{"id":3990,"date":"2021-05-04T17:02:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T21:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgcassocprod.wpengine.com\/?p=3990"},"modified":"2024-03-13T06:59:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T10:59:44","slug":"post-pandemic-employee-retention-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgcassociates.com\/es\/post-pandemic-employee-retention-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-Pandemic Employee Retention in 2021 | Hospitality in the News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week we comb through the news to find employment trends affecting the hospitality\u00a0<\/span>industry<\/span> so you don\u2019t have to. This week\u2019s topic: post-pandemic employee retention<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Employee retention is one of the most important aspects of managing a team. High intention rates can cut down on hiring costs,\u00a0<\/span>improve morale,\u00a0<\/span>and increase productivity \u2013 not to mention that it promotes a good brand image.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite seeing the lowest unemployment rates since the pandemic begin, businesses are struggling to hire. At the end of February, there were over 7 million open jobs in the U.S., with that number expected to\u00a0<\/span>grow as restrictions\u00a0<\/span>continue to\u00a0<\/span>loosen.\u00a0<\/span>With so many concerns around hiring, retaining the great staff you already have is essential, especially in an industry with such high turnover (as is the case with\u00a0<\/span>hospitality). Because the pandemic has had such a huge effect on employment<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>you should look at how<\/span> it may impact post-pandemic <\/span>employee retention and what managers need to do differently to retain staff.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Post-Pandemic Employee Retention<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In order to learn the best way to retain staff post-pandemic, it\u2019s important to consider reasons\u00a0<\/span>employees<\/span>\u00a0may<\/span>\u00a0decide to quit.\u00a0<\/span>General reasons\u00a0<\/span>include a lack of flexibility<\/span>\u00a0or training,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>poor communication, or inefficient leadership. Pandemic specific reasons will\u00a0<\/span>likely be more definitive and may include guests not abiding by safety guidelines, being burnout<\/span>\u00a0or overworked due to staff shortages, or\u00a0<\/span>decreased tips<\/span><\/a>. B<\/span>elow, we\u2019ll talk about ways to improve post-pandemic employee retention that address these common concerns amongs<\/span>t hospitality staff.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prioritize flexibility<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

When creating a schedule for your team, it\u2019s difficult to please everyone.\u00a0<\/span>But finding a way to allow for flexib<\/span>le scheduling<\/span>\u00a0could be the difference between retaining a great employee or losing them to another business who can provide what they need.\u00a0<\/span>Consider using a platform that allows for shift swapping, that way employees can have\u00a0<\/span>some control over their schedule. Also, pay close attention to when staff submit requests for time off\u00a0<\/span>and honor them whenever possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be\u00a0<\/span><\/b>mindful<\/span><\/b>\u00a0of call offs<\/span><\/b>\u00a0reasons<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

An unexpected call off \u2013 especially in the hospitality\u00a0industry \u2013 can throw a wrench in your operations.\u00a0<\/span>But remember that we\u2019re still living in a pandemic,\u00a0<\/span>so employees will have concerns about their health. If someone is\u00a0<\/span>experiencing COVID-related symptoms or other health<\/span>\u00a0issues, it should be taken seriously.\u00a0<\/span>Think about\u00a0<\/span>implementing an on-call team to account for last minute call offs\u00a0<\/span>or other legitimate concerns that would prevent an employee from coming to work.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have the appropriate amount of staff<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

H<\/span>aving an appropriate\u00a0<\/span>number<\/span>\u00a0of staff\u00a0<\/span>can improve retention for a number of reasons. It will help with accounting for<\/span>\u00a0surges in business<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>covering c<\/span>all offs, and\u00a0<\/span>will p<\/span>rovid<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>employees with\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>flexibility<\/span>\u00a0they want.\u00a0<\/span>Restaurants in particular are facing challenges when trying to hire<\/span>, so\u00a0<\/span>we understand that\u00a0<\/span>having the right number of employees is easier said than done.\u00a0<\/span>Consider thinking outside the box to<\/span>\u00a0accomplish your<\/span>\u00a0hiring needs<\/span>, whether that means contacting a staffing partner like LGC or finding alternative\u00a0<\/span>hiring channels. <\/span>Reaching out for staffing help can alleviate pressure from full-time employees and is a great way to prioritize post-pandemic employee retention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hear their concerns<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

One way to lose a great employee is by\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>listening to their concern<\/a>s<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0which may have increased or changed while working during the pandemic.\u00a0<\/span>Think about your best employee or supervisor;\u00a0<\/span>why are they so valuable? It\u2019s probably because\u00a0<\/span>they have their finger on the pulse of the restaurant\u00a0<\/span>and understand what challenges you and your team are facing. By not taking their feedback seriously,\u00a0<\/span>they might think you don\u2019t trust or believe them. This lack of engagement might cause them to find\u00a0<\/span>employment elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To ensure you\u2019re aware of employee concerns, consider the following:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n