Picture this. A hospitality company is experiencing high turnover because disgruntled employees feel like all they do is work and have no time for their lives outside of their shifts. If this company prioritizes hospitality recruitment strategies geared towards a work-life balance, this will enhance employee engagement and productivity.
This business can attract individuals who value a supportive and flexible environment. Implementing diverse shift types can accommodate the workers’ lives outside of work.
The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Hospitality Recruitment
Hospitality workers prefer a work-life balance so they can embark on their endeavors with enough time outside of work. This way, they do not feel overworked and return to another shift refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
Traditionally, hospitality managers were more focused on filling vacancies to maintain operational efficiency, forgetting to consider a work-life balance. Such narrow-sighted tactics are one reason turnover is so high in hospitality. However, industry employers are becoming more competitive by hiring skilled workers while prioritizing a work-life balance with various shift types to give employees command over their work schedule.
Flexible Work Schedules in Hospitality
Flexible scheduling helps workers to have a quality life outside of work. If they have to attend college classes, be with their families, or fulfill other commitments at specific times, having a flexible schedule is essential to keep a job while maintaining personal obligations.
Shift Swapping
Hospitality recruitment strategies should integrate shift swapping options to allow employees to easily trade shifts as needed. Picture this scenario.
Sue is scheduled from 2 pm to 10 pm. She has an unexpected obligation she needs to handle during her shift time.
If Aaron is willing to give Sue his 8 am to 1 pm shift, he can take over her afternoon shift. It works out positively for both of them doing this shift swap. Despite Sue losing 3 hours of her work week, she can fulfill her obligation while Aaron earns more money with the additional hours.
Compressed Workweeks
Compressed workweeks allow employees to work fewer days for longer shifts so that they have more days off. While the usual full-time employee works 8 hours a day for 5 days per week, some individuals prefer working 4 days a week at 10-hour shifts. There’s also a popular rotation of working 3 days, having 4 days off, working 4 days, having 3 days off, and so on, with each shift being 12 hours.
Working in high-pressure roles in the hospitality industry can lead to burnout. Compressed workweeks allow employees to pursue hobbies, attend to personal matters, and rest between the long shifts.
Part-Time and Gig Opportunities
Quick-service restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality industries like to offer part-time opportunities for college students and individuals seeking supplemental income. This way, employees can work as many hours as they are comfortable based on their schedule outside of work.
Signing up for gig opportunities like becoming a delivery driver for apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Instacart gives individuals command over their schedule while still earning an income. This shift type became more mainstream back in 2020 when COVID ran rampant and people did not want to risk going out to grocery stores.
Hospitality Recruitment Strategies for a Changing Workforce
Hospitality recruitment is constantly reforming because of an evolving workforce. These strategies are aligning with such changes.
Targeted Job Listings
Industry-specific job boards such as Indeed Hospitality help recruiters to find the most talented professionals within the industry who have the most relevant experience and skills to fulfill specialized roles. Finding a platform that has advanced search filters and personalized job posting options can refine the overall candidate quality in those applying to open vacancies.
Involving Current Employees in Recruitment
Current employees with many years of experience in the industry and with the company can be involved in current recruitment efforts. They can join a hiring panel or help interviewees role-play various scenarios to see how they would perform on the job.
Offer Referral Bonuses
Referral bonuses incentivize current employees to assist in the job search for new talent. Helping to find a new employee can help a current worker receive a cash bonus, extra time off, or other applicable awards at the recruitment team’s discretion.
The Future of Hospitality Hiring Trends
Looking ahead to the future of hospitality hiring, it’s evident that technology-driven recruitment and flexible work models will stay as great backbones for the industry. Applicant matching based on skills for specialized roles and creative scheduling options like compressed workweeks and part-time options will help hospitality companies remain competitive to capture and nurture high-quality talent.
