To attract star recruits in this rigid labor market, some foodservice operations are sweetening job offers with innovative benefits such as pet insurance or discounts on wireless internet and hotels. However, some operators are finding that their workforce doesn’t always take advantage of their benefits.
At Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, many team members qualify for state or federal programs, and don’t opt for the employer’s health benefits. “We’re trying to get a pulse on what’s really important generationally,” says Joshua Fels, director of culinary and nutrition services for the medical facility. “We have everything from millennials, who don’t understand anything about the benefits offered, [to] boomers who are fully invested in those benefits.” Finding out what exactly matters to these staff members at different stages of life requires some effort, he says. Here’s how Fels works to select the right perks for his team.