High turnover rates often plague the hospitality industry. Employees typically leave their hospitality industry jobs for various reasons, including poor working conditions, low wages, and a lack of career advancement opportunities.
While it is only sometimes possible to eliminate turnover in the hospitality industry, there are several steps that employers can take to improve retention rates. When it comes to improving retention, employers should focus on creating a positive work environment, providing competitive compensation and benefits, and offering opportunities for career advancement.
This article will provide an overview of these three retention strategies so that you can hire and retain the best employees in hospitality.
Creating a Positive Work Environment
One of the best ways to improve retention in the hospitality industry is to create a positive work environment. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay with a company for the long haul. To create a positive work environment, employers should focus on fostering open communication, understanding employee needs, and offering recognition and rewards.
Foster Open Communication
Open communication is key to creating a positive work environment. Hospitality employers should make sure that employees feel comfortable communicating with their supervisors.
Employees should also be encouraged to give feedback, both positive and negative. When employers and employees can speak openly, it builds trust, creating a more positive work environment for employees and the employer.
Understand Employee Needs
Employers must understand the needs of their employees and want to create a positive work environment. Employees in the hospitality industry often have different needs than employees in other industries.
For example, hospitality workers may value flexible scheduling. In addition, hospitality workers may need more support when it comes to dealing with demanding customers. By understanding the needs of their employees, employers can create a work environment that is more likely to retain employees.
Offer Recognition and Rewards
Recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work is another critical retention strategy. Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to stay with a company. Employers can show their appreciation by offering bonuses, raises, and other forms of recognition. Only some forms of acknowledgment need to be financial.
Employers can also show appreciation by offering employees paid time off, flexible scheduling, and other perks. Employees are more likely to stay with the company if they feel appreciated.
Provide Competitive Compensation and Benefits
Another way to improve retention in hospitality is to provide competitive compensation and benefits. Employees who feel paid well and with good benefits will likely stay with a company, and that’s because they sense that their employer cares for their well-being.
For example, imagine two hospitality companies recruiting for the same position. Company A offers a higher salary than Company B. However, Company B, offers better benefits, such as health insurance and a retirement plan. As a result, employees are more likely to choose Company B because they feel that Company B is more invested in their well-being.
Types of Compensation and Benefits
Employers can offer their employees many different types of compensation and benefits. Some common examples include:
Salary
The most common form of compensation is salary. Employers should make sure that their employees receive a competitive salary. A competitive salary is one in which an employee is paid fair market value for their skills and experience.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is a vital benefit, especially in the United States. Therefore, employers should offer health insurance to their employees. In addition, the government may sometimes require employers to provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Bonus
A bonus is a form of financial compensation given to employees in addition to their regular salary. Employers can provide a dividend for various reasons, such as meeting sales targets or completing a project on time. Bonuses can be in the form of cash or stock.
Retirement Plan
A retirement plan is a benefit that allows employees to save for their retirement. Employers often match a certain percentage of employee contributions. For example, an employer may parallel 50% of employee contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary.
Paid Time Off
Paid time off is a benefit that allows employees to take paid time off from work. Often, employees use paid time off for vacation, sick, or personal days.
Flexible Scheduling
Flexible scheduling is a benefit that allows employees to have a flexible work schedule. For example, an employee may choose their hours or work from home.
Employee Assistance Program
An employee assistance program is a benefit that provides support to employees dealing with personal or professional problems. For example, an employee assistance program may offer counseling services, financial advice, or legal assistance.
Offer Opportunities for Career Advancement
Finally, employers in the hospitality industry should offer opportunities for career advancement. Employees who feel stuck in their current position are more likely to leave a company, and that’s because they think that their career needs to progress.
Employers can offer opportunities for career advancement by providing training and development opportunities and promotion opportunities.
Training and Development Opportunities
Training and development opportunities allow employees to learn and improve their existing skills. Employers can offer training and development opportunities through on-the-job training, workshops, or courses. Specific to the hospitality industry, these opportunities could include the following:
On-the-Job Training
On-the-job training is a form of training that takes place in the workplace, and it allows employees to learn new skills by working alongside more experienced employees.
This type of training is excellent in the hospitality industry. It enables employees to learn new skills while also providing the opportunity to put those skills into practice. Such as learning how to use a new software program or properly clean a patient’s room.
Workshops
Another type of training and development opportunity is a workshop. Experts in the field typically lead workshops designed to teach employees new skills or improve their existing skills.
For example, a seminar on customer service could teach employees how to deal with complex customer service situations properly. In addition, employers can use workshops to train employees about new trends in the hospitality industry.
Courses
Courses are another training and development opportunity that employers can offer to employees. Colleges or universities usually offer courses, but employers can also offer them online or in person. By investing in the training and development of their employees, employers can help improve retention rates and the overall quality of their workforce.
Promotion Opportunities
In addition to training and development opportunities, employers in the hospitality industry should also offer promotion opportunities. By offering promotion opportunities, employers show employees that there is room for growth within the company.
Doing this can help improve retention rates and employee morale since employees feel that their hard work is recognized. Some ideas for promotion opportunities in the hospitality industry include the following:
Management Positions
A management position is one of the most common promotion opportunities in the hospitality industry. Management positions involve overseeing the work of other employees and often come with a pay increase. Employers may find employees interested in management positions who can have a promotion from their current position. Or employers can hire from outside the company.
Sales Positions
Another type of promotion opportunity in the hospitality industry is a sales position. Sales positions usually involve working with customers to sell products or services. In addition, these positions often come with a commission, which can be an excellent incentive for employees.
Marketing Positions
Another type of promotion opportunity in the hospitality industry is a marketing position. Marketing positions usually involve working with customers to promote products or services. Not only do marketing positions often come with a pay increase, but they can also be very commission-based.
Customer Service Positions
Customer service positions are another type of promotion opportunity in the hospitality industry. Customer service positions usually involve working with customers to help them with their needs. These positions can be very challenging, but they are also very rewarding.
By offering promotion opportunities to employees, employers in the hospitality industry can show their employees that they are valued and that there is room for growth within the company. Doing this can help to improve retention rates, as well as employee morale.
The Bottom Line
Employers in the hospitality industry need to focus on employee retention because it’s crucial for their success. Happy and satisfied employees are more likely to stay with a company, which leads to less turnover and higher productivity.
To improve retention, employers should focus on creating a positive work environment, providing training and development opportunities, and offering competitive compensation and benefits. Doing so can keep their best employees and maintain a thriving business.
