A responsive platform where restaurant workers can post honest reviews of their workplace.
Details
4 week timeline
Lead UX Designer: David Budnick
Full Stack Engineer: Jared Wright
My role was UX Designer & Researcher
Introduction
Restaurant workers frequently encounter significant challenges when searching for jobs that not only fulfill their financial requirements but also provide a supportive and respectful work environment. The lack of transparency surrounding workplace conditions - such as management practices, team dynamics, and overall culture - often leaves employees in the dark about what to expect before they begin a job. This uncertainty contributes to high turnover rates, as many workers leave positions after realizing the work environment is hostile or unsupportive. As a result, job dissatisfaction grows, negatively impacting both their professional and personal well-being.
Project Goal
The goal was to create a platform where restaurant workers (servers, bartenders, bussers, and others) could post honest reviews about their work environments. By increasing transparency, we sought to empower workers to make informed decisions about their employment and help them find workplaces that align with their values and lifestyle.
User Interview Questions
I conducted interviews with restaurant workers to better understand their frustrations and job search habits. Key questions focused on their methods for finding jobs, experiences with managers and guests, and factors that contributed to their decision to stay or leave a position. The aim was to uncover the core issues they faced when evaluating new work environments.
Can you give me a quick 2-3 sentence introduction about yourself?
How do you currently look for a job?
How long have you been working at your current restaurant/bar?
What has been your interaction with restaurant managers?
Have you ever wanted to leave a job because of a manager or guest?
What is the most important factor you consider when looking for a new job?
User General Findings
Workers typically find jobs through platforms like Indeed, Craigslist, and culinary agents but feel they lack transparency.
Many only discover key aspects of a restaurant’s culture or management after working there for several months.
A hostile work environment or disrespectful managers were the primary reasons for leaving jobs.
Workers expressed a desire to know more about a restaurant’s work culture and management before accepting a position.
Persona
Problem Statement
Restaurant workers often struggle to find reliable information about workplace conditions, leading to mismatched expectations, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover. The lack of transparency around management, culture, and employee treatment leaves them frustrated and uninformed.
How might we provide accurate, up-to-date information about a restaurant's work environment to help workers make better employment decisions?
Brainstorming ideas
During our brainstorming sessions, we explored various ideas to address the challenges workers face, including:
Match Service for Restaurant Workers: A platform that connects workers with job opportunities based on their skills and preferences.
Donation Platform: A platform to support restaurant workers with financial assistance or access to educational programs.
AI Suggestion Platform: An AI-powered tool to recommend dining or work environments that align with users’ preferences.
Review System for Restaurant Workers: A transparent review platform where workers can post about their job experiences, helping others make informed decisions.
Usability Testing & Unexpected Challenge
During usability testing, we discovered an unexpected challenge. Many users struggled with navigating the review posting process. The initial design included too many steps, causing frustration for users who were accustomed to quick interactions on other job platforms.
To address this, we simplified the process, reducing the number of steps needed to post a review. By streamlining the user flow and improving the interface, we were able to enhance usability, leading to a more positive user experience.
Usability Test Scope
The primary goal of the testing was to assess how effectively users could navigate the platform, post reviews about their workplace, and search for restaurants. We focused on evaluating the clarity and intuitiveness of each step in the process, making sure that users could seamlessly move through tasks like posting feedback or browsing restaurant reviews. Additionally, we aimed to gauge overall user satisfaction with the platform's task flow, identifying any areas of confusion or friction that could impact the user experience.
Team Collaboration
While working on BetterShift, collaboration played a key role in bringing the project to life. I worked closely with David Budnick, our Lead Designer, and Jared Wright, our Lead Full Stack Engineer, to ensure the design vision and technical execution aligned seamlessly.
David and I collaborated on refining the user interface and branding, ensuring that the platform not only looked visually appealing but also provided a smooth and intuitive experience for users. We held frequent design reviews and brainstorming sessions to iterate on the visual elements and overall structure.
On the development side, I worked with Jared to translate the design into a functional prototype. We collaborated to prioritize features, like the review system and search functionality, ensuring the technical limitations were addressed without compromising the user experience. Regular feedback loops allowed us to stay agile, and we worked through any unforeseen challenges together, like optimizing the platform for mobile use.
This collaborative approach highlighted my ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team, balancing design needs with technical realities, and delivering a cohesive, user-centered product.
Final Design
The final design of BetterShift emphasized simplicity and ease of use. Users could quickly browse reviews, search for specific restaurants, and contribute their own experiences. The platform's layout was built to ensure users could easily post reviews while navigating between restaurant listings and feedback.
Conclusion
While BetterShift has not yet launched, it demonstrated great potential in creating a transparent space for restaurant workers to share their experiences. The platform would allow workers to make more informed employment decisions while encouraging restaurants to improve their work environments. Throughout the design process, I learned the importance of addressing user pain points early and iterating quickly to improve usability. Overcoming the navigation challenge ultimately strengthened the design and reinforced the importance of user-centered solutions in enhancing job satisfaction and transparency in the industry.