New perks on the block.

I reflect on the recent judging for Code Hospitality and the new perks on the block.

I was asked to help judge the Code Hospitality Happiest Places to Work recently, which I happen to consider my specialist subject so was pleased to be asked. Restaurants put their own names forward and said why they felt as though they deserve to get the top spot.

Those who really stood out demonstrated that they were focused on career development and internal progression and were evidently making potentially minor but dynamic changes for people to allow them to grow within their own role. They also showed they listened to their teams. What they do with two way feedback was evident, there is no point in getting it if no actions are taken. Exit interviews were rarely missed and the results were recorded and fed back to the owner each month. Their probation pass rate and general length of service demonstrated they had a warm and welcoming environment and were committed to a creating diverse leadership team. They had evidence of supporting parents through the early stages of parenthood, giving paid time off for mental health and allowing people to make their roles work through various points of their life. Overall they seemed to be patient and understanding.

It was amazing to read people hype themselves up too, in a ridiculously tough time for the industry, so many positive stories, actions and anecdotes, most also backed up by the additional surveys completed by their teams.

I am lucky to have a very broad view of the wider industry and the perks (financial and otherwise) that are on offer, but I even I saw some newbies on my day of judging that I wanted to share. I have complied a list of some of my faves:

· A camper van for the team to share around and take on UK trips, just book in on a rota.

· Monthly massages

· Interest free travel loans

· Regular stagiaire swaps with peers

· Free sanitary products

· Hotel stays- both UK and oversees.

· Free Birkenstocks

· Free service works trousers/clothes

· Workshops for people to book on- such as butchery, knife sharpening, flower arranging, iphone photography.

· Access to online free Language lessons

· Paid spotify subscriptions

· Quarterly trips in the outdoors foraging, wild swimming etc.

· Free lime bikes for all

· Free fruit & veg to take home in the staff room every day