Staff / Employee Attrition

Why did the hotel employee quit his job? Because he was tired of being checked out all the time.
Staff Attrition in Hospitality Industry | Eclat Hospitality

Index

  • To address high staff attrition in a hotel, it's important to identify the root cause of the issue and work on improving working conditions, offering competitive compensation and benefits, investing in training and development, and fostering a positive work culture.
  • Exit interviews can help understand the reasons for staff leaving, while perks such as flexible schedules, recognition programs, and career advancement opportunities can help retain talented employees.
  • Providing comprehensive benefits packages and ongoing training can also motivate employees to stay.
  • Creating a positive work culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and open communication can reduce staff turnover.

How can I measure Employee attrition?

Attrition Rate = (Number of Employees who left during the period ÷ Average number of employees during the period) x 100

To calculate the attrition rate, you'll need to collect data on the number of employees who left your hotel during a specific period (such as a month, quarter, or year), and the average number of employees you had during that period. Then, you can use the formula above to calculate the attrition rate as a percentage.

For example, if you had 100 employees at the start of the year, and 10 of them left during the year, your attrition rate would be:

Attrition Rate = (10 ÷ 100) x 100 = 10%

This means that you lost 10% of your workforce during the year.

In addition to calculating the attrition rate, you may also want to gather more detailed information on why employees are leaving your hotel, such as through exit interviews or surveys. This can help you identify specific issues that may be contributing to staff turnover, and develop targeted strategies to address them.


What Can I Do, If The Staff Attrition Is Too High In My Hotel?

High staff attrition can be a challenge for any business, and it can be especially detrimental for the hotel industry, where high turnover can affect the quality of service and impact guest experience. Here are some suggestions to help address high staff attrition in your hotel:

  1. Identify the root cause: Understanding the reasons behind your staff leaving is crucial. Conducting exit interviews with departing employees can help you identify any underlying issues that need to be addressed.

  2. Improve working conditions: Addressing any concerns that staff may have about their working environment or job satisfaction can go a long way in reducing staff turnover. Consider offering perks such as flexible schedules, employee recognition programs, or opportunities for career advancement.

  3. Offer competitive compensation and benefits: Competitive wages and benefits packages can help you attract and retain talented employees. Consider offering a comprehensive benefits package, such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans.

  4. Invest in training and development: Offering opportunities for professional growth and development can help employees feel valued and motivated to stay with the company. Provide ongoing training to ensure that employees have the skills they need to perform their jobs effectively.

  5. Foster a positive work culture: Creating a positive work culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and open communication can help reduce turnover. Encourage employee feedback and be open to suggestions for improvement.

By taking these steps, you can help address staff attrition in your hotel and create a more positive and productive workplace for your employees.


Interventions that help in Staff Attrition

  1. Improved working conditions and job satisfaction: Providing a positive work environment is critical to reducing staff attrition. For example, offering flexible work schedules, providing opportunities for career advancement, and creating a positive work culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and open communication can help employees feel valued and motivated to stay.

  2. Competitive compensation and benefits packages: Offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits packages can help retain talented employees. Conducting a competitive analysis of compensation and benefits packages in the local market and making improvements where necessary can help ensure that your hotel is attractive to job seekers.

  3. Training and development programs: Providing ongoing training and development opportunities can help employees develop new skills and advance their careers within your organization. This can also lead to increased job satisfaction and a sense of loyalty to the organization.

  4. Recognition and reward programs: Recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions is an effective way to boost morale and reduce turnover. This can include formal recognition programs, such as employee of the month awards or performance-based bonuses, as well as informal recognition, such as verbal praise and thank-you notes.

  5. Exit interviews and employee surveys: Conducting exit interviews with departing employees and employee surveys can provide valuable insight into the reasons for staff turnover. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to retain talented employees.

  6. Mentorship and coaching: Providing mentorship and coaching to employees can help them develop new skills and build relationships within the organization. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and a sense of belonging, which can help reduce staff attrition.

These interventions can be effective in reducing staff attrition in the hospitality industry, but the specific approach will depend on the unique needs and challenges of your organization. A customized strategy that addresses the root causes of staff turnover is key to success.


What do some hotel brands do to reduce staff attrition?

  1. Marriott International: Marriott has implemented several initiatives to reduce staff turnover, including flexible scheduling, training and development programs, and a "TakeCare" program that provides wellness resources and support for employees.

  2. Hilton: Hilton has implemented a "Heart of House" program that recognizes and rewards outstanding employees, as well as a "Career Connection" program that provides career development opportunities and resources for employees.

  3. Four Seasons: Four Seasons has a "People First" culture that prioritizes employee satisfaction and development. They provide extensive training and development opportunities, as well as a mentorship program for employees.

  4. Ritz-Carlton: Ritz-Carlton has a "Gold Standards" program that emphasizes providing exceptional customer service and a positive work environment for employees. They also provide opportunities for career development and advancement within the company.

  5. Hyatt: Hyatt has implemented several initiatives to reduce staff attrition, including a focus on creating a positive work environment, providing opportunities for career advancement, and recognizing and rewarding outstanding employees through their "Thrive" program.

These brands have demonstrated that a focus on employee satisfaction and development can lead to reduced staff attrition and improved business performance in the hospitality industry. However, it's important to note that each organization has unique needs and challenges, and the specific approach to reducing staff attrition will depend on these factors.


Is there a questionnaire I can give employees to understand if they are happy working in my hotel?

