The Shift Change - Transforming QSR Operations Through Better HR
by Bryan Gorman
The Shift Change dives deep into the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants, where great HR isn't just about hiring - It's about survival. Host Bryan Gorman explores how smart people strategies can transform everything from reducing turnover and improving customer service to boosting profitability and creating cultures where both employees and customers keep coming back. Each episode features real stories from QSR operators, HR leaders, and industry experts who are proving that investing in your people is the ultimate competitive advantage. Whether you're managing a single location or overseeing hundreds, discover the HR innovations that are reshaping the industry one shift at a time.
Episodes
-
Why Restaurant Operators Need Better Systems for Talent, Finance, and Compliance
In this episode of The Shift Change Podcast, I sit down with Mark Young to discuss the complex intersection of HR, finance, law, and restaurant operations. We discuss the biggest challenges facing restaurant leaders today, from compliance and joint employment to AI, training, and labor costs.…
more -
Find Your Fire, Fan Your Flame: Leadership Lessons for Restaurant Operators
What do you say to a GM working 60-hour weeks who thinks "finding your fire" is a luxury they can't afford? In this episode, I sit down with Jason Barnaby, founder and Chief Firestarter of Firestarters Inc., keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Igniting the Firestarter Within. Jason...
-
What Breaks When Your GM Takes Two Weeks Off?
Why do the same three employees keep getting written up for the same mistake? Why does your training program work great for three weeks and then quietly disappear? In this episode of The Shift Change, organizational development expert Tate Linden makes the case that most "people problems" in...
-
Bridging the Gap: Earned Wage Access, Financial Wellness, and the Future of QSR Work
What if your employees didn't have to wait two weeks to access money they've already earned? In this episode of The Shift Change, host Bryan Gorman sits down with Aaron Martin, Director of Sales at Rain, to break down the growing world of Earned Wage Access (EWA) and what it means for QSR…
more -
Paying for the Whole Menu, Only Eating the Fries
You signed the contract. You sat through the demo. You went live. And now, months later, your team is doing exactly what they did before — running payroll and punching timecards — while a dozen other modules collect dust. Sound familiar? In this solo episode, I breakdown one of the most expensive...
-
Is Your Tech Stack Actually Costing You Money?
Most multi-unit restaurant operators assume their tech stack is working. They've got a POS, a payroll system, a scheduling tool, maybe a benefits platform. But under the hood? It's often held together with spreadsheets, manual re-entry, and one manager who knows which buttons to push — and when...
-
Hire for the Story, Not the Shift: The Values-Based Approach to QSR Staffing
Every summer, quick service restaurants scramble to fill shifts. The pitch is transactional — "Can you start today?" — and the result is predictable: high turnover, fast burnout, and a revolving door that never stops spinning. In this episode, Bryan sits down with organizational psychologist and...
-
Tips, Taxes & the Fine Print: Breaking Down the OBBBA
My conversation with Kirk Grogan, Co-Founder and COO at TipHaus covers the impact of the OBBBA on the hospitality industry, compliance challenges, misconceptions, and future-proofing tip strategies. It also delves into the experiential trends in hospitality and discusses a unique restaurant...
-
Non-Negotiables: How the Best Restaurant Brands Scale Culture Without Losing It
My interview with Steve Felson covers a wide range of topics related to the restaurant industry, including career experiences, industry trends, operational shifts, and the impact of AI. Steve shares insights on the challenges of starting a franchise division, the importance of onboarding and...
-
Beyond The Checklist - Insights from the 2026 QSR Workforce Management Conference
Ever wonder why your training isn't sticking? At the QSR Workforce Management Summit in Dallas, industry leaders from across the restaurant space gathered to tackle the workforce challenges keeping operators up at night—and the answers were more human than most of us expected. In this episode…
more -
Top 5 HR and Payroll Issues Impacting QSR in 2026
The first 2026 episode of the Shift Change podcast discusses the top five HR and payroll issues that will define success in the quick service restaurant industry. These issues include the evolution of payroll, compliance challenges, AI augmented management, total well-being, and data privacy.…
more -
Multi-Location Payroll: The 5 Mistakes that Cost Franchise Owners Money
Episode Description: Running payroll across multiple locations should be straightforward, but most franchise owners are bleeding money through avoidable mistakes. In this episode of The Shift Change, we break down the five most common—and costly—payroll errors that multi-location operators make,...
About this show
The Shift Change dives deep into the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants, where great HR isn't just about hiring - It's about survival. Host Bryan Gorman explores how smart people strategies can transform everything from reducing turnover and improving customer service to boosting profitability and creating cultures where both employees and customers keep coming back. Each episode features real stories from QSR operators, HR leaders, and industry experts who are proving that investing in your people is the ultimate competitive advantage. Whether you're managing a single location or overseeing hundreds, discover the HR innovations that are reshaping the industry one shift at a time.
Hosted by
Bryan Gorman
Categories