3 Key Tips for Retaining a Flexible Workforce | Hospitality in the News

Every week we comb through the news to find employment trends affecting the hospitality industry so you don’t have to. This week’s topic: tips for retaining a flexible workforce. 

Retaining a Flexible Workforce

Retention is one of the most important aspects of managing a workforce. High employee retention can lead to lower costs associated with hiring and an increase in worker satisfaction. Holding on to impactful employees is particularly important during a challenging hiring climate. If a business isn’t actively prioritizing retention, then they’re already at risk of losing employees because their needs aren’t being met.  

Retaining a flexible workforce is especially important when managing temporary workers, like in the staffing industry. At LGC, our talented pool of temporary workers benefit from our flexible employment model by creating their own schedules, earning weekly pay, and adding variety to their day-to-day by working with different clients. In fact, flexible workers are generally happier and more successful than those who don’t have flexible schedules.  

With retention being so important, and flexibility helping create a more successful worker, it begs the question: how do we retain these valuable employees? Below we’ll outline 3 tips for retaining a flexible workforce to ensure their success and yours.  

1. Be transparent during the hiring process.
During the recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding processes, managers should use this time to be transparent with candidates about what to expect as an employee. You can create this transparency by setting proper job expectations in your advertisements or during the interview process. Candidates should understand exactly what’s expected of them in order to gauge if they’ll be successful with your company. This is particularly crucial for retaining a flexible workforce, who should fully understand how the flex-scheduling works before accepting an offer. 

2. Keep job pool saturated
A great way to keep employees engaged and retained is by keeping them busy – for flex workers, this means keeping the job pool saturated with available assignments. Without a regular influx of work, employees will consider looking elsewhere to find what they need. Figure out how to best accomplish this for your business whether it’s by broadening the industries you work with, cross-training employees, or re-thinking how you build your schedule. By going out of your way to show employees you’re invested in their employment, they’ll reward you with increased rates of retention (and maybe a couple referrals).  

LGC’s staffing solution LGC Now allows workers to browse available assignments through an app on their smart phone, offering transparency and efficiency for both employees and employers. Contact us today to learn more about how LGC Now can assist with retaining a flexible workforce. 

3. Offer open communication.
Fostering an environment of open communication not only aids in transparency but will also help your entire team stay informed on major announcements or other operational updates. There are several effective ways to communicate with your employees, including blog posts, an email newsletter, or through social media. Keeping a consistent line of communication is crucial when retaining a flexible workforce. 

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About LGC
Since 2003 LGC has been building connections between businesses with staffing needs and job seekers looking for new opportunities. Our range of solutions include temporary and permanent placements (and everything in between) in a variety of industries. With offices located nationwide, we can tap into a dynamic pool of talented professionals. We have a passion for creating partnerships that last and work hard every day to ensure both clients and candidates reach their employment goals. Contact us today to learn more about our staffing solutions.