- 85% of hospitality workers report experiencing poor mental health in the past 12 months
- 67% say their lives would improve if they were more aware of their shift patterns
- Planday shares practical advice for managers to increase staff happiness and retention
Planday, Xero’s shift planning software, has published research into why staff retention rates in the hospitality industry are so low, and the findings can be used to help hospitality leaders and managers improve staff retention and happiness. We share practical advice on what you can do to increase your
The findings, which analyzed the habits and work priorities of over 2,000 UK shift workers, have been compiled into a white paper report in collaboration with The Burnt Chef Project. Building on these learnings, Planday launched the ‘Single Biggest Shift’ campaign to drive practical solutions to hospitality’s employment crisis and create happier, healthier teams that are more likely to stay in the industry longer. I made it.
One in seven (15%) hospitality workers say they would not recommend the industry as a career. The main reasons for this are low pay (66%), long or uncontrollable working hours (57%), and lack of control over working hours (46%). ) – And with 53% of shift workers in the UK confessing they plan to leave their current job, something needs to “shift” in the industry to improve staff retention. is clear.
In addition to this, an astonishing 85% of hospitality workers report experiencing symptoms of poor mental health such as depression, anxiety, and stress in the past 12 months.
One clear and actionable finding from research to reduce unhappiness at work is that 67% of employees believe their lives would be improved by being more aware of their shift patterns. That’s it. In fact, 68% of employees have considered moving to another industry due to lack of roster notice or unpredictable shift patterns. 53% say they suffer from stress and anxiety because they don’t know regularly when they’ll be needed at work, but 31% are given more than a week’s notice of their next shift % only.
Planday CEO Dave Lee commented: “The ability to plan ahead more efficiently is quickly becoming an essential element of a successful hospitality business. single largest change What hospitality businesses can do to support their staff. Companies that fail to do this will have a hard time retaining their current staff as employees quickly become burnt out and become frustrated with inaccurate schedules and not being given the flexibility to swap shifts. . ”
After hearing the research, Planday shares four practical actions that companies can take to make a big difference in employee retention.
- Improve mental health support. 85% of respondents reported having had a mental health problem in the past 12 months, but only 24% had access to support at work
- Create progress plans for all employees. 71% of people who feel they lack the proper guidance to get to the next level plan to leave their position in the near future.
- Plan your roster further ahead. 69% of employees receive less than a week’s notice of their next shift, and 68% have considered moving to another industry due to a lack of planning. Planday helps managers plan shift work in advance, and this small change can have a positive impact on companies. The majority of hospitality workers.
- Leverage technology to work across generations. 68% say they regularly use mobile apps that allow them to change shifts and keep track of their roster and pay. Giving your employees more freedom will lead to a better work-life balance and, in turn, happier employees.
By using these simple tips, hospitality businesses can keep staff happy and, in turn, increase staff retention. In fact, 47% cite a good work-life balance as the most important factor when looking for a new job, and 25% look for a regular work pattern.
Lee commented: “At Planday, we believe that if businesses can make a few simple changes, such as improving mental health support, developing strong progression plans, planning rotas in advance and leveraging technology to support , we believe that a company’s business will not just make a difference, but a better one.”It’s a desirable place to work, but it also means happier staff and higher staff retention. ”
