Charlotte, NC
The Company Strengthens its Vertical Focus with Purpose-Built Technology and Expert Services
Rising labor costs, crippling turnover and constantly changing compliance requirements are stretching restaurant teams thin. In fact, 64% of restaurant HR leaders say their industry is facing a talent crisis and nearly three-quarters are looking for more effective ways to manage their growing workload. To meet these challenges head-on, isolved® is launching isolved People Cloud™ for Restaurants—tailored human capital management (HCM) solutions built to support quick-service restaurants (QSRs), franchises and dining establishments of all sizes.
“Restaurant HR leaders are under tremendous pressure with limited time and resources to manage high turnover, wage and tip complexity and fast-changing regulations,” said Opal Wagnac, Senior Vice President, Market & Solutions Strategy at isolved. “Our restaurant solutions are designed specifically for this environment, making it easier to attract and retain talent, stay compliant and create a better employee experience that directly contributes to better guest experiences.”
Purpose-Built for Restaurant Realities
Available now, isolved People Cloud for Restaurants, Plus and Premium bundles, offer flexible options to match different operational needs:
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Plus provides the core essentials of accurate payroll, automated scheduling, time tracking, onboarding and compliance tools designed to simplify day-to-day tasks and improve employee access to HR functions.
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Premium adds deeper capabilities for more complex operations including Affordable Care Act (ACA) and COBRA compliance, benefits administration, Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) support, expense management and advanced workforce analytics.
Both bundles include:
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Unlimited pay runs and payroll accuracy for multi-location, tipped and hourly employees
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Flexible scheduling and self-service shift management
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Mobile access for onboarding, pay, time and benefits
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Automated features to assist in compliance with labor laws and tax rules
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Onboarding and retention tools to reduce burnout and disengagement
These offerings come at a critical time for restaurants, when people challenges are escalating. According to the isolved HR Leaders Report 2025, retaining talent is now the number-one organizational concern for restaurants, and 62% of HR leaders say a shortage of qualified candidates is the biggest threat to talent acquisition. Among restaurant HR leaders, that number climbs even higher, with 64% reporting their industry is facing a talent crisis. Combined with isolved’s Voice of the Workforce 2024-2025 research, which found 79% of employees are experiencing burnout, restaurants face growing urgency to rethink how they support and engage their teams.
isolved addresses these pressures by helping restaurants streamline routine processes, provide flexibility and empower workers with more control over their experience.
“It used to take me a week to do payroll but with isolved, it only takes me a day,” said Michelle Hobson, Office Manager at D & J Fast Foods, a Wendy’s franchisee with seven locations and nearly 190 employees. “It’s priceless to know the payroll tax returns, W-2s and ACA forms are going to get done. I don’t have to think about it.”
Hands-On HR Expertise Tailored for Restaurants
With 71% of HR departments saying they could benefit from outsourcing HR tasks, many restaurant leaders are seeking more than just software. They need a trusted partner. That’s why isolved offers a consultative layer of service through its HR Services Expert for Restaurants. This people-first support model gives operators direct access to an experienced HR partner who understands the fast pace and unique challenges of the restaurant industry and can assist with:
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Wage and tip compliance
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Labor law updates
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Manager coaching for employee relations
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Monthly HR check-ins
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Health and safety best practices
“Having access to HR expertise tailored to our industry makes a real difference,” said Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito, a regional quick-service restaurant with over 135 employees. “With isolved’s guidance and simplified compliance reporting, we’ve streamlined key processes and are projected to save more than $35,000 over three years.”
Delivering Real ROI
The restaurant bundles are part of isolved’s intelligently connected HCM platform, People Cloud, which delivered a 330% return on investment with payback in less than six months, according to a new Total Economic Impact™ study by Forrester Consulting. That means less time managing systems and more time focusing on people and guests.
“After 30 years of managing payroll ourselves, we made the decision to outsource our California-based payroll to isolved to reduce our exposure to paycheck compliance liability under California’s complicated regulations,” said Shane Hitzeman, Vice President and Owner of Pride Restaurant Group, a fast food franchisee that operates 15 Panera Bread and Burger King locations across Southern California with close to 850 employees. “Running payroll on isolved freed up time to focus on other priorities.”
Discover how isolved People Cloud can help your restaurant overcome today’s workforce challenges and deliver better guest experiences. Visit www.isolvedhcm.com/restaurants to learn more or request a demo.
Educational Resources:
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3Sixty Insights Research Note: How franchise operators managing Burger King, Panera Bread and other restaurants are solving top challenges
About isolved:
isolved is the most trusted HCM technology leader, providing the best combination of software and services to meet the needs of today’s People Heroes – HR, payroll, and benefits professionals. From talent acquisition to workforce management to talent management, our solutions are delivered directly or through our HRO partner network to more than 7.7 million employees and 189,000 employers across all 50 states – who use them every day to increase productivity, accelerate decision-making and ensure performance, while reducing risk. isolved People Cloud™, our intelligently connected platform, automates the entire employee experience by design, so that organizations can engage, empower, and energize their talent while freeing their People Heroes to exceed their goals and grow their careers. Visit https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ to learn more.
Media Contact:
Christine Allen
Director of Communications
CAllen@isolvedhcm.com
603-743-4534