Best Practices
An EASY Way to Effectively Evaluate Restaurant Employee & Manager Performance
Think back to when you were working for an hourly wage. If we're honest, most of us would admit to working a little harder or at least being slightly more diligent in what we were doing when we knew the boss, especially the owner, was watching.
It's no different today with your employees. They naturally tend to behave and perform differently (better) when you are present.
So how do you know what a restaurant employee is doing the vast majority of the time when only their co-workers are around?
One way is to periodically have your employees evaluate each other. Just a few short questions from their peers can reveal a much different (and more accurate) picture of your employees' real on-the-job behaviors and attitudes than you may have of them.
Many restaurants not only conduct peer reviews, but they also have their employees evaluate their managers too. This is often referred to as a 360-degree performance evaluation, when managers assess their team members, managers grade their managers and team members weigh in on how well their supervisors and managers are leading and managing the team.
Some operators report that peer reviews and employee evaluations of managers have had more of a positive impact on their restaurant's level of morale and productivity than anything else they've done.
We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.
– Bill Gates
Owners can only evaluate the behavior and performance they see, and they can't see it all. Let your employees and managers know that they're going to be evaluated by their peers and subordinates. A culture centered around 360-degree performance evaluation may cause them to be a better restaurant employee and manager whether you're watching or not.
For more valuable resources on how to effectively monitor the performance of your restaurant staff, download our Restaurant Employee Evaluation of Manager form and our Peer Review and Self Evaluation forms. Also check out our article about discovering What Your Staff Really Thinks About Working at Your Restaurant.
-
Download
Employee Evaluation of Manager
Often, employees don't leave restaurants, they leave managers. Do you have a manager who is negatively impacting your morale, productivity, turnover and success? Find out quickly by learning what your employees think.
-
Download
Peer Review Form
You can't see everything. So how do your employees REALLY perform (when you're not watching)? How do your employees think about their own job performance & that of their co-workers? By seeing your employees through the eyes of your staff, you'll be better informed on the things each employee does ...
-
Article
Do You Know What Your Staff REALLY Thinks About Working in Your Restaurant? (You Should)
What your people think about working in your restaurant matters a great deal. Good employees can easily get a job elsewhere. Find out what your people are thinking and learn how to take action to improve policies or management practices that may be hindering your ability to create a loyal, motivated ...
