Fast/Casual Dining Training Pros Discuss Latino Issues.

“Training Professionals in Fast/Casual Dining Industry Discuss Practices and Trends in Hiring, Training, Promoting and Retaining Hourly Latino Employees.”

In June of 2006, TV Trainer commissioned Dan Wiese Marketing Research of Cedar Rapids, IA to conduct 26, random, telephone interviews with Employee Training, HR and Learning & Development executives at large, leading, US Restaurant Chains to determine the biggest issues encountered in hiring, training and retaining Latino employees. Concurrently, twenty-six additional surveys were conducted with managers and owners of small, independent restaurants to assess their experiences and practices.

Thought I’d offer a preview of the findings to those interested. If you’d like the full report, follow this link.

Executive Summary of Findings:

• Latinos are excellent employees, valued by restaurants of all sizes. They represent a significant portion of hourly workers in the Fast/Casual Dining Industry (38%) and the increase in their hire will continue.

• Although the basics of learning their job tasks can be accommodated by traditional methods (On the job/Hands-on/Shadowing), promoting and retaining Latino employees requires some changes and additions to their training. Communicating in Spanish (verbally as well as in written materials) results in higher success in job performance and retention. Being attentive to differences between Latino and American culture also provides payback.

• Latino managers of hourly Latino workers are in short supply and highly prized. Although many companies feel their current training methods should facilitate the promotion of hourly Latino workers to managers, successful results are slow in coming. Reasons for this delay include trainers not knowing exactly how to accomplish advancement training (advancement content and programs are only now being designed) as well as culture issues of employee motivation.

• The good news is, many companies recognize and value the Latino worker and have made significant, highly-effective changes in their training methods. And materials to assist a Latino’s advancement to management/more complex jobs are now under development. In the meantime while industry-wide, high employee turnover remains a disturbing trend in the restaurant business, companies that have accommodated and embraced the Latino worker have discovered a loyal, hardworking employee and friend.

And there’s even more good news regarding the future of Latino hourly employees and the companies that invest in them:

• Today’s valuable Latino employee (and their families) will prove to be tomorrow’s loyal , prized customers. Based on well documented Latino culture brand loyalty patterns, those companies now benefiting from the Latino’s strong work ethic will experience additional gains in the future as these workers achieve their American dream… and return to support those that supported them.

Complete report here.