Valuable Tax Credits for Hospitality Workers

Get the word out to employees and customers who could benefit from the Earned Income and the Child Tax credits, which reduce the amount of income tax workers owe. Workers who don't make enough money to owe taxes can still qualify for the credit, but they must file tax returns to claim the credits.

Earned Income Credit
The EIC is a refundable, federal income tax credit for full- and part-time workers who fall below certain income thresholds. Employers must notify employees for whom income tax was not withheld at any time during the year and are encouraged to notify employees whose wages for 2015 were less than $53,267 that he or she may be eligible. The EIC can be worth as much $6,242. Singles who raised children and earned less than $47,747, or those who are married filing jointly, raised children and earned less than $53,267, in 2015 can claim the credit, as well as singles not raising children who earned less than $14,820 last year or, for those who are married filing jointly, $20,330.

Some workers with children choose to receive part of their EIC payments in advance as part of their regular paychecks and the rest after they file their annual tax returns. Individual taxpayers who earned less than $39,131, or those married filing jointly who earned less than $44,651, with at least one qualifying child are eligible.

Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $1,000 for each qualifying child under 17. The tax credits can help employees pay for childcare and cover other day-to-day needs. Families who earned at least $3,000 in taxable income in 2015 are eligible.

Employer assistance
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities offers free posters, fliers and paycheck inserts for employers. Color posters are available in English and Spanish, and fliers are available in 21 languages. Get more information at 202-408-1080. Download thematerials, and get tips to promote the tax credits.

The Internal Revenue Service also offers an employer toolkit with outreach tips, posters, payroll stuffers, and social media tools. 

Free tax help
The IRS offers free electronic filing and assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, a partnership with community-based organizations. Workers who earned less than $54,000 in 2015 are eligible, as well as people with limited English-language skills, people with disabilities and the elderly. Taxpayers can call 800-906-9887 to find a VITA site near them. The IRS helpline at 800-829-1040 is set up to answer taxpayer calls about credits or other tax issues. 

(via National Restaurant Association)

Tips on How To Be a Successful Restaurant Owner

Behind every great restaurant is a great restaurant owner. In order for your restaurant to become a success, you'll need to be an effective leader for your team. Here are four key pieces of advice on how to be a successful restaurant owner: 

Listen to your staff.

Your staff, especially the front-of-house team, interact with customers on the daily. They have a first-hand account of what the dining hall is like, and what can be improved so that they can serve guests better. Hear your employees out by holding sessions where they can voice out their concerns. Stay close to them, so they feel comfortable enough to share their ideas.

Your guests are equally as important.

Like your staff, your customers' feelings should not be overlooked. Include a suggestions/comments card along with the bill, so that diners can rate their experience, the service, the food and other items that you want to know more about. Gather the cards and analyze them to see if there are any particular patterns. Publish the results, then have your staff go through them. Review the information as a group, as well, so that everybody understands what needs to be fixed.

Leave room for growth and expansion.

Keep in mind you cannot rush success. It is possible that your restaurant can expand in physical size/scale and you might need to hire more staff. Also, realize that at a certain point, growth and sales will slow down. Be sure to have a back-up plan or ideas on how you can help grow the business. Maybe consider opening a second location, or even relocating. If not, what about reworking your restaurant's concept, menu, etc.?

Remember your role as the leader.

As the restaurant owner, be sure that you lead by example. Conduct yourself as a person that is hard working and dedicated to the restaurant. When your employees see that, they will be encouraged to be so too. You want your staffers to know you as somebody that is strong and dependable.

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How to Write the Perfect Thank You Note

The job interview isn't over once you leave the meeting room. There is still one more step to the process, the thank you note.

#1: Salute with your interviewer's name.

Start off the note with "Dear Mr./Mrs." and include your interviewer's name. When you greet with their name, it shows that it is more personalized and you put thought into writing, rather than reusing a generic template. Also, indicate the date you met and position you applied for, to help refresh their memory. Your hiring manager might be conducting multiple interviews.

#2: Express your gratitude.

A thank you note/email would not be one if you do not include "Thank you". Write that you appreciated the time they took out to meet, speak and consider you for the position.

#3: Confirm that you are interested.

Let the hiring manager know that you are still interested in the position. State how you are excited to work for the company, and how you look forward to learning and growing with them. HR professionals like to hear enthusiasm from potential candidates when applying to jobs.

