Looking out for your most valuable asset during the shut down

Staff retention and wellbeing is the singular top priority for all of our Club CEO’s and Managers at this time. Below are some common queries, ideas and themes that have been popping up in the staff wellbeing and retention arena within the hospitality industry, and our very own expert Sylvia Elix, Franchise Owner, Frontline Hospitality Temps, is on hand to share her ideas on staff engagement and re-occurring subjects that are topical for staff in hospitality businesses during this time.

“These are unimaginable times we are in and to be honest I struggled where to start when this new way of living became reality. The one thing I am sure of is that we are all in this together. As a long time hospitality worker, working from home has provided me with an unusual perspective, and time to reflect (too much at times). After a month of highs and lows; I would like to share my thoughts and insights facing industry leaders and others in the Canberra Hospitality Industry throughout this period, particularly when it comes to your number one assets –your teams.” Said Sylvia, Franchise Owner, Frontline Hospitality Temps.

Here’s my top ten -

1.

Staff Engagement - Stay in touch with staff; check in with them regularly. Weekly emails sharing of information, funny memes, memories or sporting throw backs from the club, or stories of your own isolation. Open communication - Be sure to let them know they are welcome to ask any questions directly to you.

2.

Continual Learning - Listen to podcasts, read books and magazines, follow experts in the field to get inspiration to engage your team with new innovative techniques and skills for when re-opening occurs.

3.

Social Connectedness – Engaging with your club members will make them miss you and your team more! They will definitely want to see you all again at re-open and will be thankful that you are thinking of them at this time too.

4.

5.

Keep Contact –Suppliers are an integral part of your business. Suppliers will be able to help with delivery of products and the timeframes they will take as re-opening will be a very busy time for suppliers. They can also advise of any new products to share with your team prior to re-open (you could do this online).

Plan Ahead – how are things going to change? What new standards will be introduced? How much training will be required? And how many staff will return/how many will you have to recruit? What is the cost associated with this?

6.

Social Distancing –how will this look moving forward in your venue? What new procedures need to be implemented? What government policies need to be abided by and how will these be implemented into service delivery? Ensure your teams are prepared for these changes and trained in all areas before the doors open.

7.

8.

ClubsACT

CLUBSACTION MAY 2020 Staff Safety - How do staff stay safe while working in this hands-on industry at re-open?

How will customer service distance, sanitiser and hand washing, and staff distance in small areas be managed? These are a few of the things to think about to ensure your team are safe when at work post shut down.

Mental Health –Great leaders know there is information available regarding mental illness and where to get help during this time and in recovery. As this crisis and many other life issues arise it can be hard for some to navigate their way. Stay positive and ensure you are aware of the national services, including contacts details, and make them available and easily accessible for you and your team.

Lifeline 13 11 14 R U OK? www.ruok.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 Kids Helpline: 1800 551 80 Emergency: 000 Confidential Helpline: 1800 737 732 Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277

9.

Staff Health –will staff need to be vaccinated? What are the experts saying? It is way too early to tell, as there is no vaccine available for COVID-19 right now; this will require some thought and guidance from the health departments as we recover from the crisis and prepare for future safeguards. Perhaps you could start by making the flu shot available for your team before the flu season hits.

10. Planning for next time - Be ready if it happens again, prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Ask yourself, what were your learnings from this experience? How did your team react? What would you do differently? Have a hope-filled view to the future of hospitality, be optimistic knowing you can expect the best from your team.

SYLIVIA’S THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE AFTER RE-OPENING

I am not a research analyst, neither do I have access to mountains of data, I base my opinion on decades of experience in the industry, the last 13 years of which have been in Canberra Hospitality Recruitment; and also my recent conversations with many others in the local industry who know and understand it well. Below is my opinion of what may happen in the Canberra Hospitality Industry as we transition out of lockdown and of course my thoughts on how I can help.

As we come out of lockdown, we will do so with some hesitation. Restrictions will probably come and go as we watch and act, we will constantly be asking ourselves what will the future look like from here?

Some of us will start all over again and have to rebuild business and teams’ others will not, but for all of us; speed to market will be the key. The industry must be in a position to adapt quickly to changes in our market, ensuring we take advantage of opportunities as they arise. This will be more important than it ever has been in the past.

The market will be volatile, there will be a time when you need to increase your workforce, most of you will do this yourself using your own resources, but for the time when you may need to find staff, I can help.

I pride myself in the years I have served the Hospitality industry but never have I encountered anything like this. I will do my absolute best to support the Canberra hospitality industry, and am here if you need it!

Finally, these are disruptive times, but sunnier days are coming. Together we unite, let us all work collectively to rebuild our industry in Canberra and make it bigger and better than it ever was before.