Dig into the latest episode of State of Our Workforce: Unpacked
The restaurant industry is one of the toughest places to talk about job quality. Low margins, unpredictable schedules, and challenging work have long made it difficult for employers to invest in their people. Yet, as we heard in the latest episode of State of Our Workforce: Unpacked, change is not only possible, it’s happening.
In this episode, Bonny Yeager of Partner4Work and Bishara Addison of the Fund for Our Economic Future joined us to explore how workforce organizations can engage restaurant employers in meaningful conversations about retention, job quality, and shared success. Both have worked directly with employers in their regions to test new approaches, and their insights shed light on what it really takes to make progress in this challenging sector.
Meeting Employers Where They Are
One of the biggest themes of the conversation was the importance of meeting employers where they are. Restaurants operate on razor-thin margins and often feel they can’t take risks. That’s why pilots and partnerships are so valuable. Bonny and Bishara emphasized that employers don’t need abstract theory, they need practical solutions that help their businesses thrive while improving jobs for their employees.
Burgatory, a popular local restaurant group in Pittsburgh, strengthened their investment in staff training and support. From building out clear development opportunities to creating a more intentional workplace culture, Burgatory’s efforts demonstrate how even in a high-turnover industry, employers can make strategic changes that boost retention and engagement.
In Northeast Ohio, a family-owned restaurant Pondi’s joined a pilot program testing open-book management. By giving frontline staff financial literacy training and a real voice in decision-making, Pondi’s transformed its culture and its bottom line. In just one year, the restaurant turned a projected loss into significant profits, distributed tens of thousands in staff bonuses, and improved retention well above industry averages. It’s a powerful example of how transparency and shared accountability can change the game for both workers and employers.
Just the Beginning
These stories are just the start. Through our Centering Workers in Job Design initiative, employers like Burgatory and Pondi’s are flipping the script. By engaging their teams to co-create schedules, tasks, and career pathways, these employers shaping the future of restaurant work.
As Bishara and Bonny shared, the work of engaging restaurant employers is ongoing, and it requires persistence, creativity, and trust. The early results point to what’s possible when workforce organizations and employers come together to try something new.
We’ll be sharing more about these employer stories in the months ahead. For now, tune in to hear Bonny and Bishara unpack what it takes to build partnerships with restaurant employers and why these efforts matter for the future of job quality.
