May 13, 2021
Court Desautels, CEO of the Neighbourhood Group of Companies, shares how his restaurants operate differently. They have health and wellness programs, including paid health benefits and education supports. They interview and listen to their employees to see what they need and how they can help. They empower the employees to decide which local charitable organizations to support. They sold gift cards during COVID and gave all the proceeds to their employees, allocated by an employee team. All of this translates to a big investment, one that’s paying off, including in cutting a typically high restaurant attrition rate in half, and in a loyal clientele.
Addressing some industry challenges COVID has highlighted, Court also shares some suggestions of how other restaurants might follow suit, as well as changes that are needed in the industry to benefit all restaurant employees. Whether you’re a business leader, restaurant employee, you like to eat out, or you’re interested in seeing more decent work and less precarious employment, there are messages here for you. Have a listen.
Resources
The Neighbourhood Group of Restaurants: https://www.neighbourhoodgroup.com/restaurants
Court Desautels: https://www.linkedin.com/in/court-desautels-7327971a
Let My People Go Surfing book: https://www.patagonia.com/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-revised-paperback-book/BK067.html
B Corp: https://bcorporation.net
Danny Meyer, Founder & CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group: https://www.ushgnyc.com/team-member/danny-meyer/
Economic Recovery Task Force, Guelph: https://guelph.ca/city-hall/mayor-and-council/mayors-office/mayors-task-force-on-economic-recovery/
Restaurants Canada: https://www.restaurantscanada.org
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Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca