What Restaurant Employees Want 2026
Presented by 7shifts and Square
Tuesday, July 21 | 2PM EST | 11AM PST
You already know turnover is expensive. But do you know why your team is really leaving — or what's keeping them around? We asked 1,074 restaurant workers to tell us the truth. The results are eye-opening. Join us live as industry expert Justin Khanna, and Kookaburra Coffee owner Megan Vidal dig into the data, share real stories from real restaurants, and help you walk away with a plan.
Your managers might be costing you more than you think
Difficult managers is the #1 reason employees quit. We'll unpack what that actually looks like on the ground — and what the best operators do to fix it before it costs them someone great.
Good coworkers & recognition drive more motivation than a paycheck
Here's something that might surprise you: 56% of employees ranked their coworkers above tips and bonuses as their top daily motivator. We'll break down how to build a team culture people actually want to be part of — and why recognition might be the simplest retention move you're not making.
Your team wants more than free meals.
The benefits gap is real, and it's bigger than most operators realize. We'll get into what employees want most, what creative operators are doing about it, and how to make benefits work even on a tight budget.
The right tech isn't just an ops decision — it's an employee experience one
64% of employees say the tools their restaurant uses affects how they feel about their job. We'll cover exactly what your team wants from scheduling, payroll, and communication, and what a difference it makes when you get it right.