{"id":518,"date":"2026-01-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.zoomshift.com\/blog\/7-ways-to-get-your-best-employees-to-stay-longer\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T06:37:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T11:37:20","slug":"best-employees-stay-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/best-employees-stay-longer\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways To Get Your Best Employees To Stay Longer"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most challenging parts of running a business is finding and keeping talent you can count on. Unfortunately, some restaurants continue to be plagued with disengaged, barely-getting-by employees who do the minimum needed to keep their job. Hopefully your restaurant isn\u2019t one of them. To be successful, you know you need staff you can count on in all kinds of circumstances. And while finding and hiring the best talent for your business is one job, it\u2019s equally important to keep your best employees happy<\/a> so they\u2019ll continue to make your restaurant the best place it can be.<\/p>\n

Here are some effective ways to make sure your top employees stay in 2026:<\/p>\n

1. Recognize their efforts<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s nothing better than your boss telling you they recognize how hard you\u2019ve been working and what a great job you\u2019ve done. It\u2019s not always easy to find the time to pat each of your employees on the back, but the truth is that it is one of the most effective things you can do to keep your employees engaged and happy.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s sure to brighten their day and make them feel like they\u2019re an invaluable part of your organization.<\/p>\n

2. Keep challenging them<\/h3>\n

When employees are bored on the job, they\u2019re unproductive and can let their standards slip. It\u2019s a careful balance, but challenging your employees enough so they continue to learn and stretch their skills while still being efficient at key tasks is critical in their happiness on the job. And, it may even lead to additional customers for you.<\/p>\n

Check in with employees regularly to see how they are managing their workload. When the time is right, offer growth opportunities and additional responsibilities that show how valuable they are to your organization. When you put your trust in employees to take on new tasks, you\u2019re sending a message that you trust their abilities.<\/p>\n

3. Keep lines of communication open<\/h3>\n

Often times, employees leave a job or company because they\u2019re not sure they have the support and the ear of the management team. It\u2019s critical that each of your employees know that they are valued and that you are available to support them.<\/p>\n

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You can also consider having \u201con call\u201d hours, when employees can reach you on your cell phone to talk about important matters.<\/p>\n

4. Empower them to make decisions<\/h3>\n

No one benefits when employees feel their hands are tied when it comes to everyday operational decisions. In order to do their job efficiently, meet customer expectations and have a positive employment experience, your employees need to know they\u2019re trusted enough to handle all kinds of decisions within your business.<\/p>\n

It can be helpful to review \u201cbest practices\u201d or preferred processes with employees from time to time to be sure everyone is following the same standards. When you do this, you\u2019ll find your business can run efficiently with variable teams, and also that your employees feel happy and empowered as a key part of your business. Do you give them power over their own work schedule<\/a>?<\/p>\n

5. Foster and reward employee development<\/h3>\n

Most employees are extra motivated by their ability to grow within your organization – whether that means taking on additional shifts or expanding into an entirely new role. By encouraging these ambitious employees, and offering ways for them to expand their knowledge about the company, you\u2019ll show that you\u2019re invested in their future and that you care about their goals.<\/p>\n

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This will make them feel like an even more important part of the business – and when they feel valued, they\u2019ll help share your mission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Offer small, personal perks<\/h3>\n

Hourly wages aren\u2019t the only incentive that will motivate your employees to do their best work, and to stick around for the long haul. Small perks<\/a> can be a great way to remind employees on a daily basis that their work is valued and that their presence makes a difference.<\/p>\n

Most restaurants offer their employees free or discounted meals during shifts, but have you thought about offering a family & friends discount as well? This way, employees will feel motivated to bring their family and extended network in for a meal – exposing more people to your business and providing a positive experience that they can share with others. Other small perks like small holiday gifts or extra time off as reward for a job well done can help make your employees\u2019 experience more rewarding.<\/p>\n

7. Offer schedule control and flexibility<\/h3>\n

Another reason employees leave a company is because their manager isn\u2019t willing or able to work with them responsively on schedule needs. And while this is a crucial part of an employee\u2019s experience at work, it can be difficult for some employees to proactively bring it to your attention.<\/p>\n

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Investing in a shared scheduling platform such as ZoomShift<\/a> helps give your employees access to the scheduling system so that they can notify you in real-time of changes or updates. And keeping this system transparent shows your employees that you value their input and respect their role in your company.<\/p>\n

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