When it comes to recognition in the workplace, showing staff they are valued can take many forms. From individual awards to team bonuses for meeting goals – recognition often creates a sense of pride and ownership of the roles that team members play. The hospitality industry is no exception. In fact, this industry is known for having a high turnover rate as employees move between establishments or even to new industries. So, making every effort to keep employee motivation and commitment high keeps valuable employees on board for as long as possible.
Benefits of Employee Recognition
Employees are more likely to meet or exceed expectations set in the workplace if those efforts are acknowledged and/or rewarded. Does every task completed successfully deserve a shoutout? Definitely not. However, noticing AND recognizing employees or teams who consistently put in the extra effort certainly encourages them to continue to do so.
Additionally, employees who are recognized for their efforts are more likely to remain in a position rather than looking for other employment opportunities. In fact, only an average of 37% of those recognized frequently are seeking other jobs. Compared to the 89% of those looking for new options whose efforts aren’t often acknowledged in the workplace, the benefit of doing so is obvious.
Not only are employees more likely to stay with an organization whose management encourages and rewards hard work, but they are also more likely to put in extra effort when needed to exceed expectations. Those who have a good working relationship with managers and feel valued often also seek opportunities for advancement with the same organization. Recognizing team members for their contributions means they will likely commit even more time and effort to the overall success of the business. It is always less expensive to retain quality employees rather than constantly having to train new ones.
Strategies for Recognizing Employees in the Workplace
When it comes to the types of staff recognition, there are several options. When used properly, any of these (or a combination of several) are likely to lead to a workplace full of motivated employees looking to meet or exceed job requirements.
Incentive Programs
Used by many industries, incentives for meeting goals are a great way to keep employees motivated to achieve targets. Incentive programs can be structured as a team effort or for individual employees. In roles where any type of sales is involved, it’s common to have sales targets (i.e. restaurants setting goals for liquor sales or daily specials). However, even in non-customer-facing roles in hospitality, incentives can be powerful motivators. For housekeeping staff, this could mean finishing a certain number of rooms in a set period of time.
When it comes to group incentives – guest satisfaction is a great measure of success for a hotel. So, achieving a certain level – often measured through reviews – often means the entire staff has reached a milestone and should be rewarded. Incentives come in many forms. Monetary incentives, usually in the form of a cash bonus or gift card equivalent are extremely popular. Other options don’t cost employers anything but are valuable to employees. These include first pick at days off or the option to go off dress code for a day.
Customer-Driven Recognition
Because guest satisfaction is the top priority for hospitality staff, recognition that stems from customers themselves can be a great motivator for employees to keep guest happiness top of mind. Nearly all hospitality establishments utilize social media and aggregate rating platforms such as Yelp. On these platforms, guests can rate their stay and leave messages regarding the specifics of their stay. Often, guests use this opportunity to give shoutouts to specific team members who may have made their experience great. Managers should stay current on reviews that come in and reward employees that receive praise accordingly. Acknowledging their hard work in person, on employee communications, or with a small gift can go a long way to ensure they continue to provide guests with exceptional service.
Loyalty Recognition
Remember that retaining quality employees is significantly better than always needing to train new ones. So, it’s important to show appreciation to those who have remained with the company for long periods. Doing so also helps show newer team members that the organization values loyalty and will encourage them to remain at the company for years to come as well. Lastly, those who feel appreciated for their hard work will often express that to friends and family. Hotels and other hospitality establishments can gain a reputation for either appreciating their employees or not. Those whose reputation is the former will more likely get candidates when the need comes to hire additional employees.
Finding an Employer who Values Employees
Employees want to go where their efforts are valued. But how does one go about finding this type of manager or employer? The short answer is to simply ask. During job interviews, don’t hesitate to inquire about opportunities for incentives. A more general approach is asking potential managers about their leadership styles. Most likely, employers who value and reward hard-working employees will make this known when asked these types of questions.
Securing an interview is the first step in obtaining a job in the hospitality industry. Due to current staffing shortages, the number of opportunities is plentiful. We’ve got a constantly updated database of current hospitality roles, and there is something for everyone – including those who have worked in the industry for years or those looking for their first role.