What would a restaurant employment expert say about your practices if your foodservice business is faced with a hiring lawsuit stemming from something that was posted on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter? Restaurants, like hotels, can face problems surrounding their recruitment and training policies for new and existing employees on these social media channels. There is an interesting article that features several industry human resources professionals at the 6th Annual HR in Hospitality Conference & Expo in San Francisco this past Tuesday. In it are several takeaways from that group’s discussions that apply to food and beverage establishments as much as lodging ones. Here are a couple important excerpts from the story at HotelNewsNow.com as to HR practices that foodservice owners, operators and a restaurant employment expert should consider when using and monitoring social media: “Where an employer might get into trouble is if they “friend” an employee on Facebook under false pretences for the sole purpose of uncovering activity that runs counter to workplace policy.” “More familiar employee outreach mediums including printed company newsletters or in-classroom training have lost much of their effectiveness in the digital age, the panelists agreed. Therefore, HR directors increasingly have to take their messages directly to the source: Facebook, Twitter and others.” I also suggest consulting a related article when adopting restaurant food service management social media policies about the different challenges that employers face in the hospitality industry which is published in The Davis Wright Tremaine Restaurant Reporter (DRR). Or, if you need other resources on how to manage a restaurant social media program, subscribe to and follow our INNsider Updates here. Have a specific HR issue that requires a preliminary consultation? Call or submit a request to a restaurant employment expert below and we will contact you shortly.
