Local fast-food restaurants showing positive trends for employee retention
By Charles Christian
After the economic misery of COVID-19, fast-food restaurants in St. Joseph are experiencing better times both in profit and employee retention.
Both large chains and locally-owned establishments faced the same kinds of challenges other businesses faced during the pandemic, including supply chain difficulties. However, because of the close contact workers have with the public, recruiting, training and retaining consistent workers were among the top challenges fast-food places had to overcome, according to Melissa Stewart, General Manager of KFC in St. Joseph.
“We’ve finally gotten to a place where people were ready to go back to work in fast food again,” Stewart said. “Since then, we have made use of online tools to help schedule interviews, and there are online classes to train employees interested in future management positions.”
Stewart added that despite relatively low pay for those who start out in fast food, consistency over time can lead to more lucrative and stable management positions. Stewart, who has been with KFC for 10 years, said it took around three years for her to move from frontline employee to management.
“If they are consistent and on time and prove they want to work, they can eventually make it to where they want to be in the company,” Stewart said.
The St. Joseph fast-food market ranks above the national average in both starting pay for workers and in management salaries. Average starting pay for workers is about $13.22 per hour, and managers across the board average around $27 per hour in St. Joseph, according to salary.com. Larger chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s and KFC can pay a bit more and often have clearer paths to management positions over the long term.
Locally-owned fast-food places like Taco Bandido in St. Joseph are also experiencing an upswing in hiring and retention. Shira Hemke, new co-owner of Taco Bandido, said that local restaurants like hers with a longtime presence in St. Joseph have an added advantage of customer and employee loyalty that can expand generations.
“Since we reopened in November, we have had employees who worked here 20 years ago and have come back,” Hemke said. “One employee in particular came back to work here after being away from 20 years and helps us train new employees. She not only trains them in the day-to-day things involved in this kind of restaurant, she also has the experience of knowing how Taco Bandido was, so she can help carry on the traditions that are important.”
Overall, allowing for seasonal employees like college and high school students, employee retention has been good in both locally-owned and chain fast-food restaurants.
Most of the chains in St. Joseph pay above the state minimum wage of $12.30 per hour, and if a worker is able to show consistency and willingness to train further, management positions in St. Joseph and surrounding areas are available.
