Growing company loyalty
John Kelley, cousin to Lisa Ingram and Brad and Dave Rife, is vice president of training and human resources for the company, said that quality control extends to the chain's team members.
For example, White Castle offers benefits beyond that of most QSRs to install company loyalty. The chain offers health and life insurance to its full-time employees, as well as profit sharing, pension plans (for employees 21 and older) and longevity bonuses to all employees.
At the end of 2007, White Castle had nearly 11,000 employees in its restaurant division. Turnover at the hourly level was 100 percent, well below the QSR industry average of 161 percent in 2007.
HR efforts to boost employee morale include flexible scheduling, cross training for all restaurant staff, a regular employee newsletter to highlight regional accomplishments and a promote-from-within policy.
But most of all, Rife said, it's the work atmosphere that keeps the turnover down and the numbers in the 25-year club growing. (The company honors those with 25 or more years of continuous service.)
"As a family, we really try and make sure that we do everything we can to get that family atmosphere out into all our plants and restaurants," Rife said.
