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4 Ways to Support Local Restaurants as They Re-Open

Local restaurant as it re-opens

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, no industry suffered more than restaurants. Hit even harder were the neighborhood family restaurants that had to deal with lockdowns, small re-openings, lockdowns, small re-openings, and lockdowns, again in a stubborn spiral of uncertainty.

But with vaccinations increasing day after day, and milestone after milestone being reached, a light at the end of the COVID tunnel emerges. With easing restrictions and partial re-openings around the corner, restaurateurs are more excited than ever.

Here are some ways you can support your local restaurants and get your employees back eating at their favorites places again:

Encourage Employees to Pick Up Food Instead of Using Apps
Restaurant worker handing over takeout bag

While delivery apps like UberEats do help restaurants get their food to hungry customers, having your employees pick up the food helps struggling restaurants more. Why? Because delivery apps charge restaurants a service fee.

For example, UberEats charges restaurants a 30% fee for delivery and a 15% fee per order for pick up. Restaurants can negotiate lower fees, but the amount still ranges between 20%-30%. DoorDash has a similar fee model, also charging restaurants between 10%-25% depending on the business and the agreement they sign.

Encouraging your employees to order directly from the restaurant and pick-up food ensures more money for the restaurant, and more money lets them stay open for longer. It also lets your employees get out of the office and into the fresh air, stretch their legs, and bask in the sun. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Encourage Proper Hygiene In and Out of the Office
Person using hand sanitizer

Supporting local restaurants doesn’t always have to mean saving your employees money or putting more money in the restaurant’s pockets. Even simple kindness and consideration towards another person can go a long way to helping a struggling restaurant.

Encourage your employees to wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer when inside and outside of the office. This will keep them safe, but keep the servers safe as well. Wipe surfaces with disinfectant to ensure a clean work area, the same as restaurants wiping down tables after every customer.

Support Your Favorite Restaurants on Social Media
Buttons with facebook icons and logos

Social media is a good way of promoting a sense of community without spending money you may not have. Chances are your business has accounts on major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Follow them and share their content on your own page. Remark on how good the food is or how friendly the staff is. Or better yet, both. Tag your favorite restaurant and share past photos of company parties or employee birthdays there. Get the word out about how this restaurant is the place to be!

Establish a Discount Program For Your Employees

One way you can help your employees, and local restaurants, is to set up a dining discount program. This means saved money for your employees during their lunch breaks and a business boon for local restaurants. And if they save money, your employees are less likely to travel farther for a bite too.

Passport Unlimited can help with setting up these benefits packages. Passport Unlimited has agreements with thousands of businesses, including restaurants, and can individually negotiate with each one to bring those savings directly to your employees!