Everyone has the sense of ownership

Zhang Yong's Hai Di Lao Catering Company provides employees with surprisingly good welfare. However, this is only part of the reason they stay in Zhang Yong's Company. What's more important is Zhang Yong's unique strategy of empowering his employees.

At Hai Di Lao hot pot restaurants, ordinary waiters have the same authority as managers to give diners a discount. Zhang Yong helps all employees cultivate a sense of ownership in a bid to better solve problems for customers. Encouraged by company policy, restaurant employees feel like owners of their company and pool their talents to improve standards.

Inspired by Zhang Yong's healthy enterprise culture, restaurant employees offered many of their own suggestions to take better care of customers' needs. For instance, longer chopsticks convenient for the chafing dish have been designed. A cloth to wipe glasses and a cover to wrap mobile phones are given to diners as small gifts. Toilets are furnished like a hotel bathroom with free toothpaste, toothbrushes and cream.

Further professional development for employees

The chance of further professional development is also possible for those employees that show dedication to working at Hai Di Lao. Yuan Huaqiang is one example. Yuan, a country boy, used to greet incoming diners at the entrance, as well as working as a dishwasher and waiter. Today, he is general manager of Hai Di Lao's sub company in Beijing. In 2007, 27-year old Yuan spent more than three million yuan on a new apartment in Beijing and soon brought his parents to live in it.

Keep outside investment out

In light of the growing prosperity of Hai Di Lao hot pot restaurants, several business people expressed a desire to invest in Zhang Yong's enterprise. However, Zhang rejected all such offers. His decision runs against the common sense that investment is an incentive for business expansion as well as the steady growth of market share.

Hai Di Lao collage established

Zhang Yong realized an increase in the number of his hot pot restaurants doesn't necessarily translate into business success without an adequate supply of qualified employees and the backup from a good management system. Therefore, cultivating a core workforce of managers and front-line employees is a pressing task for his Hai Di Lao Catering Company. This June, Hai Di Lao collage was established.