Reinventing Restaurant Compensation with Zach Feinstein | Episode 47

Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into what it takes to build great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, the strategies they use, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D. J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.

In this episode of the Pre Shift Podcast, host D.J. Costantino chats with Zach Feinstein, CEO and co-owner of the Feinstein Group, about an innovative commission-based compensation model that combines a 20% service charge for servers. Zach explains the strategy behind this model, its implementation, and its impact on employee retention, guest experience, and front and back-of-house relationships. Zach also discusses his experience in the restaurant industry, the journey of the Feinstein Group, and the future vision for this compensation approach. This episode is packed with actionable insights for restaurant owners and managers aiming to build high-performing teams.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the Pre Shift Podcast
00:13 Meet Zach Feinstein: CEO and Co-Owner of the Feinstein Group
01:29 The Feinstein Group's Journey and Growth
03:08 Innovative Compensation Model: Commission-Based Pay
05:12 Rolling Out the New Compensation Model
07:52 Impact on Staff and Guest Experience
17:22 Front and Back of House Dynamics
21:01 Future of the Restaurant Industry
23:54 Lightning Round: Quick Questions with Zach Feinstein
27:47 Closing Remarks and How to Learn More

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Credits
Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino
Producer: Samantha Fung
Editor: Fina Charleston

About 7shifts
7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.