Restaurant operators once again find themselves refocusing priorities and altering their plans for 2022. A pandemic-induced and tumultuous 2020 for restaurants was followed by a puzzling 2021. Although sales are up from this time last year, so too, is the scramble to adequately staff restaurants and retain those workers. While many restaurants are offering hiring incentives like higher pay or signing bonuses, some are forced to reduce the number of hours they’re open to the public because of lack of staff. In 2022, restaurants are turning to technology for help. Let’s take a closer look at the big picture for the coming year. Tackle the Labor Shortage with Hiring Incentives While sales are trending higher, the National Restaurant Association reports three in four operators say recruitment and retention is their toughest challenge. In August, the restaurant industry lost more than 40,000 jobs. Without enough workers, restaurants have reduced operating hours and increasingly rely on overburdened staff in the face of stronger diner demand. One California restaurant, for instance, had to shut its doors and refund [...]