Like most of us during the early days of the pandemic, business owners were running on pure adrenaline, just trying to find ways to survive.

Now, with vaccinations on the rise and eased restrictions, they’re poised and ready to get back to normal. However, they’re facing a major pandemic-induced challenge: chronic labor shortages in the job market.

What led to our current hiring challenges?

To sum it up, the COVID pandemic is to blame. Shutdowns and social distancing caused businesses across industries to close their doors. Those that relied on face-to-face interactions — like restaurants — moved toward a remote, curb-side or delivery business model. Layoffs followed.

Meanwhile, organizations in certain industries, including warehousing, e-commerce, fulfillment and grocery stores, were facing unprecedented demand. To attract workers, they raised wages and offered signing bonuses. Workers flocked to these positions and are not likely to leave them. In fact, a recent survey by Joblist found that nearly 30% of restaurant workers do not plan on returning to the industry.

Lastly, enhanced unemployment benefits could incentivize some workers to stay home. According to QSR Magazine and Black Box Intelligence, these circumstances came together to create “a perfect storm” of talent shortages.

Hiring decisions should be about candidate experience, culture fit for the employer brand, and creating a healthy and diverse workforce. Unfortunately, in today’s job market, sourcing any qualified candidates is a far bigger concern.

5 ways to beat the talent crunch and find qualified candidates

These labor market conditions won’t last forever. While you can be optimistic that several elements of the perfect storm are beginning to pass, it would be a mistake to let that optimism turn to denial. The pandemic has created permanent changes that employers in all industries will have to face going forward. You can adapt by considering the following.

1. Focus on recruiting. Employee referrals, website job boards and social media posts are some of the most successful methods of recruiting for restaurants, according to a poll by Black Box Intelligence and QSR Magazine. Communicate openings to staff and post them online.
2. Recruiters need to create job descriptions that tout your culture and career paths. Show workers a job with your organization is more than just a job. Create and post job descriptions that showcase your culture and your business as a place employees can grow.
3. Make applying easy. Blake Casper, a McDonald’s franchisee who was offering a $50 incentive just for candidates to show up for interviews, had better luck employing a mix of referral programs, signing bonuses and allowing candidates to text to apply. Consider adopting text-to-apply technology.
4. Offer robust onboarding. Show new hires that you’re willing to invest in their expertise and performance by training them well from the start. Not only will training help you attract top talent, it can help you retain the best candidates, too.
5. Offer flexible scheduling. The ability to work remotely is a perk that workers are beginning to expect. If offering remote work isn’t possible because of your business model, offering a flexible schedule can be the next best thing.

The right technology can help find the right candidates

Taking the steps above might sound daunting if you don’t have any type of human resources management solution. But with the right technology, you can make talent acquisition less painful and automate key aspects of your recruiting strategy and hiring process.

When it comes to recruitment, it’s helpful to use a technology that empowers you to post your job openings online and on social media platforms with just a few clicks. Potential candidates should be able to text to apply easily from any mobile device. The right system should also make it easy for you to manage the entire recruitment process all from one central dashboard.

The right solution will also have an onboarding module that will help you recruit the right talent and take steps toward their retention. Look for technology that incorporates all of these capabilities into a system that also helps you manage payroll and scheduling.

Heartland can simplify the hiring process and other staffing needs

Heartland Hire aggregates all your job postings, current applicants, and scheduled interviews all in one convenient dashboard. You can also access relevant resumes, interview notes, job stats and more in your own database. Plus, with Heartland Hire, you can create a new job posting in 60 seconds and post it to your careers page and social media accounts in a few clicks.

This type of technology, combined with our personalized customer service, can help you take the steps you need to adapt to the current talent pool crisis and secure the new team members you need.

You can learn more about Heartland’s human resources management and payroll services by clicking here. To read more about Hiring in Hard Times, check out our infographic here.

“Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – The World Health Organization

• Stress influences many hormones, including cortisol, that impact the production of antibodies & extra stress on the pituitary and adrenal glands leaving us immunocompromised.
• According to many studies, the most common health problem in the world is depression, often manifested in the form of insomnia, stress, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity, and heart disease.
• Social relationships have an impact on our mental health, physical health and mortality risk. Sociologists have identified a link between social relationships and health outcomes. Many studies show that social relationships, both quality and quantity, have short and long-term effects on our health.
• Loneliness can kill. A person who is lonely is 50% more likely to die prematurely than a person who has healthy social relationships. Loneliness can reduce a person’s immune system and cause inflammation in the body which can lead to heart disease and other chronic conditions. Without social or emotional support, stress can place a bigger toll on a person’s health. –Psychology Today

The Cost of Burnout is High:  How Do We Recover?

