Yet the truth is that the pandemic has only served to highlight long-standing challenges . Even before the pandemic , hospitality businesses experienced turnover as high as 73.8 % annually . However , for much of its history , the industry has been able to rely on a steady stream of people to replace exemployees at the same starting pay .
With job markets now more competitive in attracting employees and with candidates expecting employers to provide a suitable living standard , hoteliers and restaurant managers no longer have the luxury of tapping into an unlimited labor source . Instead , to continue meeting the service needs of their business , managers must re-evaluate how they approach employee relations to ensure that employees see the value in a specific job function or role . Only then can they hope to attract the right candidates , ensure their loyalty and maintain a successful labor management strategy that will prove critical to staying on the road to recovery in 2022 and beyond .
Show you value your employees by providing them with value
Maintaining a sufficiently staffed and trained workforce is the ultimate dream of any hospitalitybased manager , but it is often one that misses the mark . With a reputation for offering menial , lowpaying jobs and limited potential for career growth , it ’ s not surprising only 42 % of hospitality workers report being satisfied with their job and are looking for better options elsewhere .
To combat this , hoteliers need to find new ways to provide their employees with value beyond a wage increase , which for many is simply not enough . Today ’ s employees want to expand their skills and accelerate career development . With their wide array of jobs , hotels can address this need . For example , hoteliers could give housekeeping staff opportunities to learn how to manage the front desk . Perhaps a kitchen employee wants to be a concierge ; by offering opportunities to pursue their long-term goals , hoteliers can gain a vital edge in ensuring employees feel fulfilled and are willing to stay with their current employer . Hoteliers can even introduce a system that rewards employees for the new skills they learn . Businesses that value their employees enough to invest in their future will also find they can crossutilize staff , reducing the need to depend on a larger workforce and drastically minimizing the effects of the labor shortage .
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