KANSAS CITY, MO — Expanding into open hiring often requires a significant shift in a business’ strategies. However, investing in strategies such as those for retention — wraparound services, flexible schedules and creating a positive company culture — can reap a significant ROI over time.
“If you do not have wraparound services, a culture where people trust they can be honest about their challenges, and a sense of belonging across your organization, open hiring will not work,” said Ted Castle, founder of Rhino Foods. “It takes effort to help someone, but when you put that effort in and give someone a sense of belonging and they feel like they are advancing, you now have an employee for at least three years, if not longer.”
One potential benefit of open hiring is the range of skills and experiences these untapped talent pools can bring to a bakery.
“Those experiences equip them to be very resilient, motivated, determined and creative,” said Liana Bran, director of expansion strategy for Cara Collective, a non-profit organization that helps people with barriers to employment find work. “Yet, it’s not always easy for employers to translate those skills and experiences into what they need, so we work with them on how they can better evaluate skills.”
Bran added that a recent study by Cara Collective and McKinsey & Co. titled Bridging the Advancement Gap: What Frontline Employees Want — and What Employers Think They Want, found that certain populations, specifically people with a criminal background, tend to be very loyal employees and are likely to apply for more training and advancement opportunities once they have a job.
For Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods, the emphasis is less on skills and more on attitude.
“We’ve had better results with people with no experience but who have a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn,” said Janie Deegan, owner of Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods. “They just want to prove themselves and are willing to do any job they’re given. They want a chance at something new.”
Recognizing and accepting the social aspect that is inherent in open hiring is essential.
“Be realistic about expectations, be patient and be compassionate,” said Fred Domke, founder and volunteer executive director of Bridge Bread Bakery, which hires people experiencing housing instability. “Accept them as they are and walk beside them as they find hope and regain their place in the community.”
This story has been adapted from the December | Q4 2024 Craft to Crumb mini-mag. Read the full story in the digital issue here.
