Restaurant companies boost employee morale with contests, games

Nation's Restaurant News, June 28, 2004 by Dina Berta

Sonic Corp. in Oklahoma City has been hosting its Dr Pepper Sonic Games for 10 years, and each year voluntary participation from restaurant units has grown, said Diane Prem, vice president of operation service. As with Whataburger, the games are based on job skills, whether in grilling hamburgers or in filling orders, Winners compete during Sonic's annual convention wearing nylon tracksuits that bear the Sonic logo. Last year 83 percent of Sonic's 2,300 drive-in restaurants participated in the games.

"Managers tell us the games help reinforce to their crews the importance of learning a job position, and it helps them understand how training delivers better customer service," Prem said.