• Know your stress signals & triggers

Pay attention throughout the day to your ups and downs, periods of flatness, low energy, agitation, sadness, lack of concentration, lack of motivation, hopelessness, feeling lack of control, grief, inability to accomplish and deliver what we usually can, exhaustion, “I have nothing left to give anyone”, irritability, etc.

• Recognize your level of agitation/heightened emotional state and take corrective action to manage in real time as it occurs or as soon afterwards as feasible.

• Choose effective recovery strategies to quiet the mind, relax the body and bring yourself back to a place of restoration.

Focus on right brain activities:

• Sensory
• Appreciation / gratitude
• At the moment awareness / mindfulness
• Not goal-directed

Give some thought to YOU:

Make time for these things daily – even a few minutes throughout the day changes our physiology and makes us stronger physically and mentally.

• What gives you a measure of peace?
• What relaxes you?
• What makes you feel great or at least good?
• What gives you joy?
• What restores you?

Assess and focus on what really matters to you in life and work: what can you get rid of? What can you work around? What can be put off?

Here is what others are doing:

Breathe! It is our best tool – easy and free! If you do nothing else, schedule yourself, make time for deep breathing throughout the day – even a few breaths will trigger a reset in your mind and body. In for 4, hold for 4, out for 6 is a tried-and -true method but anything works!

The way service looks has changed rapidly, but Heartland’s kept up. We’ve upgraded our products and developed new features to help business owners thrive.

Heartland Restaurant is designed specifically for hospitality businesses – from quick service to casual and fine dining. Streamlining operations in one solution makes it easier for restaurant owners to manage and grow their business from tableside to delivery, kiosk to kitchen and from countertop to online.

Point of Sale

Our cloud‐based POS solutions have smooth‐as‐butter integrations with online ordering, contactless payments and more. Manage from work, home or wherever life takes you.

Online Ordering

Make the transition with a simple, reliable solution delivering the revenue you need and the efficient, cleanly designed checkout experience customers expect.

Mobile Payments

Designed for dependability, you can accept payments online or in‐person payments from your phone or tablet in minutes. Curbside pickup just became a breeze.

Email Marketing

Keep your customers close even during social distancing. Provide key information and updates about your hours, current specials, takeout, delivery options and more.

Payroll

Everything in the restaurant industry is fast paced, including your payroll and HR needs. With our tools, you’ll spend less time worrying about employee onboarding or payroll and more time building memorable customer experiences.

Virtual Gift

Ditch physical gift cards for the convenience of selling virtual gift cards on your website. Ideal for customers wanting to show their support, or just looking for a delicious meal.

Want to know more?  Visit Heartland. 

The way service looks has changed rapidly, but Heartland’s kept up. We’ve upgraded our products and developed new features to help business owners thrive.

Heartland Restaurant is designed specifically for hospitality businesses – from quick service to casual and fine dining. Streamlining operations in one solution makes it easier for restaurant owners to manage and grow their business from tableside to delivery, kiosk to kitchen and from countertop to online.

Point of Sale

Our cloud‐based POS solutions have smooth‐as‐butter integrations with online ordering, contactless payments and more. Manage from work, home or wherever life takes you.

Online Ordering

Make the transition with a simple, reliable solution delivering the revenue you need and the efficient, cleanly designed checkout experience customers expect.

Mobile Payments

Designed for dependability, you can accept payments online or in‐person payments from your phone or tablet in minutes. Curbside pickup just became a breeze.

Email Marketing

Keep your customers close even during social distancing. Provide key information and updates about your hours, current specials, takeout, delivery options and more.

Payroll

Everything in the restaurant industry is fast paced, including your payroll and HR needs. With our tools, you’ll spend less time worrying about employee onboarding or payroll and more time building memorable customer experiences.

Virtual Gift

Ditch physical gift cards for the convenience of selling virtual gift cards on your website. Ideal for customers wanting to show their support, or just looking for a delicious meal.

Want to know more?  Visit Heartland.

