Looking for ways to increase hospitality employee productivity and retention?

Start at the beginning.

The moment your new server, executive chef or steward steps through your front door, your opportunity to set a positive tone for his work experience begins.  The better you mainstream and orient a new hire, the more welcome and prepared the individual will feel in his new position.  This will, in turn, give him the confidence and resources to quickly begin making a positive impact within your organization (which is why you hired this person in the first place, right?).

So make a commitment to create a great first impression on each new hospitality worker by implementing a thorough and effective onboarding process.  Use these tips to make him feel welcomed, valued and prepared to hit the ground running:

• Welcome a new employee with a letter.  Before the individual’s first day, send a friendly and informative letter to welcome him and review his first day’s schedule, helpful tips for parking, to whom he should report, etc.  Alternately, you can post new employee schedules, materials, benefits forms and a FAQ on your company Intranet, and make it accessible from a link in a welcome e-mail.
• Create a virtual tour of your hospitality organization.  Record a short facilities tour video (including your kitchen, guest rooms, banquet rooms, front desk or any other areas new hires may be working) and upload it to your Intranet.  Include a link to this resource in your welcome letter, so the new hire comes to work the first day already knowing what your location is like.
• Prepare a “family tree.”  Familiarize new hires with your company’s “who’s who.”  You can maintain a simple bulletin board with key employees’ photos, names and job titles to facilitate the getting-to-know-you process.
• Pre-orient existing staff members.  Provide your staff with the new employee’s résumé and job description before he starts.  Advise each team member to conduct a meeting with the new hire in which he shares a description of his own position, reviews the ways their roles interact and covers how they might work together in the future.
• Approach the process from the employee’s point of view.  The onboarding process can be complex and overwhelming for your new hire.  To keep your new team member feeling valued, try to create orientation procedures that make the process fun, interesting and as painless as possible.
• Provide and review a written plan of employee objectives and responsibilities.  This step will eliminate confusion about job functions and will open the floor to discuss concerns or new opportunities.
• Give the new employee your undivided attention.  Be careful not to let e-mails, phone calls or other employees distract you during orientation sessions, because this sends the unintended message that the new hire is not worth your time – a real morale-killer.
• Make day one personal.  Prioritize interpersonal relationships with key colleagues as soon as your new employee starts.  Make sure you welcome the whole person – not just a set of job functions – from the outset, and you’ll be sure to make a great first impression.

Penguin Staff works to make new employee transitions as successful and simple as possible.  Our stringent screening process ensures that the hospitality candidates we refer (whether temporary or direct) have the skills, experience and traits necessary to integrate seamlessly with your existing workforce.  Contact us today to learn more about our hospitality staffing services for Central Virginia, D.C., Baltimore and Atlanta employers.

People come to Penguin Staffing for all sorts of reasons.  Some are looking for flexibility or extra income.  Others work as a hospitality temporary to gain work experience or find direct employment.

Whatever your reason for choosing temporary employment, here are a few tips to help you get the most from your experiences working as a Penguin employee:

1. Dress the part.  You will fit in, perform, and feel better if you’re dressed appropriately for the type of work you’re doing.
2. Display a positive attitude. When you work as a temporary, you are put into unfamiliar situations with people you don’t know.  Make a conscious decision to approach your new work situation constructively.  Choosing to display a positive attitude – even if you’re a bit uncomfortable – can help you manage the stress of a new situation.  Your optimism will be appreciated by co-workers and assignment supervisor alike and set the stage for a great working relationship.
3. Act as if the job is permanent.  Give your best effort on each assignment – you never know where it might lead.  If an employer is impressed with your performance, he can work with your staffing service to offer you direct employment.
4. Learn all you can.  Each assignment provides fresh opportunities to learn.  From practical job skills to industry-specific knowledge, capitalize on every chance to gain valuable skills and experience.
5. Test the waters.  If your career path is uncertain, temporary work affords you the ability to try out different jobs, at different companies, in a variety of hospitality settings.  Find out where you fit by accepting diverse assignments.
6. Network.  A temporary assignment puts you in a unique networking position.  While at work, you have the opportunity to interact and develop relationships with business colleagues whom you might not otherwise meet.  Leverage this “inside track” access by sharing your career interests and goals with managers you encounter on the job.
7. Communicate.  If you enjoyed an assignment and would like to work for the employer again once it’s over, say so.  Your staffing consultant and supervisor can look for additional opportunities for you to work in a different area of the company.  And if the assignment was not right for you, consider why.  Try to understand why the job or the employer didn’t meet your needs, so you can choose an assignment that’s a better fit the next time.

