In current times of economic instability, the word retention is thrown around a lot. Business owners are under immense pressure lately to maintain their business as it was. In hospitality, this can mean numerous things, from small-scale items like cutlery to larger-scale matters like affording to pay the lease for the premises you operate your business out of. Holding onto staff members is no different. This article explores how business owners can maximise their staff retention.

Staff Retention – Why is it important?

While not directly visible, staff retention is essential for a number of reasons, not just limited to financial matters: Some strengths of retaining staff members in your business include:

• Maintaining productivity and efficiency in the workplace. This relates to momentum, where ongoing staff members are primed to work as a team and have adapted to work together. Constantly providing new employees restarts this process.
• Maintaining customer satisfaction and service quality. Frequent changeovers of staff members can break momentum and dissolve ongoing relationships with regular customers.

• Constant turnover of new staff also breaks the momentum and engagement between your staff as a team. This, in turn, can create a negative and less stable work environment;

• And of course, the financial impacts. There are numerous costs associated with re-hiring staff, including training, uniforms and equipment provision, etc

7 Ways to retain staff in your business

Encourage and promote a work-life balance

Due to the nature of the hospitality industry, maintaining a work-life balance amongst employees is easier said than done. But there are aspects to staff maintenance that often go amiss that employer’s should implement regularly. Examples include:

• Regular observations of the roster to ensure staff are not being allocated excessive work hours that could be detrimental to their health/wellbeing.
• Encouraging staff to take annual leave on a regular basis.
• Encouraging staff to communicate amongst each other to cover each other shifts where possible should this be required at any time.

 Maintain a positive workplace culture

Hospitality is a fast-paced, high-stress and physical industry. It is easy to get caught up in such an environment and forget to maintain such a positive workplace culture that embodies working together as a team. Maintaining this will also ensure a steady business workflow.

Where possible, maintain competitive remuneration rates amongst your staff

The effects of competitive/manageable remuneration rates amongst your staff. Maintaining remuneration rates to this level will contribute towards positive staff retention and decrease the chance of them seeking employment elsewhere.

Ensure all health and safety obligations are met

Not only is this an important aspect of retaining staff in your business, it is an important requirement of you as an employer to meet health and safety standards and maintain correct regulations and procedures within your business. The most important thing to keep in mind in relation to this is to always remember that it is your responsibility to always provide a safe workplace for your employees.

Meet employee demands and encourage flexibility where possible

The hospitality industry often involves an unpredictable work schedule and demanding hours. Employers should therefore, always look into implementing flexible options where possible. This includes but is not limited to; allowing employees to swap shifts where possible and/or allowing remote working where possible (not so easy in hospitality but in some instances, a possibility).

Acknowledge and recognise employee accomplishments

This point aligns well with promoting a positive workplace culture. When your employees reach levels of achievement that you have recognised, celebrate it! Because when your staff reach milestones and achievement, this is mutually shared with your business success. It will also result in positive reinforcement amongst your staff.

Prioritise upskilling and career development opportunities where possible

Like every other industry, the majority of hospitality workers are always looking for opportunities to increase their knowledge and skillsets to further their career. How these are promoted to your staff is completely dependent on your business and how you run it specifically. Always remember that each individual has their own demands/requirements.