It was widely reported yesterday that Itsu will be giving their employees a pay rise, there second increase in recent times. It’s move that I applaud as we gave all of our colleagues a pay increase and improved contracts last year. We now pay the real living wage in Ireland and close to the real living wage in the UK. It was a huge investment in the business and one which could not have not have been made without forward thinking, supportive owners.
It’s a decision that I have absolutely no regrets about because at the same time we made out units simpler to run and handed more responsibility to our baristas, a move which was well received and it’s been fantastic to see how our colleagues have risen to the challenge. Our barista turnover has dropped, sickness and absence has been reduced and our colleagues have been more productive. We also have few vacancies. This has allowed us to increase trading hours and take some units to 24 hour trading.
As part of this process, we have reduced the number of assistant and general managers in the business (we have not replaced leavers) and increased the number of area managers which has given them more opportunities to spend quality time with their teams. They can visit bars more regularly and offer more coaching and support. our bars are small and often quite some distance from one another so seeing their area manager more regularly has had a positive impact on our baristas.
Of course, it helps that we have a fantastic team of area managers who have coped with everything that the business has thrown at them whilst remaining committed and positive.
random outpourings 