Minimalism, a movement to rid life of excess in favor of what’s important, is growing in popularity. It’s only natural the trend would extend to business. And it turns out there’s freedom in simplicity. Now, all you need to run your business is:

1. Your phone
2. Heartland Mobile Pay
3. Your next destination

Don’t be fooled; this lightweight card reader is a heavy hitter when it comes to features. Whether your customers tap, dip or swipe, Mobile Pay does it all — and gets you access to your money within 24 hours. The only limitation is the bounds of your entrepreneurial spirit.

The ideal customer experience, anywhere 

Ruggedly designed to work in any environment, Mobile Pay is ready to collect payments wherever business takes you. Process transactions at lightning speed, or generate invoices for later payment. Customers get the efficient experience they expect, and you get the security of EMV electronic chip card technology authenticating each card as genuine.

Never miss a sale 

Go boldly back to business after downloading the Mobile Pay app and connecting the Heartland card reader to your phone or tablet. With Mobile Pay’s reliability, worrying about technical glitches and lost sales are a thing of the past. Rest even easier knowing Mobile Pay encrypts card data as soon as it enters the card reader, and card data is never stored on your mobile device.

Customer trends revealed 

Data helps you run a better business. Mobile Pay provides a companion merchant web portal, accessible 24/365 from any internet-enabled device. Simply view real-time sales, transaction details and inventory. Export reports to share with partners when you need to re-stock or reevaluate.

Get all the functionality of a traditional payment terminal with the counterspace of a phone. Mobile Pay is the flexible solution for your evolving business.

Like most small businesses, restaurateurs threw their 2020 plans out the window after pandemic shutdowns shuttered locations. But SMBs aren’t the only ones who altered their plans. You can add point of sale software providers to the list.

Companies like Heartland began upgrading products and developing new features to help small business owners thrive when business is unusual.

Here are six of the latest product features and things you should consider when deciding to upgrade your point of sale:

Is your POS more than you bargained for?

Point of sale systems aren’t one size fits all. Some solutions are designed for complex businesses, offering features that you’ll never use. Usually, complex solutions mean a complex user experience. If you’re having trouble navigating the display screen, think about the new server you just hired. How many hours will it take to cross-train him on the system?

Support. Support. Support.

If location is most important in small business hierocracy, support is the next bullet on the list. Make sure you’re getting the point of sale support you need as the business grows. Is the company offering consulting support? If not, find a partner who’s aware of the latest payment tech trends and products, so you have the tools you need today and in the future.

Does it have online ordering?

Yes, it’s not new, but before you skip ahead to the next tip, make sure you understand the benefits of integrating online ordering with the point of sale.

A cloud-based POS with a built-in online ordering tool lets you accept orders on your website and manage them at the POS. And since these are cloud-based systems, you can track online sales from anywhere, on any web browser.

Make sure it’s restaurant approved.

Remember, not all point of sale systems are the same. Choose one built for your restaurant. Some newer, cloud-based POS systems offer an array of features like real-time reporting, time and attendance, inventory management, and customer buying behaviors. These systems are perfect if you want to save on inventory costs, reduce overtime wages, and optimize your menu.

Can’t touch this.

Payment companies invested a ton of resources into contactless and touchless payment technology over the last year, with Scan to Pay and Pay-to-Link being the latest to hit the market. These two features are transforming the way restaurants accept payments. Sounds great, but what is Scan to Pay and Pay-by-Link?

Scan to Pay technology lets customers scan a unique QR code with their smartphone, usually printed on their check, and pay for their meal at the table, host stand, or the curb.

With Pay-by-Link, you can create a unique payment link and text it to the customer. No more accepting cards over the phone. No more unpaid to-go orders.

Keep scheduling, payroll, and the POS under one roof.

Why should you find a solution that combines these three functions? Well, fewer headaches for one, but by combining scheduling, payroll, and payments, you’ll spend less time scrolling through spreadsheets and more time growing your business.

An integrated solution shares data, so if a server enters her tip on the point of sale, it’s synced with the other programs. And since these are cloud-based systems, you can create schedules from anywhere, on any web browser. Staff can view schedule updates from their phone in real time.

If it feels like the right time to update your point of sale, we suggest you check out Heartland Restaurant. It’s a smart, cloud-based POS designed for restaurants; it checks all our boxes.

Read more

When “Daniel” shut down due to COVID-19, Chef Daniel Boulud quickly developed creative weekly menus, powered by an online delivery and carryout platform. His pivot shows how some restaurateurs have faced new circumstances with remarkable resilience and innovation.

