in the way they recruit. The research indicated that working students often seek the social aspects of work and often want short shifts. The University of Illinois experimented with this idea with two-hour “micro-shifts.” The small transformations have been so successful that the team has plans to roll out the concept in a second food center.
4. And of course paying fair wages
Paying fair wages is of course vital in attracting workers. The focus group discussed increasing wages and experimenting with concepts such as same-day pay or demand-based pay.
5. Focus on efficiency and effectiveness
The research revealed the need for operations to become more efficient and effective. This can be done by offering only certain programs in certain locations and offering limited hours to determine optimal service hours. Another option is through more grab-and-go offers.