We want to help you get the most from your experiences as a Penguin temporary employee.  Please visit our website to learn more about the services, support, and resources we provide.

From coast to coast, the mercury is steadily rising as we approach the hottest months of the year.  When the heat is on, that means higher refrigeration bills – and greater potential for problems with your commercial refrigeration units.

Make sure your kitchen is ready to take the heat this season!  Use these maintenance tips to optimize the efficiency of your refrigeration units and save on utilities:

• Identify and minimize parasitic loads.  Parasitic loads come from heat sources inside the refrigeration room, such as interior lights, fans, defrost systems and heaters that prevent surface condensation.  They generate heat that must be removed by the compressor, thus adding to the cooling load and increasing the energy consumed.  If you can afford it, consider investing in high-efficiency refrigeration compressors, condenser/evaporator fan motors, and/or energy efficient lighting to reduce energy consumption and reduce cooling loads on the compressor.
• Clean condenser and evaporator coils.  This one seems obvious, but not everyone does it.  Cleaning the coils allows air to pass over them and disperse heat.  When coils are blocked with dust and dirt, your unit has to work much harder (and consume more electricity) to keep things cool.
• Replace worn-out door gaskets.  Check to make sure your refrigerator door gaskets form tight seals when your refrigerators’ doors are closed – keeping cool air in and hot air out.  If gaskets are worn or torn, they’ll cost you extra money in utilities and can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Accessorize your walk-in.  An automatic door closer will quickly shut the door after someone enters or leaves.  Strip curtains provide an added layer of insulation and will dramatically reduce the amount of cool air loss.  Finally, installing a high-quality door latch will ensure the gaskets seal properly each time the door is opened.

You may be surprised at how much overhead you can eliminate by following these simple suggestions.  And if you want to reduce labor overhead, give Penguin Staff a call.  Our full complement of strategic hospitality staffing services ensure you have the trained professionals you need, right when you need them.

Penguin’s hospitality workforce solutions lower your overhead by keeping only essential full-time staff on hand, and allowing us to manage things like:

The bad news?

The last few years have taken a tremendous toll on the foodservice industry.  While onsite foodservice companies were less affected than commercial restaurants, reduced consumer spending has forced institutions to reduce labor and operating costs.

The good news?

Foodservice operators across the country are optimistic about the near future.  Industry expert Darren Tristano, executive vice president of the Technomic forecasting firm, expects modest real growth beyond inflation in 2012.  In the onsite sector, Technomic predicts that growth will be led by foodservice in hospitals, colleges, senior living and K-12 schools:

Other foodservice trend drivers include:

• Food price inflation will become more predictable.  Although prices will likely increase 3 to 4 percent in 2012, some of last year’s volatility will moderate.
• Commodity prices will likely decline in the beef, dairy, coffee and cereal/bakery categories.
• Increases in labor costs will continue to be problematic, as recent actions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may make it easier for unions to organize and structure bargaining units.
• Food trends remain on the same course.  The latest NRA/ACF “What’s Hot” survey of chefs predicts a continuing emphasis on locally-produced, sustainable foods, international street food, small plate grazing and nutrition-inspired trends.

These trends all point to a widespread, if cautious, optimism that onsite foodservice business will be noticeably improved for the remainder of 2012.

Penguin Staff provides comprehensive hospitality workforce solutions to help you effectively manage labor costs, simplify administration and capitalize on the industry upturn.  Serving Atlanta, Central Virginia and the DC/Baltimore Metro region, Penguin delivers the most highly-qualified and trained professionals for your hospitality positions.

Want to get more from your hospitality staffing service?  Who doesn’t!

