Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to questions that are frequently asked by restaurant/bar/nightclub operators. Click here to contact us if you have any additional questions that are not answered below!
General
Why us?
We understand this industry. You would not want to trust your temp staffing to a company that also staffs for trucking or construction or healthcare. Such companies are over-diversified and are thus unable to provide you with the level of specialization that our industry needs. Therefore, we only focus on front-of-house hospitality.
We also recognize what your budget is for your full-time staff ($2.13/hour, on average, for tipped employees) and adjust our pricing model to fit within this budget, offering the lowest rates on the market for FOH hospitality positions by a landslide. Instead of charging upwards of $30/hour to temporarily hire a tipped position, we let our bartenders and servers earn their primary payment through tips, just as they would if they were one of your full-time employees.
To go a step further, we also ensure that every worker receives training that is specific to your unique venue before they arrive for their shift. We take 360-degree photos of your interior/exterior, labelling important areas such as table numbers, the servers’ station, and service well. Additionally, we upload copies of your menus, build sheets, floor/seating charts, dress code policy, parking instructions, and other documents that you deem necessary for in-house training (like steps of service, menu FAQs, venue trivia, and etc.). Because of this, we are able to minimize the need for on-site training and provide you with competent and pre-trained temp workers.
What does your recruitment process look like?
Quality is key. We specialize in seeking out industry veterans who have, on average, 8+ years of hospitality experience. Our recruitment process is very detailed and thorough, as our goal is to be able to consistently deliver the same level of professionalism with each shift. There should be no difference in quality among any of our workers, and we understand that our partnership is based upon this trust.
Our workers first will submit an application where they list their previous hospitality experience. This is our first checkpoint to ensure that our workers are joining us from reputable establishments. Within this application, they list at least two references. We personally call every reference and ask questions to gauge the worker’s personality, performance, timeliness, engagement, trustworthiness, and experience. If the worker advances past this round, they will be able to enter the platform and submit more information. We may request interviews (which may be viewed by venue operators like yourself), personality assessments, and additional verification of work history.
The worker is then assigned badges for each position depending on their experience levels. At this time, the worker is able to complete their tax documents and payout methods. Once this has been completed, the worker is free to begin picking up shifts! Please note that we have a rating system in place to ensure that we maintain quality and track each worker’s progress after every shift. We rely on your feedback and use it to further enhance our consistent quality. If you ever have a negative experience with one of our workers, the rating system ensures that you will never work with them again, and they may be removed from the platform altogether.
How does FrontHouz minimize the need for on-site training?
This is simple! When you create your profile, we ask that you upload copies of your menus, build sheets, floor charts, seating charts, dress code policy, parking instructions, and other documents that you deem necessary for in-house training (like steps of service, menu FAQs, venue trivia, and etc.). The last step is to schedule a live photo-taking session with us. We will visit your location in person and take 360-degree photos of your interior/exterior, noting important areas such as table numbers, the servers’ station, and service well.
How much does it cost?
We offer the lowest base rate on the market at $4.50 per hour worked by our FrontHouz workers. For tipped positions, bartenders and servers, you may set their wage starting at $0/hour. For non-tipped positions (SA’s, barbacks, food runners, and hosts), you may set their wage, but we recommend starting at $10/hour. As a general rule, the higher the wage, the more likely it is for someone to pick up the shift. Therefore, you may opt to offer a higher rate in order to appear more attractive to the workers and to get your shift(s) covered faster. Most venues find this helpful during holidays or if they are posting a shift very close to its start time.
We also have subscription options available to pre-pay for worker hours at a heavily discounted rate. Click here to view more information about our pricing model.
What positions do you staff?
We are currently staffing all FOH positions, including servers, bartenders, service assistants (SA’s), food runners, barbacks, and hosts. Please note that these positions include restaurant/bar service, as well as catering/banquet/event service.
What if I need more than one worker for the same position during the same shift?
When you create a shift posting, you may designate how many workers you will need for that shift in that role.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
Simply create an account, upload your training documents, complete the 360-degree photo-taking session, and start posting!
What resources does FrontHouz require from the venues?
We require copies of your menus, build sheets, floor charts, seating charts, dress code policy, parking instructions, and other documents that you deem necessary for in-house training (like steps of service, menu FAQs, venue trivia, and etc.). We also require a ~30-minute timeslot for taking 360-degree photos of your location. When you create your account, we automatically link all of these documents to your venue profile for workers to view when they pick up your shifts. When you post a shift, please also list a description of the role/shift, job expectations, and any special requests you may have (which we will do our best to accommodate). You will also be able to select from an assortment of tags that qualify the role.
