DoorDash has announced Merchant Benefits, an industry-first program designed to give merchants access to discounted products and services based on evolving needs within the industry, in addition to a new research report about "The Impact of Benefits on Recruitment and Retention in the Restaurant Industry."
Some of the biggest challenges facing bars/restaurants is attracting and retaining staff, and offering benefits can do a lot toward meeting those goals. In fact, 38% of surveyed restaurant employees in DoorDash's new research report, The Impact of Benefits, indicated they would take less pay for better health benefits and 24% would take less pay for better training opportunities.
"The economic fluctuations that come with running a small to medium sized business challenge employers in many ways, including being able to provide affordable benefits to staff," said Christopher Payne, President and Chief Operating Officer at DoorDash. "Given our vast network of merchant partners, we've negotiated these benefits on their behalf who would otherwise face a steep surcharge, eliminating a barrier to growing teams to their full potential."
Here is a breakdown of what DoorDash is offering its merchant partners:
Healthcare Benefits
- Plans beginning at $5 per month with Sesame, one of the largest cash-pay health care marketplaces in the United States, which connects employees directly to high-quality physicians at affordable prices without the headache of dealing with insurance. Offerings include in-person and virtual primary care, mental health services, and specialty care. Available in the US.
Personal and Mental Health Benefits
- Discounted subscriptions to Breathwrk, a personal health app, which provides breathing exercises designed to reduce stress and improve focus for employees inside and out of the workplace. Available globally in English.
Educational Benefits
- 40% or more off EdApp by SafetyCulture, an all-in-one mobile-first training platform that assists businesses to deliver every step of their training program. Bespoke courses created specifically for the hospitality and retail industry, business owners can upskill their staff in a matter of days not weeks. Available in the US, Canada, and Australia.
- 15% off StateFoodSafety, an online food safety education company, which offers the most expansive assortment of ANSI-approved, state-mandated hospitality training certifications including Food Handler, Food Manager, Allergen Awareness, and Alcohol Server. Available in the US.
Hiring and Staff Management
- One month free of LANDED, the first end-to-end recruiting platform helping employers hire hourly candidates quickly, saving time and money by automating candidate engagement, screening, and interview scheduling. Available in the US.
- Four months free of 7shifts, the complete team management platform for restaurants. 7shifts provides tools that help restaurateurs make more profitable decisions, improve team retention, and get operations in order. Available in the US and Canada.
DoorDash will not administer the benefits, rather working with reputable partners who will administer the benefits directly to interested merchant partners. As the needs of businesses evolve, DoorDash will continue to partner with additional companies as part of Merchant Benefits.
Through providing discounted access to these products and services, DoorDash is enabling restaurants to more effectively attract, retain, and develop staff – especially as 86% of surveyed restaurant employees who are not satisfied with their job benefits in the Impact of Benefits report indicate they are more likely to stay at their current job if benefits were improved. As a result, restaurant partners may be able to increase their sales by operating their business at full capacity – driving both on-premises and off-premises growth.