M D Warrier explains that there are many ways to increase staff retention and motivate existing employees M D Warrier explains that there are many ways to increase staff retention and motivate existing employees

What advice and observations would you offer to HR managers and GMs recruiting staff for new hotels in the pre-opening period?
Some tips are as follows:

  1. It is difficult to get 100% experienced staff with the relevant education, experience, skills sets and right attitude coupled with the desire to relocate to some regions. Therefore, trainees from hotel schools could be considered – perhaps 20% trainees and 80% experienced staff, subject to requirements. This helps in controlling payroll expenses as well.
  2. Good staff accommodation, competitive salary and the potential for career advancement can help to a certain extent to attract, recruit and retain staff.
  3. Intensive training needs to be imparted across the board.
  4. Hotels need to plan bulk recruitment trips well in advance so that last-minute recruitment campaigns and disappointment can be avoided.
  5. Hotel management should conduct a salary and compensation survey and design a competitive and healthy compensation package without compromising the profitability and share holder values.
  6. Since junior categories are away from the family, they tend to face emotional issues. Most staff in the junior categories travel only after completing two years’ work. Annual air passages can help to a great extent, particularly as a lot of budget airlines are operating services in most of the source markets barring some destinations such as Philippines and Indonesia. This can be achieved if payroll cost is planned well. For example, the salary of a waiter can be budgeted as AED 1350 but AED 1200 as the basic. The difference of AED 150 can be considered for air passage. This is just a thought as annual air passage will be great motivator.

How can hotels retain the best talent?
The time has come for employers to think of innovative methods to retain employees in view of the escalating payroll expenses, increasing labour turnover and challenges. An incentive scheme, payable after completing two years’ service or five years’ service apart from the statutory indemnity benefits, could be implemented.

What are job hunters looking for from hotel employers?
A competitive salary, good staff accommodation, staff recreational facilities and career development.

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