Changing Hospitality Culture: What Will the Future Bring?
The hospitality industry includes many businesses, from bars and restaurants to hotels and tourism groups. Culture is a huge part of this industry, but what is hospitality culture? Workplace culture develops from the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of employees and leadership. It’s ever-changing and needs to be upheld by everyone in the company or business. Culture is important in every business, but hospitality culture has long had a bad culture reputation.
Read Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential or watch a few episodes of Hell’s Kitchen (US) and you’ll come to understand why hospitality culture has a bad reputation. Many of today’s popular chefs came up in a time when aggression and bullying were commonplace, and having been on the receiving end of it was a rite of passage. In addition, unpredictable schedules, lack of professional growth and benefits, and low pay can contribute to a poor culture. Today, hospitality workers everywhere are calling out these outdated norms. They’ve shown that they want a positive workplace that encourages growth, compassion, and a focus on employee wellness.
Gigpro’s hospitality gig-finding platform is tackling some of these common issues in workplace culture through technology.
Unpredictable scheduling is a big problem for those in the hospitality industry. Many professionals want the ability to make more spontaneous plans or have a backstop in place if they need to take off for an illness or another emergency. Other professionals want to make their schedules, without committing two weeks ahead. Gigpro’s app provides employers with the ability to post shifts for current employees who need time off and gives gig workers and employees the ability to pick up shifts that work for their schedule.
More employers are starting to support professional development, but Gigpro helps employees take this development into their own hands. While some posted gigs require experience, others are open for all to apply. With Gigpro, you can gain skills from all parts of the hospitality industry, from working as a server’s assistant to being in the kitchen prepping food for the day’s service. As with any job, the more well-rounded you are, the more valuable you are as an employee.
Additionally, health benefits are hard to come by when working in food and beverage. Gigpro offers affordable telehealth coverage and occupational accident insurance for gig workers. This helps lift the burden of out-of-pocket expenses for hospitality professionals and removes some of the risks from working without employer-provided benefits.
Lastly, there’s pay. This is a huge talking point for hospitality, especially with many states still allowing employers to pay tipped staff as low as $2.13 an hour. While the nature of hospitality work is less financially predictable than a salaried job, there is no reason that hospitality workers should be unable to pay their bills. Gigpro provides a list of jobs that offer very competitive pay and allows professionals to pick up as many shifts as they’d like.
All of these positive changes create happier employees and more desirable workplaces. Staffing is a major issue and hospitality businesses need to do everything they can to promote employee retention and attract new talent. By using Gigpro to find talent, you can access a pool of candidates who are passionate about hospitality and service, ultimately improving culture and developing a more sustainable workplace.
Gigpro and Culture, A Chef’s Perspective
Goodyear House x Gigpro
Chef Chris Coleman is the Executive Chef and Owner of Goodyear House, an eclectic restaurant that showcases upscale comfort food. The menu is small but mighty and offers elevated versions of your Southern grandmother’s favorites, with dishes like Shrimp & Grits and Pork Belly.
Coleman is passionate about showcasing locally-grown ingredients in his food and providing a positive workplace for his employees. He came up in toxic kitchen environments and wants to put an end to the cycle of abusive restaurant culture. He encourages his employees to follow his lead and to treat each other the way they want to be treated. To practice what he preaches, he uses Gigpro to give employees flexibility, respect their time and requests for time off, and take care of them both mentally and financially. Since Gigpro allows workers to get affordable health insurance and to be paid after each shift, it’s an attractive option for employees. In addition to Gigpro’s perks, Goodyear House offers paid gym memberships and PTO.
Leah & Louise x Gigpro
Chef Gregory Collier is the owner and executive chef of Leah & Louise, a Southern-inspired restaurant in Charlotte, NC. He is a three-time James Beard award nominee as well as the co-founder of Bayhaven Festival and Bayhaven Restaurant Group. Leah & Louise, named after Collier’s late sister and grandmother, was made to honor Black Southern classics found in the Mississippi River valley foodways. Chef Collier and his business partner and wife, Sabrina, have made it a priority to highlight Black chefs and African American culture as a whole. BayHaven Food and Wine Festival is an extension of this effort, as the festival aims to highlight Black foodways and create opportunities for Black professionals in the hospitality industry.
Chef Collier uses Gigpro to find professionals who are passionate about the industry and excited to share his mission of making the workplace better for everyone. He knows that people value flexibility and equity, and wants to create a culture that supports that. Gigpro allows Collier to create a positive environment and worry less about finding quality talent.
Change is Now
Overall, the hospitality industry is changing for the better, and a positive workplace culture is at the forefront of that change. It takes work, but the outcomes of a positive hospitality culture are beneficial to all. By using a technology like Gigpro, you can make that change easier for everyone involved.
