At Sprockets, we’ve had the privilege of hosting over 50 conversations on the Hourly Podcast — a show dedicated to the challenges and opportunities in hiring, managing, and retaining hourly employees.
These aren’t surface-level interviews. They’re real, candid discussions with franchise owners, operators, HR leaders, and founders who are in the trenches every day, building teams and shaping culture.
What We’ve Learned
With each episode, we’ve picked up practical, sometimes surprising lessons about what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to hiring and retention in the hourly space.
We’re not ranking the best guests or trying to play favorites. Instead, we’ve gathered 50 of the most memorable, impactful insights shared along the way — from quick, tactical tips to mindset-shifting truths.
50 Insights from the Hourly Podcast
1.“The essence of the hourly workforce? Grit, growth, and opportunity.” — Jim Balis, Sizzling Platter
2.“Culture isn’t a buzzword. It’s a daily practice.” — Erik Frederick
3.“Equity in hiring isn’t a trend — it’s the standard we should have started with.” — Monigo Saygbay
4.“People-first isn’t a tagline — it’s how you build resilience.” — Natalie Rothman
5.“Hourly workers are the spine of a company. Treat them that way.” — Laura Varn
6.“Your culture either drives results or drives people out.” — Shideler Bennett, Crumbl
7.“Bias in hiring isn’t just unfair — it’s expensive.” — Heather Morgan
8.“Prevent turnover by understanding your employees’ goals, not just your own.” — Jonathon Weathington
9.“Inclusivity isn’t a checkbox — it’s a hiring mindset.” — Rasheeda Clark, Flynn Group
10.“Your failures? They’re the blueprint for your success.” — Mike Axiotis
11.“Wage increases only work if expectations increase too.” — Mary Claire Smith
12.“Retention starts at the interview, not day one.” — Sam Stanovich
13.“Hire for character. Train for everything else.” — Alex Yeater, Everbowl
14.“Mentality > Experience. Every time.” — Chon Nguyen
15.“A leader’s job is to serve, not control.” — Monica Rothgery
16.“Culture isn’t created by HR. It’s lived by managers every day.” — Katie Turner
17.“Experience is nice. Coachability is better.” — Charlie Eblen
18.“If your hiring process doesn’t reflect your brand, you’re losing candidates.” — Lissa Bowen
19.“The spirit of care should be as strong for staff as it is for guests.” — Angela Gintz
20.“Think like an applicant. That’s where great hiring starts.” — Jamie Starner
21.“People and profits don’t compete. They compound.” — Amy Schons
22.“Culture is a daily task, not a quarterly initiative.” — Katie Turner
23.“Managers manage tasks. Leaders build trust.” — Anand Gala
24.“You can train for anything — except for someone who doesn’t care.” — Dr. Kathy Gosser
25.“Develop leaders who develop others. That’s how you scale culture.” — Preston Sharpston
26.“You can’t scale what you can’t measure.” — Renzo Bassanini
27.“The invisible threshold? It’s when a job stops being ‘just a job.’” — Jim Taylor
28.“Marketing your brand starts with how you treat your people.” — TJ Schier
29.“Recognize your rockstars. Or someone else will.” — Steve Ransone
30.“Hire for personality. Skills follow.” — Katie Marzolf
31.“Kindness scales when you bake it into your systems.” — Christie Schatz
32.“Everything’s an interview — every day, every shift.” — Meagan Francisco
33.“Hospitality work isn’t a side hustle. It’s a launchpad.” — Ryan Bond
34.“We cut turnover from 140% to 88% by listening more and assuming less.” — David Walsh
35.“Employees want respect, purpose, and flexibility. In that order.” — Sallie Woods
36.“Your top performers are the blueprint. Hire more like them.” — James Colino
37.“If you’re not texting applicants within hours, you’re already behind.” — Ryan Main
38.“Communication earns trust. And trust earns retention.” — Jason Brooks
39.“People are your success. Full stop.” — Brandi Adams
40.“The future of delivery is human-first, not app-first.” — Shawn Brunelle
41.“When core values show up on every shift, retention takes care of itself.” — Nikki Rappaport
42.“It’s not about filling seats — it’s about finding the right fit.” — Shelly & Katie, Red Robin
43.“WOTC isn’t just a tax credit — it’s a hiring strategy.” — Natalie Commons
44.“Being people-first isn’t an HR job — it’s a business strategy.” — Steve Browne
45.“Treat employees like guests — with the same care and intention.” — Laura McLand
46.“Ask more. Assume less. That’s the key to keeping your team.” — David Abes
47.“Train your people like you plan to promote them.” — Kathy Gosser
48.“Trust is built in conversations, not checklists.” — Cole Bastian
49.“Inclusivity drives retention. It’s not a side initiative.” — Rasheeda Clark
50.“Hiring fast is good. Hiring right is better.” — Sallie Woods
How These Insights Inform What We Do
These takeaways don’t just highlight what’s broken in hourly hiring — they shine a light on what’s possible.
At Sprockets and HourWork, we’ve had a front-row seat to the challenges operators face: high turnover, slow hiring, disengaged teams. But we’ve also seen what happens when businesses take action — hiring for fit, engaging employees early, and investing in culture that lasts.
These lessons from our podcast guests affirm why we do what we do:
•Sprockets helps hiring managers find the right fit faster — using AI-backed screening and personality matching.
•HourWork keeps employees engaged after the hire — through automated check-ins, feedback loops, and milestone recognition.
We’re not sharing this list to pitch. We’re sharing it to pass along what we’ve learned. But if you’re ready to act on these insights — and want tools that make it easier — we’re here to help.
👉 Learn more about Sprockets + HourWork
Want to Go Deeper?
🎧 Listen to full episodes of the Hourly Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or sprockets.ai/hourly
Thank you to all of the amazing guests who’ve joined us so far — your insights are making a real difference.
Harness Expert Insights on Hourly Hiring