Here are some sample questions that you could include in an employee survey to better understand if your staff is happy working in your hotel:

  1. Overall, how satisfied are you with your job at our hotel?

  2. How well do you feel your job responsibilities align with your skills and abilities?

  3. Do you feel you have access to the resources and support you need to do your job effectively?

  4. How would you rate the level of communication and feedback you receive from your supervisor?

  5. How would you rate the level of teamwork and collaboration in your department?

  6. Do you feel you are recognized and rewarded for your contributions to the organization?

  7. How would you rate the level of training and development opportunities available to you?

  8. How well does our hotel provide opportunities for career growth and advancement?

  9. How satisfied are you with the compensation and benefits package offered by our hotel?

  10. How would you rate the overall work culture at our hotel?

These questions can help you understand the factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and identify areas for improvement in your organization. It's important to ensure that the survey is anonymous to encourage honest feedback from your employees. You may also want to consider conducting focus groups or one-on-one interviews to gain further insights into the issues raised by the survey results.


What Is An Exit Interview

An exit interview is a structured interview that takes place between an employee who is leaving a company (such as a hotel) and a representative of the organization, such as a human resources professional or a manager. The purpose of an exit interview is to gain feedback from the departing employee about their experience working for the company, and to identify any issues or concerns that may have contributed to their decision to leave.

During an exit interview, the interviewer may ask a range of questions to gather feedback on topics such as the employee's job satisfaction, work environment, management style, compensation, benefits, career development opportunities, and any other factors that may have influenced their decision to leave. The interviewer may also ask the employee for suggestions on how the company could improve its policies, practices, or culture to reduce staff turnover.

Exit interviews can be a valuable source of information for companies looking to reduce employee attrition, as they can help identify specific issues or areas for improvement that may not have been apparent otherwise. By gathering feedback from departing employees, companies can gain insights into what is driving staff turnover, and develop targeted strategies to address these issues and improve employee retention.


A transcript of a good exit interview for a hotel employee

[Begin Transcript]

Interviewer: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Can you tell me why you've decided to leave our hotel?

Employee: Yes, I've accepted a position at another hotel that offers more opportunities for career advancement.

Interviewer: I see. Can you tell me more about what led to your decision to leave?

Employee: Sure. I've been with this hotel for a few years now, and while I've enjoyed my time here, I haven't seen many opportunities for growth or development. I've expressed my interest in advancing within the organization, but I haven't seen any action taken to support that.

Interviewer: That's helpful feedback. Is there anything else that contributed to your decision to leave?

Employee: Well, I've also noticed that there's been a lot of turnover in my department recently, and I haven't felt that my contributions have been recognized or valued as much as I'd like.

Interviewer: I appreciate you sharing that with me. Can you think of anything that our hotel could have done differently to encourage you to stay?

Employee: Honestly, I think if there had been more opportunities for growth and development, and if my contributions had been recognized more, I may have been more inclined to stay. Additionally, I think that there could be more focus on creating a positive work environment, which would make employees feel more valued and motivated to stay.

Interviewer: Thank you for that feedback. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us before you go?

Employee: Just that I've appreciated my time here and have learned a lot, but I'm excited for this new opportunity and hope that our paths cross again in the future.

Interviewer: Thank you for your time today, and we wish you all the best in your new role.

[End Transcript]

This is just an example, and it's important to tailor the questions to the specific circumstances of the departing employee and the organization. The goal is to gain insights into the reasons for employee turnover and to identify areas for improvement in the organization's policies and practices.


Books on the topic of staff retention and reducing staff turnover in the hospitality industry:

  1. "The Heart of Hospitality: Great Hotel and Restaurant Leaders Share Their Secrets" by Micah Solomon - this book explores the qualities and practices that make for effective leadership in the hospitality industry, including strategies for reducing staff turnover.

  2. "Hospitality Management: People Skills and Manners on and off the Job" by Lyn Pont - this book covers a wide range of topics related to hospitality management, including staff retention and reducing turnover.

  3. "Hospitality Employee Management and Supervision: Concepts and Practical Applications" by Kerry L. Sommerville - this book provides an in-depth look at the challenges of managing and supervising hospitality employees, and includes strategies for retaining staff and reducing turnover.

  4. "The 7 Non-Negotiables of Winning: Tying Soft Traits to Hard Results in Leadership, Management and Employee Development" by David K. Williams - while not specific to the hospitality industry, this book offers insights and strategies for building a strong and engaged workforce, which can be applied to any industry.


Artificial intelligence (AI) can help in a number of ways when it comes to addressing staff attrition in the hospitality industry.

Here are a few examples:

  1. Predictive analytics: By analyzing data on employee behavior, performance, and engagement, AI algorithms can help identify patterns that may be associated with staff turnover. This can help hotel managers take proactive steps to address potential issues before they lead to turnover.

  2. Personalized training and development: AI can help identify each employee's strengths and weaknesses, and provide customized training and development opportunities to help them build new skills and improve their performance. This can help employees feel more engaged and motivated, which can reduce the likelihood of turnover.

  3. Employee engagement surveys: AI-powered surveys can help hotels gather more detailed and accurate feedback from employees on a wide range of topics related to their job satisfaction, work environment, and overall well-being. This can help hotel managers identify specific areas for improvement and develop targeted strategies to reduce turnover.

  4. Chatbots and virtual assistants: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can help employees access information and support more quickly and easily, which can reduce their stress levels and improve their overall job satisfaction.

Overall, AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for reducing staff attrition in the hospitality industry, by providing managers with deeper insights into employee behavior and performance, and by offering more personalized support and development opportunities to employees.


There once was a hotel in distress
Its staff turnover caused much stress
So they implemented some change
And found a way to arrange
A workplace where employees felt their best

staff attrition, hospitality industry, employee retention, talent management, workforce management, human resources, employee turnover, workplace culture, employee satisfaction, Eclat Hospitality