Top 10 Traits of a Great Employer

Question: What makes a good employer? We were curious as well, so we surveyed our large community of 170K+ for answers. We asked members to select ten characteristics that their ideal boss would have. Here are some takeaways from our findings.

Employees want:

• A leader, a person who is focused and can guide workers in the right direction. This trait is much needed when the team has to accomplish company goals.
• A boss that is supportive and has a positive attitude is favorable. Staffers like to be encouraged and praised for their work, as it helps them grow to become greater individuals and move into bigger roles.
• To hear the truth, even though it may be unpleasant. Honesty is key!

To learn more on this, see the visual infographic below:

These traits were what was told to us by our hospitality-based network, however, they are applicable across all industries. So employers, do keep note, because you surely would like to be that great boss that everybody wants to have.

Look forward to our blog post on the top 10 traits of a great employee coming soon.

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Minimum Wage Changes to New York’s Fast Food Industry

As we previously discussed in May and July of this year, wage and hour requirements for the fast food industry in New York State are changing starting in the new year. These changes, which go into effect on December 31, 2015, result from recommendations made by the Fast Food Wage Board, which Governor Andrew Cuomo instructed Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino to empanel in May of 2015. The Wage Board announced its recommendations in July, and Acting Commissioner Musolino accepted those recommendations in September of 2015.

The new requirements apply to any employee working for a covered “Fast Food Establishment” if the employee’s job duties included at least one of the following: customer service, cooking, food or drink preparation, delivery, security, stocking supplies or equipment, cleaning, or routine maintenance.

A covered “Fast Food Establishment” is any business that meets the following criteria:

• Primarily serves food or drinks, including coffee shops, juice bars, donut shops, and ice cream parlors; and
• Offers limited service, where customers order and pay before eating, including restaurants with tables but without full table service, and places that only provide take-out service; and
• Is part of a chain of 30 or more locations, including individually-owned establishments associated with a brand that has 30 or more locations nationally.

The higher minimum wage rates for covered employees are as follows:

New York City:

• $10.50 per hour beginning December 31, 2015;
• $12.00 per hour beginning December 31, 2016;
• $13.50 per hour beginning December 31, 2017; and
• $15.00 per hour beginning December 31, 2018.

New York State (excluding New York City):

• $9.75 per hour beginning December 31, 2015;
• $10.75 per hour beginning December 31, 2016;
• $11.75 per hour beginning December 31, 2017;
• $12.75 per hour beginning December 31, 2018;
• $13.75 per hour beginning December 31, 2019;
• $14.50 per hour beginning December 31, 2020; and
• $15.00 per hour beginning July 1, 2021.

The New York State Department of Labor has now published a revised Hospitality Industry Wage Order codifying the new requirements in addition to a page addressing a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to assist employers with implementing the new requirements.

There are several points to note from the new wage order and the FAQs, which employers should watch as they implement changes to their policies in an effort to remain in compliance with the law:

• Tip credits are not available for fast food employees. However, we note that a fast food establishment is one where patrons order and pay before eating and which offers limited service. So, if employees were previously receiving a tip credit wage because they were waiting on and regularly receiving tips from customers, it is very possible, if not likely, that the employees will not be considered fast food employees under the new requirements.
• Although fast food workers do not regularly earn tips and an employer cannot take a tip credit for them, fast food employees must be allowed to keep any tips that they do earn.
• With the increase in the minimum wage for fast food employees, employers must be sure to pay the higher rate for spread-of-hours pay and call-in pay, should those apply.
• A “fast food establishment” need only have 30 locations nationally–not 30 locations in New York State–to qualify for coverage.
• The 30 establishments need not be commonly owned and operated to trigger coverage as a “fast food establishment.” The 30 establishments can be operated as a franchise if the franchisor and franchisee own or operate 30 establishments.
• A “chain” is defined as a set of establishments that share a common brand or that are characterized by standardized options for decor, marketing, packaging, products, and services.

(via JDSupra)

The Hottest Restaurants to Work At in LA

Eater decided that Los Angeles was America's best dining city in 2015. Food editor Bill Addison said, "Los Angeles just has it right now. The city is the current epicenter of freethinking and diversity in American cooking."

Broken Spanish, Moruno, Hanjip, Estrella and SMYC were just some of the few great dining establishments that the city had to offer. As the eating scene is booming in LA, so must the job market. Continue reading to see which of these restaurants are hiring:

BROKEN SPANISH

Chef Ray Garcia's Broken Spanish, located in Downtown LA, was a home run with nearly all the food writers. The restaurant menu boasts sophisticated Mexican dishes and drinks. The space is beautifully set with sleek glass and rustic details.

Broken Spanish is not hiring right now, but do keep an eye out for job openings in the future.

MORUNO

Fast casual meals, like meat kebabs and sandwiches, are staple foods at Moruno. The take-out window is shuttered for now, but Moruno is looking to open up an even bigger space (with a larger menu and drinks) in the new year at Grand Central Market.

