Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry has seen an exorbitant amount of change. Now, many restaurants are faced with the overwhelming task of filling many different positions. This drastic need for qualified help highlights how crucial new hire training will be. How this training is delivered must be effective, timely, and promote employee success. How can all of this be done when you are already strapped for time? If you utilize a network video recording system (NVR), you’re in luck! You can train restaurant employees with your own video.
TRAINING RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES – NOT JUST THE BASICS
To get the most out of restaurant employee training, it is not just the content but the method that will determine success. What type of delivery will resonate with new hires, no matter their experience level? Many businesses have transitioned a sizeable portion of their training programs to video. Unlike a large (and boring) binder full of dos and don’ts, video grabs the viewer’s attention with sight and sound. Internal video will create many flexible learning possibilities.
- New hires can watch from anywhere
- Views can be monitored by an individual, and
- Assessments can easily be measured in case further training is required.
ADVANTAGES OF USING MANAGED VIDEO FOR TRAINING
You may be thinking investing in employee video training programs is pricey. But, what if you have it right at your fingertips? With many restaurant camera systems already in use by most establishments, you will already have a lot of useful footage.
Real-life scenarios using video have many uses, such as;
- Demonstrating the best way to create rapport with a restaurant customer
- Restaurant employees can show ways to upsell at the counter
- Kitchen safety do’s and don’t for a safe work environment
- Restaurant Managers can point our drive-thru efficiencies
- Monitoring loss prevention for positive work culture
WHY USING VIDEO AS A TRAINING TOOL WORKS
While person-to-person training will never completely vanish, adopting a managed video system for training has been building steam for the past several years. There are many reasons why video works.
Video better matches each person’s individual learning style
People learn differently, whether by auditory, visual, or practical methods. With video, both visual and auditory training is front and center, enhancing the on-the-job training that will follow. “Typically, the more variety of sensory stimuli that are included in learning methods, the more information is retained. Video, as a visual and auditory medium, doubly reinforces how information is retained in comparison to other methods, such as shadowing.” Playerlync.com/Lights. Camera. Action. Your Guide to Embracing Video in Your Training Program 06/18
Video can be revisited any time and the message never changes
As a new hire, have you ever asked two restaurant employees the same question about how to do something and got two completely different answers? Video is a consistent teacher and can easily be updated if methods or policies change. An update can be distributed immediately via email or the company website. Plus, with an NVR, you can copy and share clips easily. As with traditional printed training manuals, there will be no outdated materials lying around.
Learning via video can be measured, with tasks requiring further instruction easily identified by training managers
Video training can be built using a modular system. Each task or skill can be displayed in its own video. The value of this method is threefold. “Chunking” learning experiences means:
- New restaurant employees can learn at their own pace and review each topic separately.
- Restaurant management has smaller video clips to maintain and update if necessary. Quick up to date video captured by restaurant security cameras can be clearly outlined for easy comprehension.
- Tasks or skills can be categorized by position, experience, or relevance. New restaurant employees need to watch only those videos that apply to them. They may not need to learn each task, especially if they are experienced, restaurant workers. For example, an employee may have several years of order taking at the counter but is not confident in their mobile order entry skills. Their training can be customized to those concepts in which they need more training.
Since many restaurants have integrated managed video solutions to mitigate loss and improve store culture, using actual footage can serve as a helpful real-life training tool.
Training via video will not be a drain on current resources
Lack of consistent training is a big reason many quick service restaurant workers leave jobs. With the average restaurant staff member staying on a job for just under two months, training is the key factor in instructing and retaining quality help. Including actual video footage (perhaps from your video surveillance system) will help new restaurant employees learn experientially. It will also demonstrate the visibility of all transactions to safeguard against internal and external theft in restaurants creating a positive culture.
Another “black hole” that occurs in employee training is the inevitable change in operating or serving requirements. New skills or requirements can be easily rolled out to the entire staff via a short video clip. One 2-minute video can immediately educate every employee, regardless of their position or experience.
Training via video decreases turnover
In the restaurant industry, employee turnover is an on-going problem. Not only does hiring new employees take time, but it also costs money. In fact, according to FinancesOnline 2022 study, an individual resignation can equal up to one-third of the employees’s annual salary. Training via video is an effective way to get your message across and communicate effectively. Using video to train can help employees feel confident in their abilities, portray a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities, and learn more about the job. When an employee feels set up for success, they’re more likely to stick with the company.
CONCLUSION
Hiring is a tedious, intense process. Once you find the perfect person or persons, the real work has just begun. Training new hires properly will require more of a time investment than the search. However, using existing managed video systems, such as those used for loss prevention can be invaluable in training and retaining qualified help. By providing videos by topic, new hires can quickly get up to speed with management expectations, store culture, and realize the multiple benefits of restaurant security cameras. Using technology most restaurants already have will streamline a manager’s efforts in hiring and retaining the best help.
For more information about a Network Video Recording (NVR) system, contact us and we will put you in touch with a specialist.