Entry Details

About the Entry

Category: 
Overall Excellence > Project of the Year

Title of entry: 
Labor Pains

Issue or Publication date:
Feb. 14, 2024

Publication name: 
Restaurant Business

View Website home page:
restaurantbusinessonline.com

Links to entry URLs

Please note: These URLs are only required for entries in the Online division categories, or digital entries in appropriate Overall Excellence, Design or All Content division categories.

Entry URL(s), if applicable:
Please enter a URL that will direct judges to the entry: 
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/labor-pains
Additional URLs, if needed:
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/operations/restaurants-labor-situation-has-improved-its-far-perfect
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/operations/efforts-grow-restaurant-labor-pool-face-big-challenge-time
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/operations/tough-few-years-have-been-boon-restaurant-labor-productivity
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/workforce/menu-shrinkage-out-customized-labor-saving-menu-strategies-move
https://www.tiktok.com/@restaurantbusiness/video/7335893814910995754?lang=en
https://youtu.be/NWpG2UfpVdY

Entry Essay: 
We gave our readers a Valentine's Day treat with our Labor Pains package, an examination of the state of labor in the restaurant industry.

Restaurants depend heavily on workers, more than just about any other industry. One in 10 Americans works at a restaurant and one in three have worked in one at some point in their lives. It's a big deal. This looked at the state of labor a few years after the pandemic, giving readers a sense of where things were at following a historic labor shortage. In addition, fast-food chain restaurants in California were required to start paying $20 an hour, at least, to their workers. That had major implications for our readers.

This was a teamwide package, so it featured contributions from everyone. It included a data-filled overview, features, looks at technology, menu and the regulatory environment. And it includes an innovative video featuring Executive Editor Lisa Jennings working inside a Dave's Hot Chicken, talking about the California fast-food wage law.

This really was an amazing package featuring some excellent multimedia journalism.