As the competition for employees continues to grow, restaurants are enhancing their benefit packages as a way to lure and retain staff.

“To offer truly meaningful benefits, it is critical to survey employees and ask them what they want. In 1997 our employees told us they wanted tuition reimbursement. Since then it’s been very popular with students, who are a large percentage of our staff.” –Vici Wilkerson, director of human resources, Carino’s Italian Grill

Qdoba Mexican Grill locations in Denver, CO, St. Louis, MO, and Seattle, WA, host The Knowledge Series – free seminars to help employees with their lives outside work (e.g., buying a home, financial management, building healthy families). Seminars are typically held at restaurants between services. “We believe that if we can help improve the quality of employees’ personal lives, it makes Qdoba a better place to work,” says Tiffany Herron, manager, compensation/benefits. . . .A major perk of working at Mercy Wine Bar, Dallas, TX, are all-expense paid trips for staff. Last year the entire staff of servers (14 people, split in two groups of seven) went to the California wine country. This year two servers are being sent to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. “It’s a great way for us to invest in our people and increase their wine knowledge so they can share it with our guests,” says manager Mike Castagne. “These trips are also a really good retention tool, helping to keep our turnover around 5%”. . . . From day one employees who work 25+ hours a week at Carino’s Italian Grill headquartered in Austin, TX, may apply for tuition reimbursement, from $200 to $1,000 per semester (amounts increase with tenure; the highest amount is for hospitality majors). “This provides an extra incentive for students to join us,” says Vici Wilkerson, director of human resources. “Our ultimate goal is to entice them to enter our management program”. . . .At MK, Chicago, IL, gm Kara Sherman says, “We’re trying to build loyalty and create a family environment for the staff. One way we do this is by offering three weeks paid vacation to those who are employed for five years or more.” Currently, 15 employees qualify.