Whether you work for a banquet facility, industrial caterer, hotel or convention center, you deserve the best from your staffing company.  In February, Penguin Staffing provided a list of five tips to get better hospitality staffing results.  Today, here are five more:

1. Set expectations from the start.  Establish mutually agreed-upon standards for interacting with your hospitality staffing partner at the beginning of your relationship (think order-placing procedures, feedback methods, quality control checks, etc.).  As with any business relationship, setting clear expectations from the outset will ensure clear communication and expedient service.
2. Benchmark performance of your core employees.  Find out exactly what tests candidates who work for your staffing firm must take, and then ask for the test scores of referred candidates.  Establish preferred scoring levels for placements within your hospitality organization, using your own staff as benchmarks.  Finally, encourage temporary employees to take advantage of hospitality training available through the staffing service.
3. Provide regular feedback.  Maintain an ongoing dialogue and honest relationship with your hospitality staffing company, keeping them abreast of changes in your company.  Provide feedback on their service and the performance of their hospitality temporaries.  Meet regularly to obtain their input on what you can do to improve the quality of service and placements.
4. Create a true partner in your success.  Consider involving a staffing firm in your organization’s business planning.  For example, you might want to include your staffing representative in an annual meeting to plan staffing strategies.  Hospitality staffing experts, like Penguin Staff, can offer valuable insight regarding the possible uses of workforce partnerships and outsourcing to manage production cycles, improve customer service and help you hire better.
5. Reward results.  High quality hospitality staffing firms focus on more than filling orders.  They want to help you save time, lower expenses and get work done.  When you find a company that does a great job, look for opportunities to enhance the relationship.  Invite them in.  Challenge them to help you solve your problems.  See what you can do to reward their good results.  Not only will you make your top vendor happy, you’ll increase their commitment to your success.

At Penguin Staff, we know what it takes to:

• improve the quality of hospitality temporaries you receive;
• increase your staffing ROI;
• simplify your staffing function.

Give us a call, and let us help you achieve better staffing results – every time.

Getting ready for an upcoming hospitality job interview?  Here is a quick list of 10 questions you should be prepared to answer:

1. What do you consider to be good hygiene practices on the job?
2. Can you give me an example of a situation where you solved a problem for a customer who was unhappy?
3. How do you handle difficult co-workers?
4. Can you explain what the Heimlich maneuver is, when to use it and how to perform it?
5. How do you handle a rush?
6. What did you like best (or dislike most) about your last job?
7. How have you prepared yourself for this position (i.e., experience, special skills/training, etc.)?
8. How do you help your team to be more successful?
9. What can you tell me about the food/drinks we prepare/serve here?
10. How do you ensure a great customer experience, time after time?

Preparing answers to common interview questions like these will help you feel more calm and confident.  The more poised you are, the better your chances will be of landing the job!

If you’re looking for a great hospitality job in Atlanta, Central Virgina or the D.C./Baltimore Metro area, be sure to register with Penguin Staff.  As a leader in hospitality staffing, Penguin matches job seekers like you with front of house, back of house and culinary professional employment opportunities.  Contact Penguin today to learn more or apply online.

Hosting an outdoor event this summer?  Then keep reading.   Here are a few tips and trends to ensure your event runs smoothly and exceeds guests’ expectations:

• Plan carefully.  Weather, permits, accessibility, noise restrictions, bugs, catering, power and lighting present a host of unique challenges for outdoor event planners.  Think through potential problems before they occur to avoid possible fines and prevent unnecessary spending.
• Allow enough time for a thorough site inspection.  Require all participating vendors to attend, so you can create contingency plans and coordinate efforts.
• During the summer months, people dehydrate more quickly.  Provide plenty of water at your event and make it easily accessible to all guests.
• No matter what type of summer event you’re hosting, keep things fresh, comfortable and light.  From menu to seating to dress code, incorporate elements that play-up the season’s best at your event.

