HUMAN RESOURCES
Staffing Up: Working Through Labor Shortages
From Share Our Strength
Strategies to staff up and persevere through this
challenging time. W
ith nationwide labor and supply shortages impacting every corner of the economy, more schools are looking to
overcome hurdles with innovative ideas and approaches. Here are some strategies that school districts have been using to staff up and persevere through this challenging time.
Recruit Volunteers
• Encourage High School Students to Apply for Work-study or Volunteer Positions. If the location and timing permit, students looking for work-study or volunteer ser- vice-learning hours can help with before- school prep, afterschool prep, or packing distance learning meals.
• Connect with Career and Technical Edu- cation (CTE) Programs. Your local high schools may have students who are avail- able and interested in gaining culinary experience by working before and after school to prepare meals.
• Build Partnerships. Local universities, wellness, culinary, and hospitality insti- tutions may be able to help you find dietetic interns or undergraduate students in the nutrition department who can help outside of their academic schedule. Offer- ing hands-on experiences can be a great resume builder for these students.
Tip: Collaboration Creates Mutual Wins. Foodbanks and other community organiza- tions may be able to help recruit, manage, and train volunteers. Reach out to summer meals program partners and organizations that aided the community through the COVID pandemic to see how you can work together to overcome supply chain and staff- ing challenges.
Expand Staff Benefits
• Increase Compensation or Use Signing Bonuses. Many school districts have used
32 MAY 2022 | SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS
emergency funding, such as ESSER funds, to increase the hourly rate or provide one-time financial compensation as incen- tives for hiring. (Note: Bonuses may not be available for union employees.)
• Pair Positions to Increase Benefits. Pairing food services positions with other depart- ments dealing with a labor shortage can help school district employees reach the required hours to receive benefits. For example, have a staffer work three hours in foodservice and four hours in transportation.
Another way to navigate staffing shortages is to be creative with
staff hours and kitchen logistics to reduce and relieve labor needs.
Tip: Host an Open House. Host an open house where applicants can learn more, get questions answered, submit applications, have their interviews and do other paper- work. The frequency is up to you, but a two-hour weekly or bi-weekly open house can be an excellent strategy for recruiting staff. Just don’t forget to advertise! Consider promoting your open house events on your job descriptions and through Facebook ads, newsletters, and local job agencies.
Broaden Your Advertising Plan
• Promote Food Service Jobs Wherever You Can. Promote the perks of working at the school, such as working only dur- ing school hours, no evening or weekend work, part-time options, benefits, etc. List
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