How do I make my shift posting more attractive and visible to workers?
The more attractive your job posting, the faster it will be accepted. To supplement this, you may choose to offer an hourly rate that is higher than the minimum or open the position up to inexperienced workers. Your shift posting will also be more visible to previous workers who you have prioritized.
What does it mean to hide or prioritize a service worker’s profile?
At the end of every shift, you will be asked whether or not you would like for that worker to work at your location again via a star rating system. If the answer is “yes,” the worker will automatically be marked as a priority for you, meaning that your future shift postings will stand out for them, encouraging them to pick them up. If the answer is “no,” then all future shifts that you post will be hidden from them, and they will not be able to see when you post a shift (or pick it up).
What is the minimum and maximum shift time period?
Each shift must be a minimum of four hours with no maximum time requirement.
How long does it take for a shift to get picked up?
We typically fill shifts within a few hours.
How does the worker clock in/out?
Workers will clock in/out using a clock-in code of your choice on your POS system. Please be sure to set up unique clock-in code for your POS system for your FrontHouz worker. If only a maximum of one FrontHouz worker is needed per shift, only one clock-in code may be needed. If two FrontHouz workers are working during the same shift, two clock-in codes will be needed, and so on. Codes may be reused by any FrontHouz worker.
What is standard dress code for workers?
Our workers, unless informed otherwise, will wear formal, all-black attire.
What if I hire one of the workers for full-time employment?
We will wish you the best. (: We’re rooting for your success!
Managing Shifts
What if we decide to cancel a shift after someone has picked it up?
No worries! Cancel the shift with a notice greater than 24 hours, and you will not be charged. If you cancel, within 24 hours of the shift’s start time, we will bill a $75 inconvenience fee to accommodate the worker for setting aside time to make the shift and potentially losing the opportunity to work during that time period.
What if the worker cancels a shift close to time or doesn’t show up?
We will send you an equally qualified worker ASAP. When your shift is picked up, it is taken off the list for immediate pickup, and it is placed in an on-call section where workers may sign up to be on standby in case they are needed. If the new worker is more than 90 minutes late to the shift (after we have been informed of the no-call-no-show), we will forgo the service fee.
If I like someone, can I request them in the future?
Once the shift has ended, we ask that you review and rate the worker. If you specify that you would like for that worker to return, they will be prioritized for your future shifts.
What if I don’t like the employee?
After the shift has ended, you will be able to review and rate the worker. You may also choose to inform us that you wish to hide your future shifts from them. Rating them less than 3 stars will also have the same effect, and the staff member will not be allowed to work a shift for you again. If the worker falls below a 3-star average rating or receives three 1-star or 2-star ratings in a row, they will be removed from the platform.
What if my establishment is rated poorly by a worker?
The same rules apply to venues as they do to workers. If your venue falls below a 3-star average rating or receives three 1-star or 2-star ratings in a row, it will be removed from the platform.
Managing Payments
Do I pay the worker directly? What is the process?
Workers will be paid by us at the end of the shift. If the worker was in a tipped position, we ask that you confirm with your worker the amount they made in tips before they leave. After the shift has been completed, please upload a picture of the worker’s individual shift report (with the exception of bartenders, as they pool with the bar) and manually enter the dollar amount earned in tips (this is generally $0 for non-tipped positions) and number of hours worked. We will then bill you for any à la carte service fees incurred after the shift is completed (please refer to the Pricing page for more information on our pricing).
My location does a full-house pool for tips. How does this apply to FrontHouz workers?
For regular service:
All FrontHouz servers pool individually from each other and separately from the full-time staff. FrontHouz bartenders will pool with the full-time bar staff (or they will pool with the full house, if your venue participates in a full-house pool).
For BEO’s:
All tip-based FrontHouz workers (bartenders and servers) will pool with the house. Non-tipped positions will receive hourly pay.
How do I get billed/invoiced?
We will send you a bill at the end of each month for applicable subscription and monthly access fees. We automatically bill your payment method once $1000 in worker tips and wages has accrued (note: this may occur more than once per month), since we pay the workers in advance after their shift.
Note: If you have a subscription and exceed the number of hours in your plan, you will be charged the a la carte rate for each additional hour of work.
Liability
What kind of worker are they?
Our workers are 1099 contractors, similar to a Postmates or Uber driver.
Who is liable for the worker?
We hold Occupational Accident Insurance (OAI) and Workers Compensation Insurance to ensure that our workers are covered in the event of an accident.