Once you have the basics covered, you can move onto the fun stuff.  Here are a few summer event trends for 2012 to make sure you’re on-point:

• Summer’s hot color palettes come in a wide range to suit every taste and event.  If you want to go bold, consider Pantone’s color of the year, Tangerine Tango, hot pink or mustard yellow.  If the event features a more classic theme, choose lavendar, lilac, navy, sage green, tiffany blue, grey or khaki.
• When considering seat coverings, linens or other decorative fabrics for your summer event, think TEXTURE.  Dupioni, rosette, lace, bold Pucci-style prints and classic embroidered sheer fabrics are popping up everywhere from brides’ gowns to tabletops.
• Every event has its own unique feel, but the most popular design trends for 2012 events include: eco chic – using ecologically friendly materials for everything from invitations to the event sites themselves; modage – combining the best of modern and vintage trends; and simple chic – simply using color as the dominant theme element.

Penguin Staffing plays an essential role in making summer events a success.  Throughout Atlanta, Central Virginia and the D.C./Baltimore Metro area, we provide the finest hospitality event staff around.  Whatever your hospitality staffing need, there’s only one choice – Penguin.

For decades, the hotel and resort concierge has worn a dizzying number of hats.  A cross between a personal secretary, tour guide, travel agent, friend and even life saver, this invaluable service liaison has played gatekeeper to his city in more ways than one.

But times are changing.  Given the recent advent of smartphone technology and social media like Foursquare and Facebook, guests can now instantly access information and make arrangements without ever leaving their rooms – making many of the concierge’s traditional activities obsolete.

Maybe, maybe not.  According to Roberta Nedry’s recent ehotelier.com post “Today’s Concierge – A Role Model of Service Excellence and Profitability,” today’s concierge is more important than ever.  Here’s why:

• Guests desire more personal service.  Organizations that hire properly trained, professional concierges will see significant impact to the bottom line and customer/guest satisfaction levels will soar.
• Today’s concierge plays an increasingly strategic role in the overall guest experience.   In this role, concierges have the opportunity to impact repeat business, referral business, extended stays and additional income.
• Given the staggering number of dining, restaurant, entertainment, meeting and transportation options available to today’s guest, the concierge has become a trusted resource for answers and recommendations.
• HR professionals are discovering the value of the concierge role as a cost-effective way to attract, train and retain valuable employees.  The concierge can be the utility player who models service excellence, cutting across all departments.

To realize the full benefit a concierge can deliver for your hotel or resort, Nedry recommends that you hire a  professional who is trained in service excellence and has the credentials to handle all of the above.  Furthermore, to be truly effective he must have the ability to network, make things happen and nurture relationships – not just contacts.

At Penguin Staff, we know that service excellence – on the part of all staff, not just the concierge – is critical to delivering a superior guest experience.  If you need temporary kitchen employees, hotel front desk or other hospitality professionals, call us.  We provide on-demand access to talented individuals who will keep your customers singing your praises.

Ever had to fire an employee?

If so, you know how difficult the act can be.  Even when an employee truly deserves it, the act of taking away his livelihood can leave even the most dispassionate manager feeling awful.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to make the process respectful and compassionate.  These suggestions will help you treat the employee as humanely as possible, while still protecting your business from a legal aspect:

Think before you act.  Before firing anyone, get advice from a human resources professional or employment lawyer.  These experts can help ensure you abide by state and federal laws, as well as your company’s unique employment policies.

Get your ducks in a row.  Simplify the employee’s transition by handling termination logistics before calling the employee in.  Create a clear plan for the employee to return company property, clean out his desk/office and consult with HR on pay/benefits to expedite the separation.

Skip the small talk.  Don’t bother trying to warm the mood or to pretend it’s an ordinary exchange – you’re only delaying the inevitable.  Save the platitudes and limit the meeting to 10 minutes or less.

Stay neutral.  Keep it pleasant, but not too friendly.  Let the employee down as easily as you can without being unprofessional.  Remember, you are not this person’s comforter – he can go home to his spouse, friends or family for the support he needs.

Empathize.  Try to put yourself in the employee’s shoes and understand what he’s going through.  Be patient when you talk to him and keep your cool if he becomes angry, upset or frustrated.  Offer whatever resources your company provides to ease the employee’s transition.

