It’s Your Business

Retaining Employees With a Safe Workspace

The tight labor market continues to be a primary concern for the hospitality industry. The good news is people are eager to travel, dine out, and resume a more normal social schedule. Operators and managers share the challenges of keeping up with the new faces they see in their workforce every week. Now is the perfect time to rethink how often you check in with employees. Reinvigorating your communication during constant churn will positively impact morale, retention, and injury prevention.

It’s good to pause and reflect on how many times your management team talks with employees. Every communication is a new opportunity to dust off soft skills and start having short conversations that go beyond a simple greeting or providing direction.

By definition, “soft skills” are human attributes and qualities that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. It’s a mix of communication, caring, listening, and empathy. More than ever, this is what helps set your business apart from the competition in keeping valuable employees. Genuine care and concern around employee wellbeing and safety will go a long way.

Here are some things to consider when engaging with your workforce. Connecting with your employees can help them build resilience and feel supported.

 Messages of support and care help employees build internal resources and the ability to adapt to stress and adversity.

 Employees who feel safe and mentally well also perform better on the job and are less likely to get physically injured.

 Building employee resilience starts with a psychologically safe workplace. To gauge whether your workplace promotes psychological safety, ask yourself these questions: • Do employees feel they belong? • Are employees able to learn? • Are employees encouraged to share ideas without fear? • Are employees encouraged to question the way things are done?

 Use pre-shift meetings to discuss work/life hazards such as weather and road conditions. It’s important for employees to get to and from work safely.

 Encourage coworker buddy systems, checking in on each other if employees feel comfortable doing so.  Offer an open-door policy for employees to talk with managers and supervisors if something arises and they are looking for help or support. We all need help now and then.

 Not everyone in leadership can deliver an authentic message of care and concern. Find the right person in your business to deliver this type of message.

 One of the reasons employees leave their employer is for better working conditions. Be a workplace where employees want to work. Discuss the sense of purpose for your business and build teams of good people.

 Listen to employees and help them be successful. Training and instruction are more important now than ever before.

 Recognize employees for the things your business values, such as: • Showing up on time. • Offering to cover additional shifts. • Following safety rules, identifying employee and customer safety hazards. • Helping a coworker who is struggling or having a bad day. • Delivering a great customer experience. • Taking the initiative to solve problems. • Cleaning work areas, restocking supplies. • Listening and asking questions. • Making suggestions to improve service and efficiency.

Additional resources for building resilience and workplace safety meeting topics can be found on SAIF.com/safety.  SAIF CORPORATION