When it comes to estimating the cost of training your restaurant staff, there are hidden costs that often go unnoticed. These costs can significantly impact your training budget if not properly accounted for.
Let's take a closer look at these hidden costs:
1. Lost Productivity
During training sessions, employees, managers, and in-store trainers are away from their regular duties, which can result in lost productivity. While it's necessary to allocate time for training, it's important to recognize that the time spent away from their usual responsibilities can affect the overall productivity of the restaurant. Consider the opportunity cost of having employees engaged in training rather than directly contributing to restaurant operations.
2. Employee Turnover
High employee turnover rates can lead to increased training costs. If a significant number of employees leave shortly after completing training, the investment in their training becomes less valuable. Additionally, studies have shown that a good training program can improve employee retention. Take into account the turnover rate in your industry and the potential impact it may have on training expenses.
3. Repeated or Refreshed Training
Certain training programs, such as food safety certifications, may require periodic renewal or refreshers. In addition, if the initial adoption rate of training is low, employees may need to be assigned the training again. These additional training sessions should be factored into your estimates, as they can incur additional costs for materials, trainers, and employee time.
4. Technology and Equipment
If your training programs involve the use of technology or specialized equipment, consider the costs associated with acquiring and maintaining these resources. This includes hardware like desktops or tablets, software licenses, maintenance fees, and any necessary upgrades.
5. Administrative and Documentation
Training programs often require administrative efforts, such as scheduling sessions, tracking attendance, managing records, and issuing certifications. These tasks consume time and may require dedicated staff or software solutions. Consider the associated costs when estimating your training expenses.
6. Training Evaluation and Improvement
Assessing the effectiveness of your training programs and making improvements over time is crucial for maintaining high-quality training. Allocating resources for evaluation methods, surveys, feedback mechanisms, and program enhancements should be factored into your training cost estimates.
By considering these hidden costs, you can develop a more accurate estimate of the total training expenses for your restaurant. And to learn how to calculate the full cost of your restaurant training program, read "Estimating the Cost of Training Your Hourly Restaurant Staff."
At Opus, we've found we can significantly these hidden costs and more. As part of your training platform evaluation process, we'll help you calculate your total training costs and your potential savings when switching to a training platform. If you're interested in learning how you can improve your restaurant's bottom line, book time here.
