How to Support Your Restaurant Employees during Corona Outbreak
Do you know about 10 million people have become dependent on unemployment benefits in the US? In March, 701,000 jobs were lost to Coronavirus, and out of those, 419,000 belonged to the restaurant industry. This was reported at the start of March, and the number is still increasing.
In the USA, the service industry jobs account for 60% of the total workforce; therefore, it’s no surprise that restaurant workers are most affected by the pandemic. The following statistics shed light on their plight:
- 4,500 workers of Cameron Mitchell Restaurant are furloughed
- 7,000 international restaurants of Yum are closed
- 41,000 employees of Cheese Cake Factory are temporarily laid off
The out of work restaurant workers are suddenly out of a paycheck with no job prospects; they are worried about groceries, water, electricity, rent, and other expenses.
Though certainly challenging, there are some ways to support these restaurant employees. Let us see how we can help:
1. Order Takeout and Delivery
Many local restaurants are waiting for you to knock on their doors. They require every penny you can spend to save their restaurants. If you want to help them, and you have money to spare, order from them to keep them in business. Besides this, start telling your friends and family to buy from them. If it is feasible, go for a takeout. However, if the restaurant is located in a high-risk area, delivery is an ideal option.
Buying food for yourself is not the only way to support restaurants. You can order food from local restaurants and have that food delivered to people in need. Homeless shelters and charity organizations are always in need of food. This need has increase manifold since thousands of people have lost their jobs and are dependent on charity to meet their basic needs.
By ordering food for local shelters, you will be killing two birds with one stone; you will give food to people who are going hungry, and you will help your local restaurants stay in business.
Call your local restaurants and give your bulk order in advance. Distribute this food among the needy people. You can also ask the restaurant to deliver directly at different addresses and pay them in advance.
In San Francisco, Ryan Sarver started a plan through which people can buy meals made by chefs for the hospital workers. This is a two-way strategy for supporting hospital workers and chefs.
2. Tip Heavily on Deliveries
Another simple thing you can do to help the restaurant staff is to give a nice tip; don’t be stringent! The delivery person is taking a considerable health risk by continuing to work in the pandemic. What is more, most delivery people earn at least 50% from tips alone. Therefore, show your gratitude by giving a sizeable tip. A general rule of thumb is to tip 15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill.
It will be a sign of relief for the workers who are struggling to keep up with their jobs. Some workers are getting half of their salaries while others have no commissions at all. Make a habit of giving heavy tips until this situation lasts.
3. Buy Merchandise and Gift Cards
Another way to help your local eateries is by purchasing restaurant gift cards and merchandise. We admit that gift cards cannot bring in as much revenue as a full dining room, but they can bring in much-needed cash flow to keep the business open.
Most restaurants are laying off staff because they cannot afford them. If you purchase gift cards, you are putting cash in the hands of the restaurant, which will enable them to retain their staff.
On the other hand, a gift-card is good for you too; it is a good idea to show love and care to your friends and family. Many birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones moments have come and gone during this moment. As people are stuck inside, a restaurant cooked meal is a great change of pace and makes for a perfect gift. A gift card at a local restaurant can be a small celebration from your side besides supporting the restaurant.
Many restaurants have started to sell merchandise to generate cash; sweatshirts, coffee cups, caps, scarves, tote bags, and even scented candles are available. You can purchase these items from your favorite restaurants to get a memorable keepsake and help them out at the same time!
A small sushi restaurant is offering a unique service to its clients during the pandemic; to help customers celebrate their milestones in quarantine, the business is sending cake along with sushi delivery.
4. Donate to the Restaurants Directly
If we have money to spare, we can donate it directly to restaurants. Choose your favorite local eatery and write them a check. Your help may be the thing they need to keep them afloat. You will not only help one restaurant but all the people that work in that restaurant.
Restaurants can use donations according to their needs. The funds can be used to pay bills, pay salaries, and keep the restaurant running for another day.
Many individuals have opened an account for their local restaurant on Go Fund Me or similar crowdfunding apps to generate much-needed cash. You can go to these platforms and donate to the restaurant of your choice. Remember, no amount is too small!
5. Donate to Funds for Local Restaurant Workers
Celebrities, chefs, celebrity-chefs, and governments have initiated relief programs to support restaurant workers in this difficult time. One way to help your local eating places is to donate generously to these funds.
Some of the most notable ones are:
- Guy Fieri Relief Fund
Guy Fieri, a well-known chef, is working with NRAEF to generate funds for restaurant employees. The fund will give $500 to employees who have been laid off from jobs since the pandemic. Workers who have done a restaurant job for at least 90 days and received their last pay after March 10 are qualified to apply.
- Restaurant Strong Fund
This fund is created with an amalgamation of the Greg Hill Foundation and Boston Beer Company. Formed on March 18, it got $2 million from Boston Beer for giving it a kick start.
- Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
This fund is supported by Golden Road Brewing and many other companies. It is giving $500 to the affected restaurant workers.
- United States Bartenders Guild Charity Foundation
Big companies like Molson Coors Beverage Company and Jameson donated $1 million and $500,000 respectively. The fund is giving grants between $150-$500 to bar servers, and bartenders.
- Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund
Launched on March 15, the fund has collected around $2.6 million. It has distributed half of its funds directly to the restaurant workers. 25% of its funds will be given to the NGOs that are supporting restaurant employees, and the other 25% will be used as non-interest loans.
- Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund
Launched for individually owned restaurants, the fund is donating $15,000 to restaurants. However, it is only available for restaurants with less than or equal to 100 employees.
Conclusion
The National Restaurant Association has predicted a loss of $225 billion in the coming months. We all are optimistic that the outbreak is going to end someday, and the restaurant business will thrive again. But for now, we should do what we can to help our dining places remain open!
Do you know any restaurant that needs help? Share details below to spread the word.