MORE THAN JUST A WARM BODY

Michelle Fuller

Food Service and Transportation Director for Madison District Public Schools

NOW HIRING

Transportation and Food Service are likely some of the most challenging areas to hire in well qualified people

Stupid hours, lets just say it they are. Not the typical 9-5 schedules most people like to work. Split shifts, non carpeted offices, hot or cold temps and did I mention “ the lovely children” or don’t go over your allotted hours, but here’s 100 more breakfasts to pack.

Imagine driving 65 miles an hour down an expressway with 50 children under the age of 10 or serving 200 customers lunch in under 10 minutes.

It begs the question. Why are we doing this job? Because there is a need.

WE ARE SHORT, JUST HIRE A WARM BODY

TYPES OF WARM BODIES

WARMER BODIES…..THIS NEVER HAPPENS….

SO YOU PICK SOMEONE

THEN THE REAL THEM COMES OUT

T H E N A F T E R T H E T R I A L P E R I O D - H OW T H AT E M P L OY E E L O O K S T O T H E B O S S

H OW T H E W RO N G WA R M B O DY L O O K S T O YO U R E M P L OY E E S

NOW WHAT

One of the worst sins of a business owner is knowing that an

employee cannot be successful in a current job but not doing anything

about it. This doesn’t necessarily mean letting the person go. It's

possible to find another “seat on the bus. But remember, there's

almost no return on the investment in spending time trying to fix AN

employee so that they can remain in their current positions. It rarely

works.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The weather changes, people in general do not. They can mask their personality for a time being but after all “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck” chances are it’s a duck.

You can however change the pond………..Some times change is good. As a manager or supervisor you may have the option to change kitchens, change buses, change seats or change departments. People will fight it, sometimes with much vigor. But if you don’t embrace an environmental change -organizational change can be impossible.

LET YOUR STAFF HELP

Sometimes allowing your employees to “speed interview” before you make your final decision. Its easier to not hire someone then it is to have to let someone go.

Making employees part of the decision making process sometimes opens doors to “enlightenment” and shows you new efficiency's you never thought possible. Can you change your menus, routes etc. to make the most of your staffs time?

In general, people would rather be busy than sitting around doing nothing.

H OW D O YO U K E E P E M P L OY E E S BUSY AND ACCOUNTABLE

Communication and Job descriptions. Communication should be

as open as possible and Job descriptions can be modified.

Jobs can outgrow people. This doesn’t mean those employees are

bad. It just means that as jobs become larger and more complex,

some individuals won’t be able to keep up. Those that can keep up

really have the ability to shine under pressure. Include them in the

hiring practice.

S O M E T I M E S A WA R M B O DY I S WO R S E T H A N N O B O DY AT A L L

No matter how many time you address the behaviors, change the

environments or offer suggestions some employees will make a

conscience effort to “stir the pot”, “tip the bus” or pit employees

against one another. Once they infiltrate your organization they are

hard to exit.

Sometimes toxic employees are there when you take over a kitchen

or run. What can you do? Sometimes you just need to ………..

BREATHE

Straw breathing exercise

Keep a pack of straws in your car and do this exercise whenever you're stuck in traffic.

Inhale normally and naturally.

Exhale fully through a plastic drinking straw, making sure you have exhaled all of the air out of your lungs.

Inhale normally (not through the straw).

Exhale fully out of the straw.

Repeat this exercise for 5 minutes.

Ideally, do this twice a day.

OR

Then you use the straw for this

SO WHAT’S THE POINT

Sometimes a warm body may do more harm than good.

Meet with your staff, manager or supervisor, devise a plan. For

example on the next ½ day have a kitchen or driver meeting.

What would be our plan of action if….a bus didn’t start…..an

employee does not show. And then try it out

AC C E P T T H AT T H E R E W I L L B E P RO B L E M S

Shoot for this Try to resist this

LAST BUT NOT LEAST