Companies boost morale post-Katrina - New Orleans City Business

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24 2005 Best Places to Work 8 Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group By Fritz Esker, Contributing Writer The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, long an important fixture of New Orleans dining, remains a vital part of that scene even after Katrina. The first state-sanctioned health permit issued after the storm to a New Orleans restaurant was issued to the Red Fish Grill, which makes up the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, along with Bacco and Ralph’s on the Park The Red Fish Grill reopened Sept. 30 on Bourbon Street. Bacco reopened Oct.1 and Ralph’s on the Park reopened Nov. 9 on City Park Avenue in a section of town that received considerable damage from the storm. According to Charlee Williamson, executive vice president of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, her company viewed these openings as a first crucial step to rebuilding New Orleans. “It put people back to work and began to restore some semblance of normalcy to the French Quarter,” The Red Fish Grill reopened Sept. 30 at its Bourbon Street location. Owner Ralph Brennan sits in the forefront. Bacco executive chef Chris Montero cooks up chicken rigatoni. she said. “While many businesses were forced to make cutbacks in their work force, we’re very proud that we didn’t lay anybody off because of the storm.” The Brennan Group tried to make the chaos of post-Katrina life as easy as possible on its employees. Brennan restaurants management teams were paid throughout the evacuation period and hourly employees received a stipend. Employees of Brennan’s The Jazz Kitchen at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., helped establish a nonprofit called California Cares,which will bestow grants to affected Brennan’s employees and their families. In addition to these perks, Brennan’s employees were granted a leave of absence until Jan. 31, 2006, with a benefits schedule and tenure uninterrupted. Roy Barre, general manager of Bacco and a resident of eastern New Orleans, had 10 feet of water in his home and “lost everything.” After the storm, Barre and other Brennan’s general managers were sent cell phones with out-of-state area codes, which were vital in establishing communication. Once Barre returned to New Orleans, Brennan arranged for him and several other employees to receive lodging at the W Hotel in the French Quarter. An employee chat room also was set up on the Internet for employees to check in and inform each other of their whereabouts. Regarding the Brennan Group’s treatment of its employees after the storm,
RALPH BRENNAN RESTAURANT GROUP KATRINA HIGHLIGHTS • Continued payroll; hourly employees received stipends • Brennan’s California restaurant, Jazz Kitchen, established “California Cares,” which bestowed grants to New Orleans employees and families • Paid for employees to stay at the W hotel Source: CityBusiness staff research Williamson said, “On Aug. 29, 2006, we want to look back and be proud of the way we treated our people and learn from the experience so we can be even better prepared next time.” Aside from its willingness to accommodate its employees and put them back to work after Katrina, the Ralph Brennan Group provides several benefits to its workers, including development/management classes, a 401k plan, health club memberships, two annual parties and free meals during shifts. The meals before the start of the shift are called “family meals,” where the restaurant’s employees gather and dine together before the day or evening shift. Brennan’s also provides opportunities for growth, as two of its general managers started as bartenders and another started as a food runner. What is most important to the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group is the way it treats its employees. “The way they take care of their employees is what makes them want to come back,” Barre said.• Left: Bacco bartender Shane Dudley mixes a martini. Below: Bacco waitress Holly Reaux serves from left, Julie Jacob, Sharon Salisbury and Julie Blais. “Is Kenner Regional Medical Center among New Orleans' Best Places to Work?" YES December 19, 2005 25 Kenner Regional Medical Center, part of NOLA Health Network, has been named by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the city’s Best Places to Work. We are proud of this latest accolade. For years, we’ve been renowned as a place where not only our patients are satisfied, but our employees, as well. We provide every employee with the resources and freedom to pursue their career to its fullest. We currently have the following positions open for Nursing & Allied Health Professionals: • RN/ICU: 12 hr night • RN/ER: 10a-10p • RN/MED SURG: 12 hr day or night • CNA: 12 hr day or night To apply, please visit: www.kennerregional.com or call (504) 464-8012. EOE • Physical Therapist (inpatient): FT • Housekeeper: day or evening • Floor Tech: day Part of NOLA Regional Health Network We Hear You.
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Companies boost morale post-Katrina - New Orleans City Business

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