#4: Promote yourself.

Write a little promotional blurb about yourself. Briefly discuss your strengths and skills, and how they would be valuable to the team. You may also want to talk about your previous experience in the hospitality industry. Basically, provide further support on why you are qualified and the best candidate for the position. 

#5: Remember to follow up.

Sum up by writing thank you once more, and suggesting to keep in contact. Mention how you can be reached again via email or phone, if your hiring manager has any further questions. If you do not hear back from him/her in about a week or so, send a friendly a reminder email.

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How to Ace Your Video Job Interview

Many companies, like ones on Harri, are embracing modern hiring methods. Video interviews are quickly becoming common practice.

Here are some tips on how to ace your next video interview:

#1: Do a technology test run.

You do not want to miss out on the job interview due to technical difficulties. Double check to see that all your technology, including your video/webcam software, microphone and speakers, are running properly. 

#2: Practice in front of your screen.

In addition to making sure your equipment is working, conduct a trial video job interview. Ask a friend to pretend and play the role of the hiring manager. Rehearsing, even for a little bit, can help calm your nerves. Maybe consider practicing and answering the most common restaurant job interview questions during the mock interview.

#3: Be distraction free.

It is essential that you select a place where you will not be disturbed.

• Interview in a quiet, well-lit space, so that your interviewer can hear and see you clearly.
• Good lighting is also appreciated. Sit in front of a light source, rather than behind it, because it will create shadows.
• Turn off of silence your phone during the interview.

#4: Dress as if you would in a face-to-face interview.

Even though you are not sitting in on an in-person interview, you still have to be in presentable attire. Wear a button-down or blouse, and pants. It is important to dress in a complete outfit because it will help you feel and project professionalism when you speak with your potential employer.

#5: Send a thank-you note and follow up.

As you would in any other interview, remember to thank the person you interviewed with for their time. After, send them an email, so that you can easily contact them in a week or two about updates in your job status.

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High Projections for Restaurant Job Growth in 2016

Restaurant job growth is projected to outpace the overall economy in 2016, and the industry will add more than 300,000 jobs for the sixth consecutive calendar year, according to the NRA’s Chief Economist Bruce Grindy. His Economist’s Notebookcommentary and analysis appears regularly on Restaurant.org and Restaurant TrendMapper.

The restaurant industry continues to be one of the strongest job creators in the economy, with industry job growth outpacing the overall economy for the 16th consecutive year in 2015. Eating and drinking places, the primary component of the restaurant industry accounting for three-fourths of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce, added jobs at a 3.2 percent rate in 2015. This was more than a full percentage point above the 2.1 percent gain in total U.S. employment.

The industry’s 2015 gain marked the fourth consecutive year with job growth of at least 3 percent, the longest streak since the mid-1980s. With job growth outstripping the overall economy in each of the last 16 years, the eating-and-drinking-place sector saw its employment level jump by 38 percent. In contrast, the total number of jobs in the economy increased by only 10 percent during the same period.

Within the industry, job growth remained broad-based in 2015, with most of the major segments posting solid gains. The snack-and-nonalcoholic-beverage-bar segment – which includes concepts like coffee, doughnut and ice cream shops – led the way with a robust 6.5 percent employment gain in 2015, the fourth consecutive year with growth above 5 percent.

The quickservice segment added jobs at a 3.4 percent rate in 2015, while the tableservice segment expanded payrolls at a 3.3 percent pace.

Looking ahead, the NRA expects eating and drinking places to add jobs at a 3.0 percent rate in 2016, which will represent the fifth consecutive year in which the restaurant industry registered job growth of at least 3 percent. In comparison, the overall economy hasn’t posted job growth of 3 percent since 1994.

The projected 2016 increase will also represent the sixth consecutive calendar year in which restaurants added more than 300,000 jobs.

For the national labor market, 2015 was the strongest year yet in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The national economy added a net 2.9 million jobs on an annual basis in 2015, and the 2.1 percent employment increase was the strongest gain in 15 years.

Although the economy is expected to build on 2015’s positive performance, growth will likely be somewhat slower in 2016. The NRA projects total U.S. employment to increase 1.8 percent in 2016, down slightly from the 2.1 percent gain posted in 2015.

(via National Restaurant Association)