“In response to the changed environment, the first thing restaurants are doing is purchasing a digital point of sale,” says Andre Nataf, senior vice president of point of sale at Global Payments’ company Heartland. “In addition to accepting digital transactions, they need to have tools to engage with customers, such as email marketing capabilities, loyalty programs and a robust website presence.”

New customer expectations

About 70% of consumers said eating at a restaurant will help them feel normal again, according to a nationwide Global Payments survey of 1,000 consumers. However, when they do arrive, they’ll be more wary of safety, cleanliness and quality.

The good news: when people feel safe, they’re likely to return. Use technology to build loyalty and trust:

Digital ordering. Customers can reserve, order and pay from their mobile apps and devices. Digital also minimizes interactions between delivery drivers and staff.

Touchless payments. Restaurants can add QR codes to digital drive-thru menu boards or restaurant receipts, with customers ordering and paying with Apple Pay or Google Wallet. About 44% of consumers are willing to tap to pay, up from 29% before the pandemic, according to the Global Payments survey.

Digitally powered inventory. Restaurants can control menus with a click or a tap for instantly reflected changes, even with multiple locations.

Cloud agility. Cloud-based platforms allow restaurants to streamline tasks including kitchen management and drive-thru operations. They also help with customer intelligence and social media reputation management, centralizing reporting and analytics for deeper, faster insights.

Guest list management. Digital POS Systems allow customers to place orders while waiting and receive texts when their tables are ready.

UV-C disinfection. Ultraviolet light can kill or inactivate 99% of microorganisms on POS devices and kiosks. It can be added to existing screens and monitor surfaces for when they’ve been cleaned.

Low-contact server tips. Cloud-based tip processing allows employees to receive funds on prepaid cards, and tipping software like Netspend^® Tip Network™ integrate with POS systems to digitally allocate tips.

Consumers are more comfortable in a digital world–technology will only play a bigger role in the future.

Time spent managing employee shifts, PTO, overtime, and full-time/part-time status is time away from customers and coaching the crew.

And labor hours can be some of the biggest costs in the business, usually accounting for 25%-35% of restaurant expenditures; the complexity can use up a lot of a manager’s time, too.

But there is software available that can greatly simplify the process while improving accuracy and regulatory compliance and helping you improve your bottom line. Here are some attributes to consider when shopping for an employee time-management program.

Easier scheduling. Scheduling shifts is like a 3D puzzle with multiple factors affecting PTO and overtime. Look for drag-and-drop technology that automatically recalculates the payroll reporting affected by each change. Also give employees access to a linked mobile app to see schedules, look for open shifts and request changes.

Intuitive time tracking. Forget the old, easy-to-game punch systems. Look for a solution supporting pin-punch and iPad clock-ins/clock-outs. Integrated facial recognition software removes temptation, and GPS-enabled geofencing can prevent offsite check-ins.

Simplified time-off tracking. The best time-management software can be tailored to PTO rules and state mandates and regulations. Look for a system with a mobile app; managers and employees should be able to request time off, and check hours earned, used and available. You’ll also be alerted as employees approach full-time status.

Software integration. Your time management software should sync with your POS and payroll software. But there are advantages to migrating to a single integrated solution– including a single log-on and the power to seamlessly transfer data from one application to another.

Customer support. A good restaurant management program is more than software– it’s backed by a knowledgeable customer support team available by phone or online during restaurant-friendly hours.

Learn More 

About Heartland 

Heartland provides entrepreneurs with software-driven technology to manage and grow their business. The company serves more than 400,000 merchants nationwide, delivering trusted solutions for payment, payroll and human resources, point of sale, customer engagement and lending. Heartland is a leading industry advocate of transparency, merchant rights and security. Heartland is a Global Payments Company (NYSE: GPN). Learn more at heartland.us.

There’s nothing more important these days than finding smart, sustainable ways to save money without sacrificing quality or service. With 35 percent of small businesses citing energy as a major operating expense, natural gas provides a solution that can help save money and energy — while improving quality, service and reliability.

Natural gas is a true win-win for businesses big and small — especially those in the restaurant and lodging industries. That’s because adding natural gas to your energy mix is a cost-effective, energy-efficient way to meet water heating, cooking, drying and other operational needs.

Plus, you can save thousands in natural gas equipment rebates right now. Check with your natural gas provider for more information.

