In a difficult economy, many companies look at a wide spectrum of options to reduce labour costs. This is no different in the hospitality industry over the past year and a half where we've seen managers and front line staff laid off, hours cut for entry level workers, and increased demand on the remaining management and team that is asked to cope with less, and do more, in lieu of the struggling economy.
In order to retain these people that we rely on to manage at this time, look to some ideas provided by the Families and Work Institute(FWI). These frugal tips may help save your organization money while also creating a positive work environment that will encourage staff loyalty and peak performance:
1. Giving head office employees four Fridays off in the summer in lieu of raises the organization cannot afford.
2. Providing employees with information to better manage their own finances.
3. Allowing head office employees to work at home one to two days a week to save on commuting costs in response to fluctuating gas prices.
4. Creating funds to support their own employees or others in the community who are suffering during the recession.
5. Giving employees the option to take unlimited, unpaid personal time off during the downturn, while keeping full medical benefits and the right to return to their jobs.
6. Allowing employees greater scheduling flexibility if their spouse has lost a job or seen their hours reduced and the family needs to make changes.
7. Creating flex-year and flex-career programs.
8. Creating workflow coordinators to monitor overwork and creating wellness scorecards to promote wellness.
9. Providing a coach for new parents.
"In many ways, the recession has led increasing numbers of employers to improve their workplaces so that they work for the employer and the employees during these difficult times," said Ellen Gallinsky, president and co-founder of FWI.
[Source: Human Resources Leader, 29 September 2009]
No comments:
Post a Comment