People Report, a human resources research company for the foodservice industry, will host the second annual QSR Workforce Symposium June 24-25 in Dallas, Texas, at the Las Colinas Marriott.
The theme for the conference is “Now more than ever, people matter.” With this idea in mind, the People Report team along with its steering committee arranged an agenda that addresses human capital issues. Committee member Michael Serchia, vice president of human resources for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, says the convention will cover such issues as “turnover, training and development, retention, recruiting, and motivation.”
On the schedule are workshops, breakout sessions, general sessions, and networking opportunities. The workshops and breakout sessions provide smaller settings in which guests can ask questions and be more involved in discussions. Featured speakers include Jon Luther, chairman and CEO of Dunkin’ Brands; Eric Chester, author of Generation Why and Managing Generations at Work; and Gerry Fernandez, president of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA). Speech topics range from “Human Capital Insight for the Long Haul” to “Leadership for the QSR Manager.” Also in attendance will be Harsha Agadi, CEO of Church’s Chicken, and Jose Thomas, vice president of human resources for Burger King.
Serchia urges all types of operators to attend. “[The symposium] offers a great sense of networking, and people get to see other concepts and business ideas,” he says.
George Green, vice president of Bread and Company and member of the steering committee, agrees. He stresses the networking connections at the convention and has implemented practices he learned at last year’s conference at his company. He still talks with people he met at the conference, comparing notes and exchanging ideas with them.
Green further emphasizes the value of attending the symposium, saying, “In our very competitive industry, most of the other changes we can make to improve our operations have very small or incremental effects. With turnover costing $2,400 for each line-level employee and $19,000 for each manager, focusing on human capital issues can make a huge difference on the bottom line.”
People Report is a research and consulting practice which tracks trends, benchmarks, and human resource statistics in the foodservice industry. Specific trends tracked include what kind of people are being hired, where operators find workers, how long workers remain with the company, and why managers leave. People Report publishes its findings in quarterly and annual reports, allowing members to react to important workforce trends and stay knowledgeable on key issues such as the salary and bonus offerings of competitors.
The symposium costs $495 for People Report members and $795 for non-member operators. QSR magazine is a sponsor of the event.
—Mary Fletcher King