Moruno is currently hiring Line Cooks, Bartenders, Servers and more.

HANJIP

Contemporary BBQ spot Hanjip opened not too long ago in Culver City, but it quickly became a huge favorite amongst foodies. It brings a new style of Korean barbecue to the neighborhood. Eddie Lin of Deep End Dining said, "Oh and Bombet [Hanjip's founders] bring French flair to a hearty Korean standby."

Hanjip is seeking to fill various positions, including Sous Chef, Cook, Server and more.

ESTRELLA

Estrella, which combines both indoor and outdoor elements, is like an oasis on the bustling Sunset Strip. Led by former Top Chef contestant Dakota Weiss as the executive chef, the restaurant is a popular spot for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner.

The team at Estrella is looking for experienced Restaurant Managers and Bakers to join them.

SANTA MONICA YACHT CLUB (SMYC)

SMYC's concept is just spot on. Not only does it have globally inspired seafood and cocktails on their menu, the restaurant's interior is designed to look like a modern yacht.

There are several openings at SMYC for a Line Cook, Sous Chef and more at the moment.

(via Eater LA)

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The Hottest Restaurants to Work At in NYC

At the end of every year, the contributing food writers at Eater come together and compile a list of their new favorite restaurants. The New York office selected Santina, Sadelle's, The Polo Bar, O Ya, amongst other top restaurants in the city.

Find out what the major food writers and influencers were raving about this year. Also, find out the job opportunities that are open at the hot establishments:

SANTINA

Major Food Group's Santina was a huge hit for more than just a few writers at Eater. It was noted that Santina had delicious, yet affordable coastal Italian fare. The restaurant is located in a beautiful space in NYC's Meatpacking District as well; the interior is super bright and vibrant. To match, the food was served on fun, colorful plateware. Lockhart Steele wrote, "The one new place I loved, kept going back to, and will return to often in the new year, God willing? Santina."

If you are interested in working at Santina as a FOH Server, apply here.

SADELLE'S

You may have heard of Sadelle's already because they were previously mentioned in our Celebrating National Pastry Day post. Again, they had food critics were all over Sadelle's; not only for their bagels, but brunch, dinner and everything in between. Hillary Dixler, a senior at Eater, couldn't resist either. She said, "I didn't think I'd have room in my heart for this one, but turns out I do.

Sadelle's is still looking for Servers to join the team in the new year.

THE POLO BAR

Ralph Lauren went beyond the realms of fashion this year with the opening of his first restaurant, The Polo Bar. The menu is largely inspired by the designer himself; it consists of many of his favorite American dishes, such as steaks and burgers. Eater's Helen Rosner very much enjoyed The Polo Bar's pastrami sandwich.

Check out The Polo's Bar job opportunities for Pastry Cooks, Baristas and Bussers.

O YA

Chef couple Tim and Nancy Cushman brought O Ya over from Boston this past summer. The upscale and inventive sushi omakase menus were an instant hit with New Yorkers. Besides great seafood offerings, O Ya offers a wide selection of refreshing sakes and drinks.

O Ya is currently hiring Servers, Hosts/Hostesses and Line Cooks.

(via Eater NY)

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Tips for Job Searching During the Holidays

 

Based on past trends, December is historically a slow hiring month. You can still find a short-term gig, holding a position that is limited to just the winter and year-end holidays. However, if you're not interested in such jobs, use your time productively when demand is not so high, and prepare for the upcoming job hiring season ahead.

Here are some tips to help you with job hunting for 2016:

Refresh your profile, experiences and skills.

You may have been busy the few months prior, so this is a great time for you to update your Harri profile. Add any new work experience and include any extra skills you have learned. Did you take any photos or videos of your work? If yes, showcase it on your Harri gallery.

Reconnect with contacts and references.

Reach out to the people you have met and connected with throughout the year. Whether you are contacting them because you want to say a simple hello or thank you, aim to email them a few days to a week after the new year. For one, they will most likely be occupied with urgent priorities during the holidays. You certainly do not want your message to be lost in a sea of other emails. If you want a reference, have a draft email prepared and ready to send out.

Clean up your social media.

Like how you do research on companies, employers may do a background check on you. They could possibly see your social activity on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to clear off anything that could hurt your chances of earning a job. To be safe, make changes to your privacy settings.

Look through job boards and career pages.

Even though you don't see the job you want listed just yet, you can get a head start by skimming through the job boards. Go through the jobs and read the descriptions that seem similar to your dream job; keep note of such job titles. This will be really helpful when you do another job search in the future. Also, you should sign up for notifications for the types of jobs you want to apply for. On Harri, we make it easy for you, since you receive automatic alerts on certain jobs, including front-of-house or back-of-house specific positions, and more.

Best of luck to you and your job search in the new year!

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