Restaurant Chain with Happiest Employees? Nope, Not Chick-fil-A

(KMDL-FM) Louisiana loves to eat, and when there isn't a couple of hours and a black iron pot available, we will go out to eat. Granted, most of the places we prefer for dining out use a black iron pot, but it's still not exactly home cooking.

Thank goodness we have a strong restaurant industry in Louisiana, and most of our larger communities offer a variety of popular national and regional chain restaurants as well.

What Chain Restaurants Have the Happiest Employees?

When you think about chain restaurants like the ones you might find in Lafayette, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Alexandria, or Bossier City, why do you choose the restaurant you choose? For a first visit, it might be just to try it out. For a second visit, it might be because we liked the food. But to get us to come back a third time? You'd better offer good food and great service.

In my experience as a semi-professional eater, I have found that the restaurants that offer better service usually have a staff that is happy to be there. That's why job satisfaction and understanding which chains people want to work for and enjoy working for play a part in where I choose to pull up and drive through.

If you ask that question about which restaurant chains have the happiest employees, the stock answer you get from most of those who work outside the food service industry will offer an answer of Chick-fil-A. It's a good guess, and the "my pleasure" people did make the top ten of a recent survey conducted by the investment firm William Blair.

The William Blair survey based their list on analysing reviews from the site Glassdoor. If you're not familiar with Glassdoor, that is a site where employees and former employees can anonymously review companies in a variety of areas. Among those areas are salary, benefits, processes, and culture. This is what led William Blair to surmise which places employ the happiest workers.

And if you equate happy workers with better customer service and a better customer experience, which I do, then the place you really need to visit is one you can't. That's because they don't have locations in Louisiana.

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Okay, the chain with "happiest employees" can be found a short drive away across the state line in Texas. But would you really want to drive several hours just for this burger?

Where is the Closest In-N-Out Burger to Louisiana?

Some people would, just like some folks drive several hours just to get caught in the traffic at Buc-ee's. It's a personal preference, I suppose. Have you figured out that the chain at the top of the happy employees list is In-N-Out Burger? It is.

I have never experienced their burgers, but the people who have do say they are extremely tasty, and for some who grew up on In-N-Out, there is almost a cult-like loyalty to the brand. I am sure the combination of good burgers and happy employees figures into the experience.

The second choice on the list is available in Louisiana and, in fact, was born in Louisiana. It's the "hey what's kickin' want some chicken" folks at Raising Cane's. The chicken place with the secret sauce came in second on the William Blair list.

Which Chain Restaurants Have the Unhappiest Workers?

As we mentioned, Chick-fil-A did score in the top ten; they were ranked at number ten in the survey. The complete survey results are available for you to peruse. Some of the names you won't find at the top of the list but closer to the bottom are Sonic, Wingstop, Freddy's Frozen Custard, Panera Bread, and the best of the worst, Hardee's.

Not surprisingly, I have had awful experiences at each of those establishments, but I will say the team at Sonic made it a point to resolve my issue, and that is why they still get my business. 

Perhaps our friends in food service who operate chain or franchise restaurants should learn from the William Blair survey. Maybe if you hire good people and then compensate them fairly, they will supply a better experience for your customers, and that will lead to a better return on your investment. 

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As American consumers tighten their budgets and as inflation makes even a fast food burger seem as if it's priced like a steak, dining out will become more of a luxury. And no one wants a "luxury" experience that makes them feel unappreciated. You don't want to wind up like these folks.