Should I close on Labor Day?

What is the general consensus about opening on Labor Day. At A.J.'s in Georgetown we usually open around 3pm and have a pretty good night doing mostly ice cream. However, that is an outside seating only operation. I don't know what to do about A.J.'s Gyro Cafe. I had a very good Friday but a horrible day today, maybe everyone is at a Lake camping. I am beginning to think it might be a dead loss to open on Monday - seeing as Monday's are our slowest day anyway. What do you all think?

allison, being that monday is a holiday and in people's minds are thinking you will be closed because of the holiday, and that you state, mondays are a slow day anyhow for you. i would be closed.

Thanks Annemarie, I think I will. It is my day off anyway, so at least I will save some wages!!

...so at least I will save some wages!!

Alison-
Since you sorta brought it up,I'm going to take this from the employees perspective. Shouldn't they be given more than 24 hrs notice of this schedule change? Certainly it is your right and duty to determine your business hours, but IMO this is an issue that management should have decided upon before today.
Bill

...so at least I will save some wages!!

Alison-
Since you sorta brought it up,I'm going to take this from the employees perspective. Shouldn't they be given more than 24 hrs notice of this schedule change? Certainly it is your right and duty to determine your business hours, but IMO this is an issue that management should have decided upon before today.
Bill

Actually, we have been discussing it since yesterday whether to close or not. My employees and I that is. They are fine with closing, I think they are glad to be able to spend it with their families.

Actually, we have been discussing it since yesterday whether to close or not. My employees and I that is. They are fine with closing, I think they are glad to be able to spend it with their families.

For those not familiar, staffing for holidays is usually a problem for restaurant managers/owners (and probaly any other business that is open). The larger percentage of folks are off and planning fun things. Who wants to work if your family and friends are having an "end of summer bbq"? Labor day is not a dining out holiday such as Mother's Day, so staff for many open restaurants realize they are looking at a long, boring shift. Exceptions would be places located in resort areas, along the river, etc..

Since she indicated they have already spoken (its probably a small staff, so everyone knows what is being considered), I believe Allison is right; her staff would rather be off....I know mine are looking forward to an enjoyable holiday off.

One last thing to remember, last second schedule adjustments are very common in the restaurant/hotel/club industries. Hey Joe...that reservation for 7pm just called (4:30pm, that last call before leaving the office) and they are now 24 instead of 12....or the reverse. Sue, we just got a reservation for 15 for lunch tomorrow, can you work it? Howie, Lisa just called and is sick...can you work?...Yes, now! Etc., Etc. Etc.

Alison-
That is great that you and your employees have been discussing and came to an agreement <applause>
Bill

What annoys me is part-time employees who want time and a half pay for holidays. I mean c'mon folks, this is the service industry. We do a lot of business on holidays, and it is expected that you'll work them. Kind of like a basic job duty.

Employees in the F&B industry should expect to work holidays.

As for closing on a holiday, you just have to try it one year and see if it makes economic sense. Otherwise, you're just guessing, which is fine. If you don't need the money, then it doesn't really matter. If you do need the money, then the guess becomes more important. I'd try it one year, maybe put people on call and run it yourself (I'm not sure how many employees you have). Just a thought.

A lot of business is like gambling - a series of educated guesses!

Yeah. Pretty awful for time and a 1/2 @ 2.13 per hr. Then the check might actually be more than $7 after taxes. Much better to miss a holiday w/ fam so you can serve everyone else on their day off.

Yeah. Pretty awful for time and a 1/2 @ 2.13 per hr. Then the check might actually be more than $7 after taxes. Much better to miss a holiday w/ fam so you can serve everyone else on their day off.

Whoah, Nora, try and see if from the employers perspective. I am $700 short for payroll this week for checks due today. I spend what i take in on wages, food, utilities, rent, insurance, repairs, maintenace (hood cleaning) telephone, signage etc etc etc. None of my employees would dream of asking for time and a half for holidays, they would be replaced pretty darn quickly if they did. I do not take any money at all, and since my husband has been laid off we are living off his unemployment. The first time he has been out of work in 35 years. What about the tips which bring it up to much more than $2.13 per hour. By the way I pay $3.00 for servers and $7.75 for kitchen.

Having spent years in my youth in the service industry (mostly for chains)

the only time and a half you get is the time and a half that hits after 40 hours,

New years day, breakfast starts at 5am

Valentines day equals 2 for dinners

Mothers day forget about it, your gonna be working a 12-14 hour shift just like everybody else in the building (my younger bro. brought my mom to the restaurant for dinner I got to spend my 15 break with her)

4th of july you can hold this sparkler on your 15 minute break, then get back to work.

Thanksgiving day get this turkey sliced and out on the buffet and drop 3 more baskets of chicken

then along comes the one true holiday

Merry christmas, you get the day off.

I commend any service industry place that chooses to close on a holiday to give their employees a break, just as I understand that if they are open, get to work if your on the schedule. you dont wanna work cuz its a holiday, theres a stack of applications in the office of people that will.