More hot water, less energy

Natural gas water heaters can easily handle high loads while using less energy. What does this mean for your business? It means more hot water in less time. And because it uses less energy, it also means lower utility bills.

In fact, today’s natural gas tank water heaters have new features like superior insulation, efficient design and precise temperature controls that consume one-third less energy than they did just a few years ago. And they work even if there’s a power outage.

Or you can opt for a tankless and get endless hot water on demand with added efficiency that saves even more energy. In fact, these are the additional benefits:

• Endless supply of hot water
• No more storing unneeded hot water
• Life expectancy of more than 20 years
• Space saving over tank style

Cut your kitchen’s operating costs

You already know professional chefs prefer natural gas for all their cooking, frying and baking needs, thanks to perks like instant heat, a wide range of temperature controls, and precise settings. While natural gas booster heaters can help save dishwashing time and effort.

Natural gas ranges, fryers, ovens and booster heaters provide the right tools to make your restaurant or kitchen more efficient while cutting operating costs with benefits like:

• Easier and more consistent cooking with precision heat control
• No waiting for an element to heat up with instant on/off
• A power outage is typically no trouble for gas appliances, so you can keep serving when electricity-based kitchens are shut down.
• The flame heats the bottoms and sides of pans, which can mean it works faster
• Wash and sanitize dishes faster with a natural gas booster heater

High-demand drying — faster

Linens and clothes dry faster, more thoroughly and more economically with natural gas. And because natural gas dryers produce a moist heat, it’s gentler on fabric. Whether it’s for your hotel, lodge or salon, natural gas dryers are the ticket for your high-demand drying needs.

The smarter, tougher energy for Florida businesses

Tough times require strategic business decisions. At the Florida Natural Gas Association, we’re here for you. If you want to learn more about how natural gas can benefit your business, give us a call or visit FNGA.com/FRLA.

By Michael Young

COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. It’s forced parents to become teachers, enterprises to shift business models as well as turned ships and convention centers into hospitals. It’s allowed us to push technology to new limits as it kept people safe, helped business stay open, kept culture alive and comforted us in the face of great uncertainty. It’s also exacerbated cracks in our society – gaps in access to technology, infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic security.

As countries, communities and businesses struggle to recover while addressing the growing concerns around social injustice, it gives us an opportunity to reimagine what a better world could look like. The current environment has shown the need for governments and businesses to innovate and organize themselves to adapt as well as respond rapidly to unforeseen external pressures. This moment has significantly accelerated what already was a growing trend of digital transformation.

A Path Forward for Policymakers

The disruption caused by the current environment offers policymakers around the world the unique opportunity to fully adopt and utilize digital technologies, such as tele-health, tele-work and remote learning solutions, and strengthen their resilience and competitive posture.

As Dell Technologies continues to develop and provide innovative and empowering technology solutions, we are mindful of both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with such powerful tools. Our insights and experience as a global leader in applying emerging technology solutions to improve lives have informed our view on how governments should approach their next steps in a path forward. We believe governments have a responsibility to boost digital infrastructure, as connectivity has become ever more vital for all of us – big businesses and entrepreneurs, universities and schools, families and individuals, in metropolises and rural communities – to continue to function at a distance. Governments also should work with the private sector to ensure privacy protection and cybersecurity, as new paths of communication and work environments have highlighted increased risk of cyber-attacks. To enhance innovation, governments should foster an environment for businesses to create jobs, for entrepreneurs to create new opportunities, for a data-driven economy to realize its full potential, and for everyone to have access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity.

Policymakers and businesses are recognizing that this situation has three phases, each of which offer the opportunity for governments to make progress:

• Respond by adopting immediate relief measures to safeguard the economy and public health;
• Recover by developing medium-term measures to activate an economic rebound; and
• Reimagine by transforming how we work, learn, heal, create, and play.

Read our full whitepaper online titled “Accelerating Digital Transformation in 2020: A Path Forward for Policymakers” which outlines our view of accelerating convergence of technology, innovation and new opportunities for all. We look forward to working with governments across the globe to assist in undertaking their digital transformation to address humanity’s greatest challenges.

If you’d like to learn more about how digital transformation can help your business, get additional information about the discount program, or even have general questions about Dell Technologies, reach out to Steven.Shipe@Dell.com and let him know you’re with FRLA. You can also shop online at www.dell.com/FRLA.

Michael Young is the Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Dell Technologies.