Making pay transparency work in restaurants | Stella Dennig, Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip | 044

In this episode of the Pre-Shift podcast, host DJ dives deep into the intricacies of managing successful restaurant teams with Stella Denig, co-owner and GM of Daytrip Restaurant in Oakland, California. Stella shares insights on building a restaurant prioritizing pay equity, equitable compensation, and a strong internal culture. She discusses their unique business model, the challenges of introducing equitable systems, and the importance of legislative change in the industry. Stella also touches on the role of collective thinking in their operations and the exciting personal and professional changes coming up for her and Daytrip. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to learn about innovative practices in the hospitality industry. 00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast 00:12 Meet Stella Denig from Daytrip Restaurant 01:02 The Journey to Opening Daytrip 02:20 Innovative Business Model and Pay Equity 04:14 Service Charge and Employee Compensation 09:51 Open Pay and Hiring Practices 14:08 Collective Thinking and Team Culture 25:19 Advice for Aspiring Restaurateurs 29:19 Exciting Future Plans for Daytrip 30:52 Conclusion and Contact Information Guest Bio Stella Dennig (she/her) is the Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip, a fermentation-driven party of a restaurant in Oakland, CA. Core to Daytrip’s mission is to push toward a more equitable future for this industry and at the center of that, its workforce. Daytrip has been written up for its employment practices by publications like Bon Appetit, The New York Times, and the SF Chronicle. Daytrip was a Bon Appetit top 10 Best New Restaurant in America in 2023 and Co-Owner/Chef Finn Stern was a James Beard Semifinalist in 2024. Resources Daytrip RAISE 10 Best New Restaurants in America 2022 | Bon Appetit Send us Fan Mail 📲 Connect with us Email us Follow on LinkedIn More 7shifts Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts Subscribe to Food Runner, our Monthly Restaurant Newsletter 7shifts on YouTube Follow us on TikTok Read the 7shifts Blog About Us 7shifts is the restaurant HR platform helping operators hire, train, schedule, pay, and retain their team in one place. With an easy-to-use platform and built-for-restaurant workflows, 7shifts replaces disconnected systems for 55,000 restaurants.