The Domino’s Operator Who Cracked the Code on Hourly Hiring
In an industry where turnover is expected and staffing feels like a never-ending challenge, some restaurant operators are finding new ways forward — not just to survive, but to thrive.
Doug Dagger, who operates 15 Domino’s locations under the NEPA Pizza brand, is one of those leaders. While many were scrambling just to fill shifts, Doug made a strategic pivot. The result? A streamlined hiring process, higher retention, and a lot less stress on his team.
The Problem: Missed Applicants, Manual Processes, and Burnout
Like many franchise operators, Doug relied on a combination of tools that didn’t talk to each other — SmartRecruiters, JobAlign, Google Sheets, and endless emails.
“If I took two days off, we’d go 48 to 72 hours with no contact to new applicants,” he explained. “That’s just not sustainable.”
Missed applicants led to missed opportunities. Managers were stuck chasing paperwork instead of focusing on team development or operations.
The Solution: Unifying the Process With Sprockets
Doug turned to Sprockets, a platform built specifically for hiring hourly workers. What stood out wasn’t just the technology — it was how seamlessly it fit into the daily realities of a busy restaurant operation.
With Sprockets, everything changed:
- Applicants flowed into a single dashboard
- Candidates were automatically scored for fit
- Interview scheduling and messaging were handled automatically
“The instant communication stood out. I’ve had people start within 24 hours of applying.”
Beyond Day One: The Role of HourWork
But hiring is only half the battle. Retention starts the moment someone joins your team — and this is where HourWork, now part of the Sprockets solution, came in.
Doug uses automated check-ins at key milestones (7, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days) to keep communication open and turnover down. Texts go out with simple questions or company updates — and responses help managers catch issues before they lead to churn.
“We didn’t realize how many people we weren’t reaching. HourWork changed that.”
The Results: 50 Hires in 7 Weeks, 82% Retention, and a Refocused Team
- 50 hires in 7 weeks
- 82% retention among new hires
- 6–7 hires at a single location in one week
- Significantly reduced manual workloads for managers
Doug is now a vocal advocate for bringing modern hiring tools to franchise operations — and not just to fill roles faster, but to build stronger, more loyal teams that last.
“Those applicants with a 9+ score? Almost exclusively exceptional.”
Watch the Story Unfold
See Doug break it all down in his own words. Click any of the videos below to watch a clip in full screen.