Recently I posted a piece about the lack of talent entering the industry, many restaurants fighting to hire anyone let alone passionate, driven individuals.
So serious the situation, in some cases forced closures due to a lack of man power!
When reading the comments it was overwhelmingly clear what the industry perceived the root cause!
Industry burnout!
Overworked and underpaid!
Low salaries and long hours!
Looking deeper into this, what is actually the root cause, this is Cleary the problem but what has caused this situation ?
Greedy owners hogging all the profit?
Rising food prices increasing cost?
Extortionate rents from greedy land lords?
Unreasonable salary expectations ?
Something else or all the above?
Now I have always been a firm believer in hard work and that extremely hard work and dedication is what is needed to be successful, in any industry!
Even mega billionaire and entrepreneur Elon musk, he did not become successful working 40 hours a week, he worked 24 hours a day almost, stopping only to sleep, it is well documented that during the early days he would break only to sleep at his desk .
Now I appreciate that this level of success is unique, but it does somehow bring into reality that hard work and long hours is not unique to our industry and that even rich university graduates need to make sacrifices and hurt for success!
I have been in the industry for 25 years now, I have never had a job outside of the industry.
I have worked in terrible, abusive environments for below minimum salary, my first full time job out of school was a 6 day week, 14 hours per day for an embarrassing salary of £7500 per year!
But was that really so bad, I had very little to offer the company, I had no experience, I was there to learn and guess what? I was getting paid to do it!
It was tough, it was grueling but I got my head down, listened, learned and worked my way up, I was junior sous in Michelin stared restaurants by 22, head chef by 27!
I can't deny my training was tough, I worked crazy hours, was stressed and lived below the poverty line for large periods of time but the industry has been very kind to me!
I have traveled the world and steadily progressed to where I am now, not rich by any stretch of the imagination but my family and I are comfortable.
Now I know for a fact that the industry does not treat people in the same way we were treated 20 years ago!
And rightfully so!
Salaries are higher, people work fewer hours and fewer days!
5 day work weeks are the industry norm these days and some countries have even adopted a 4 day work week, amazing !
This is great for work life balance but.....
Is it enough to learn the business and be successful ?
Is more required of people to be successful and earn a competitive salary?
Are the Salaries fair relative to the revenue my work generates ?
This is ultimately what it comes down to at the end of the day, an employer pays an employee based on their contribution to the business!
It doesn't matter how hard you work, how many hours you spend there, all that really matters is how much revenue you generate for the company !
Begs the question as a fresh employee with little or no experience, you are essentially labor, not innovating, not driving sales, however you are gaining knowledge and experience to improve your future prospects.
Still an important part for the operation no doubt but what is really a fair salary ?
Now I have first year employees demanding what a CDP with 5 years experience would have earned 10 years ago.
Profit margins have not increased, infact with raising taxes, food prices ,utilities etc... profit margins have shrunk, yet Salaries have risen!
In my opinion people now are fairly paid relative to the amount of revenue they generate for the company, in this regard perhaps in some cases overpaid!
Are they fairly compensated for the hours they work? Perhaps and in most cases I would say no!
But I am of the opinion that this is an industry problem, the margins and profitability of businesses are what they are, stop blaming the owners !
You can't honestly expect to work a 40 hour week and take home more than the owner, can you?
Learn your trade, work hard, innovate, look for ways to generate more revenue and in turn improve your future prospects!
For full disclosure I am an employee, I do not own the businesses I operate, I am writing this from the perspective of an employee!
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