HUMAN RESOURCES
advertisements on your schools’ website, in school emails and communication to parents, and on lunch menus and in lunch menu widget pop-ups. Include advertisements on staff memos and mention job openings at staff meetings. If distributing to dis- tance learners, send employment flyers home with grab ‘n go meals.
• Advertise at Unemployment Offices or Temporary Staffing Agencies. Reach out to these agen- cies in your community to inquire about available staff.
• Place Advertisements at Diners or Community Gathering Spaces. Advertise on paper placemats at restaurants, in store windows, and on community bulletin boards. Include QR codes or SMS short codes for easy access to applications.
• Pass Out Your Business Cards. Design your business card with your contact information on the front, and job opening infor- mation on the back. Include a QR code for quick application reference.
• Connect with Local Restaurants and Food-Related Businesses. Restaurant staff may have the flexibility to work daytime hours, as their restaurant shifts may not start until the evening. Ask restau- rant staff if they want to pick up extra hours to help prepare/serve meals at your school.
• Hire Parents. During the pan- demic, some families experienced job loss and may not have consid- ered working at school while their kids were in class. Using equitable and inclusive language, ask the PTA and schools to communicate job openings to parents.
Engage Non-School Nutrition Staff
• Enlist Substitute Teachers. Check with your districts’ human resources department to see if substitute teachers could support the food service operations.
• Recruit Everyone to Lend a Hand. Ask school administrative and support staff if they have the availability to help in the kitchen. Use a signup sheet or Google Doc to communicate when and what type of help is needed
Utilize Creative Logistics
Another way to navigate staffing shortages is to be creative with staff hours and kitchen logistics to reduce and relieve labor needs. The exam- ples below are methods that school districts have found to be helpful. • Implement Self-Service Options within High Schools. This allows operations to continue with less staff.
• Reassign Staff Throughout Your District Kitchens. Having a flex- ible workforce allows for better preparation if a staffer or entire kitchen needs to quarantine. Be sure to reimburse employees for mileage if they are traveling to dif- ferent kitchens to work.
• Delegate Foodservice Needs. Based on the size and number of kitchens throughout your district, you may be able to delegate ser- vices. For example, utilize a large kitchen to prep food for smaller kitchens (then deliver the neces- sary food items to each kitchen), use one kitchen to make all baked goods, etc.
• Use Packaging Equipment to Increase Efficiency. The invest- ment in packaging equipment
could decrease the labor hours needed to prepare and serve food, and allow you to make more self- serve food items.
• Change the Menu. Choose food and menu options based on the staff labor available. When fewer staff members are avail- able, choose to make less labor- intensive food items.
• Decrease Menu Options. Serving fewer entrée choices may tempo- rarily decrease the preparation needed to serve multiple meals.
Tip: Find Creative Ways to Show Appreciation. School food service staffers are all doing fantastic work! Remember to celebrate accomplish- ments and express gratitude to your team in big and small ways. While increased access to benefits and com- petitive compensation are the best ways to recruit and retain employ- ees, celebrating everyday wins can be another way to show appreciation. Thank you cards, signs, student let- ters, etc., can be ways to show daily appreciation, or consider a recogni- tion event at the school. A little rec- ognition goes a long way! No Kid Hungry is working to end
childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. No Kid Hungry is a cam- paign of Share Our Strength. If you work with kids and meals
programs, visit No Kid Hun- gry’s Center for Best Practices (
bestpractices.nokidhungry.org) to find resources that can help. Their program, policy, and innovation experts provide information to stakeholders; conduct programmatic and policy research and analysis; and test promising ideas to identify emerging best practices.
Looking for resources, information, tools, connections? Visit
asbointl.org today and advance your career and the school business profession.
asbointl.org
SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS | MAY 2022 33
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