Be decisive.  Make sure that both your tone and wording are resolute.  Giving an employee “wiggle room” or false hope will only encourage him to try and argue to save his job.  If you find yourself getting dragged into a pointless discussion, take charge by saying something like, “I’ll be glad to talk about this as long as you like, but you should know that nothing we discuss will change the decision.”

Be honest.  If you’re downsizing, leave performance out of the picture.  But if performance is the issue, don’t try to hide behind an excuse to make the conversation easier for you.  You’ll be doing the employee a disservice and opening your business to potential problems – especially if you later hire someone to fill the vacant slot.  Be direct about your reason for termination, even if it’s difficult for one or both of you.

One of the benefits of Penguin’s on-call and temporary hospitality staff is never having to fire them!  As their employer of record, we take care of replacing and/or reassigning workers.  Contact Penguin Staffing today to find out more about our hospitality staffing services in Atlanta, Richmond, D.C. and Baltimore.

When it comes to your job security in the hospitality industry, you have to depend on YOU.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where seemingly nobody’s job is safe.  Downsizing, layoffs and company closures have made even the most successful individuals question how truly “indispensable” they are.

Still, everyone knows people who are always working on a consistent basis – even in shaky industries and during uncertain times.  So, what are their secrets to success?

Honestly, there’s nothing magical about it.  The people who enjoy long-lasting job security depend on themselves, rather than waiting for things to happen to them.  By being proactive and responsible in managing their careers, they create their own luck.  Every day, they find ways to contribute, grow and make themselves indispensable at work.

Learn from their success!  Use these tips to proactively create your own job security:

• Take responsibility for your own career development. In today’s “right-sizing” workplace, don’t rely on anyone else to safeguard or guide you in your career.  Be proactive in protecting your job by:  learning new skills; finding a mentor to help you develop and grow professionally; investing in training and development courses in your areas of expertise; staying on top of industry trends that may impact you or your organization.
• Make your boss look good. Your direct supervisor is the most critical person to your success in the workplace.  Like it or not, your success is closely linked to his.  If you want to keep your job, get a raise or earn a promotion, one of the smartest things you can do is make your boss look good.  Do what he asks, when he asks it.  Try to anticipate his needs.  Talk him up to his supervisor.
• Try to excel in areas where others are weak. Look for tasks your boss considers unpleasant, or isn’t particularly skilled at, and volunteer to take them on.  Examine your co-workers’ proficiencies and try to strengthen your skills in areas where they are weak.  Become an expert in a relevant subject that will make you a more valuable employee.  When you possess skills, experience and/or knowledge others don’t, you make yourself that much more indispensable.
• Anticipate trends in the hospitality industry. If your job is in danger of being eliminated, you need to find out before HR sits you down to let you go.  Research what’s happening in your area of the hospitality industry, identifying trends that could impact your job.  Find out what skills you’ll need to stay at the forefront of your industry, and then seek out training in these areas.
• Go above and beyond the call of duty. If you want to cultivate value, respect and trust in the workplace, develop an entrepreneurial spirit on the job.  Volunteer for additional assignments or identify opportunities to improve products, processes or services within your company.  Make a habit of doing more than what you’re asked to do.
• Honor your commitments. Meet your deadlines. Do what you say you’re going to do.  If you make a mistake on the job, find a way to fix it and take responsibility for implementing the solution.  When you develop a reputation of under-promising and over-delivering, you greatly increase your value to your employer.
• Network regularly. If you start networking only when you need something, you’ll have a lot of ground to make up.  Make networking part of every day.  Keep in regular touch with key contacts – even if it’s only via e-mail – so that you won’t feel like you’re “bothering” someone when it’s time to reach out and ask for help.

Become an Indispensable Hospitality Employee with Penguin Staffing

Penguin does so much to help put you on the path to hospitality career success:

• we listen to your needs, interests and goals;
• we match you with top temporary and direct hospitality jobs in Atlanta, Richmond and Washington, D.C. to further your career development;
• we offer comprehensive hospitality training through HTI to develop the essential tools you’ll need to succeed.

Contact Penguin Staff today and use the tips above to become an indispensable part of your next work team.