Employees in the food service industry need more encouragement from the industry itself in order for it to prosper. Right now I think more education in empowering ourselves in this industry would do us all some good. We don't think about ourselves often enough. We work too many hours, drink too much, and don't make enough money to take vacations. This isn't right.
Empowerment is too often synonymous with abdication by management.
We can't just tell sixteen year olds that they are empowered to do whatever they can to solve a problem, or resolve an issue. But most don't know what the options are. I believe empowerment should start with a great training program, and encouragement to learn, and then the space and time to put their skills and knoweldge to use on the job. Bill Main has written some great pieces on employee motivation and job satisfaction on his Trade Secrets Web Site. It is good to meet you here.