With the prospect of having their entire workforces returning to the office/plant for the first time in over two years, businesses and corporations of all sizes are working frantically to make that transition back into the workplace as easy as possible. For employers, finding ways to reward staff for either continuing to work on location or fulfilling their job responsibilities remotely during the pandemic is a key to building morale back to pre-COVID levels.
One of the best ways to accomplish those goals is to host a staff barbecue, and the most cost-effective way to do that is to hire an experienced caterer like Jesse’s Catering.
Caterers were one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic, as corporate events were wiped out by fluctuating social distancing mandates. That’s finally changing according to Jesse’s owner Rod Pollock.
“There wasn’t much support for caterers during the pandemic,” said Pollock, who has over three decades of experience as a caterer and restaurateur. “If you didn’t have inside seating you were kind of screwed. When the restrictions opened up in March, the phone started ringing. Now people are starting to do events again.”
Pollock says that many of his corporate clients contract his mobile barbecue services to celebrate some internal milestone such as meeting deadlines, achieving accident-free safety numbers, or simply to foster a sense of community within the workforce. Recently, Pollock was hired to provide barbecue services for 800 workers at a local plant in Guelph, which required his team to accommodate three different shifts.
“We fed 200 workers at 1:30 in the morning, we fed 400 at noon, and then we fed another 200 at 8:00pm,” said Pollock. “All shifts were treated equally. It can be done that easily. We have a really good formula.”
One of the aspects that sets Jesse’s Catering apart from other caterers is that all cooking is done right on the premises of the business hiring Pollock to barbecue. The other aspect is the quality of products he uses in delivering his services to appreciative clients, including Schneiders Italian sausage, Cardinal Angus burgers, homemade salads and brand name beverages.
“One of things I see is that they’re often surprised that I bring my trailers and barbecues and cook right there during their shift,” he said. “Most caterers don’t do that. They cook it elsewhere and bring it. We conduct a barbecue on site. It’s not barbecued food brought to you. And I only buy the best products I can buy.”
Pollock says Jesse’s Catering will customize any menu requested from potential clients with items including chicken, steak, fish and chips and vegan options. The service is available for any corporate function or special event including long weekends, Canada Day, and other calendar events. He says such engagements are a perfect way for employers to show their employees how much they’re appreciated, especially as they emerge for the pandemic.
“Our barbecues are all about staff morale and giving back. It’s about showing appreciation for what workers have done and sacrificed during the last two years. It’s a chance for companies to say ‘you’re still here, we’re still here,’ and to thank them.
For more information, visit Jesse’s On The Green online.