A popular debate this year involves the decision for businesses to remain open or to close for holidays. Retailers and restaurants alike face the challenges of making the right decision for their business and their soul on major holidays.
Data from 2014 suggests that 1 in 4 Americans worked on a holiday. In the retail world, staying open on holidays doesn’t seem to boost sales that much.
Christmas is a unique holiday because it is truly about being with family and sharing gifts with a large number of people. Other holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Valentine’s Day show an increase in traffic for restaurants. These holidays, however, are typically about celebrating one or two people rather than an entire family. It is much easier to give gifts at a dinner out on these holidays than it is on Christmas.
When considering whether to keep your restaurant open on Christmas, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
- Would your employees rather spend the day with family or get paid to work?
- Do your customers need you to be open?
- Does closing for the holiday match your company’s image?
- Will you have enough business to warrant staying open?
- Are your vendors/distributors open during the holidays?
The decision to close for the holidays or remain open is an entirely personal one. Those who would argue that businesses should close for the holidays say employees deserve the chance to spend this special time with family.
Holidays present a difficult time for restaurant owners to decide between what is best from a numbers standpoint for the business and what is best for employee morale. If you choose to stay open for the holiday, there are a few strategies to keep employees happy.
- Offer extra pay for those willing to work.
- Ask for volunteers and base your hours on the number of workers you will have.
- Provide gifts to employees who work such as a free meal, branded attire like an embroidered apron, or gift cards.
The decision is yours and completely personal this holiday season. Consider all the options and data to make the best choice for yourself and your business.