2026People & Culture•March 2026QSR Diversity and Inclusion Report 2026C-suite demographics, franchisee diversity, and DEI programs by chain. What's real vs performative, the wealth gap in franchise ownership, and which brands are actually changing.QSR Pro Staff•8 min read
GeneralPeople & Culture•March 2026The General Manager Crisis in QSRGM turnover, compensation gaps, and burnout. Why this is the most important role in the restaurant, what's driving the talent shortage, and which chains are solving it.QSR Pro Staff•8 min read
EmployeePeople & Culture•March 2026QSR Employee Training Programs RankedMcDonald's Hamburger University, Chick-fil-A's leadership program, Taco Bell's Start with Us. An honest ranking of who actually invests in people and who doesn't.QSR Pro Staff•9 min read
2026People & Culture•March 2026The Real Cost of Restaurant Turnover in 2026Cornell research puts restaurant turnover costs at $5,864 per employee. With industry turnover hovering at 150%, a single 25-person location can lose $150,000 or more per year to churn. Here is who is winning retention, what actually works, and what is just theater.QSR Pro Staff•9 min read
EmployeePeople & Culture•March 2026Why QSR Employee Retention Programs Keep FailingQSR turnover exceeds 130% annually. The industry spends billions on recruitment. Most retention programs do not work. The data on what actually does work is clear, but most operators ignore it.employee retentionturnoverQSR workforceQSR Pro Staff•10 min read•2,524
40People & Culture•March 2026The QSR Chains With 40% Turnover (And What They're Doing Differently)Some chains run 40% turnover while the industry averages 73%. The difference isn't higher pay. It's five specific strategies that treat retention as operational science.QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•3,472
2026People & Culture•March 2026How Much Do Fast Food Workers Make in 2026?State-by-state and chain-by-chain breakdown of fast food wages in 2026, including base pay, benefits, advancement paths, and what it means for operators.QSR Pro Staff•6 min read•4,137
2026People & Culture•March 2026The QSR Labor Crisis in 2026: What's Actually HappeningRestaurant employment hit pre-pandemic levels in 2026, but 28% of locations cut weekend service due to staffing issues. Labor costs jumped from 30% to 35% of expenses while discouraged workers in food service rose 80%. Operators respond with automation - AI ordering, self-service tech, and ghost kitchens that eliminate front-of-house roles entirely.QSR Pro Staff•6 min read•2,570
2026People & Culture•March 2026The QSR Labor Crisis in 2026: Real Data on Staffing and WagesRestaurant employment hit pre-pandemic levels in 2026, but 28% of locations cut weekend service due to staffing issues. Labor costs jumped from 30% to 35% of expenses while discouraged workers in food service rose 80%. Operators respond with automation - AI ordering, self-service tech, and ghost kitchens.QSR Pro Staff•6 min read•3,700
CompletePeople & Culture•March 2026The Complete Guide to QSR Staffing for Back-to-School SeasonHow to navigate the annual workforce transition when student workers return to classQSR Pro Staff•12 min read•2,633
$20People & Culture•March 2026California's FAST Act: How $20 Minimum Wage Is Changing QSR ForeverReal-world analysis of AB 1228's first year reveals complex mix of wage gains, job impacts, and industry transformationQSR Pro Staff•7 min read•3,023