POLLING THE FRONTLINE: SEASONAL HIRING IN HOSPITALITY
Peak season is fast approaching, and hospitality organizations are once again looking to meet that increased demand with a fortified workforce, trained and ready to deliver the memorable experiences that guests are expecting. But will they be ready?
Seasonal hiring is on the rise, but finding skilled workers is harder than ever. And with the burden of recruiting, hiring and training seasonal staff on managers, there’s a heightened risk of burnout, inconsistencies and understaffing during peak periods, all of which threatens operational consistency and quality guest service.
Get the full survey findings here, but here’s a glimpse at the insights we uncovered.
Over half of hospitality managers polled said they are hiring more new workers this year, either because they simply need more people in locations, or, more often, because their current associates don’t have the skill sets or expertise to perform the specific jobs needed. But even more respondents said it’s become more difficult to find workers this year, and a whopping 66% said the quality of seasonal job applicants is worse.
From anticipating new roles and skill gaps to recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training applicants, the roles that managers play in the seasonal hiring process are taking a toll. In fact, over 60% of hospitality managers said they feel more burned out leading into peak seasons, and nearly half said seasonal hiring increases their burnout. And with 55% of hospitality managers having considered quitting in the past two months, there’s a serious risk of even more staffing issues, as well as inconsistencies, understaffing and more.
The risk of a perpetual cycle of understaffing and burnout can result in major impacts on the business, according to hospitality managers. The ability to deliver a memorable and consistent guest experience, adhere to compliance regulations and follow safety and security protocols are all at risk.
With seasonal hiring hurdles at play, the ability to deliver a memorable and consistent guest experience, adhere to compliance regulations and follow safety and security protocols are all at risk. Get the full survey to learn more.