Lisa left the following response in reply to the fairly tough criticism she copped last week after the post about staffing in hospitality. If anyone feels they want to add to the mix or comment on Lisa's opinion, please do so. It's 'open mike' time here at Ritas!
"I actually believe that industry/employers (all industries) discriminated against the disadvantaged/disabled, with the perception that employing those that are physically or interlectually challenged adds to the costs, financial, time and effort of running a business. I quote from a recent article "WISE Employment’s Regional Manager Southern Tasmania, Colleen Hooper has many years experience working with people with a disability to find employment. She believes that people with a disability are an under-utilised and undiscovered source of talent in the workforce. “Did you know that employees with a disability have been found to have less occupational health and safety incidents, as well as having excellent productivity and attendance rates? ” Colleen said.Colleen believes that hiring a job seeker with a disability can bring a number of benefits to an employer.“With staff from a broad range of backgrounds, your organisation can understand and communicate more effectively with a diverse customer base,” she said.“A diverse workforce can expose staff members to new ideas helping them to become more responsive to change.”Workplace diversity embraces people’s individual experience and skills – meaning you have happier, more productive staff member who are more likely to stay with your organisation.
Which is why I suggested reassessing your traditional hospitality roles, dissecting or separating some of the tasks to create new 'job descriptions' that you can use to target the most appropriate skill set.
I would also like to disagree with a comment Gobbler made earlier, that the hospitality industry is not an essential service like our trades. I would argue that the hospitality industry is becoming more and more important to the every day person as more emphasis is placed on the life component of people's life work balance. Gone are the days when a treat out was a night at the pub, these days you go to the pub when you can't be bothered cooking yourself, and a treat out is Restaurant 373 or Monty's or the new Piccalilly.. people are turning to more traditional hours of work (which is why hospitality and the health services industries in particular struggle to get staff) so that they can enjoy their evenings and weekends as singles, couples or families. As such they place a greater expectation of delivery of service because it means so much more.
And finally, yes, I have given this a lot of thought, because this is what I do. You are experts in the hospitality industry and I am an economist/marketer and tasmanian and labour market enthusiast. If as Gobbler says 'It may be that these frustrations are borne from not knowing how to deal with these differences effectively?" then there is nothing wrong with admitting that you may need help/advice in understanding the changes in the generations, values and labour market conditions. My suggestion is to bite the bullet and get an HR consultant that either specialises in hospitality or not and work out a strategy together. Leave it to us and our management speak to do what we do best and we will leave the running of the kitchens and creativity with food and wine and more food and wine to you..."
October 9, 2007 9:26 AM
Well said Lisa.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
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5 comments:
Sorry, Rita, with respect to you, what Lisa said was that the CRAP/LOWER WORK should be done by the DISABLED or DISADVANTAGED.
Answer that.
Sir Grumpy
Keep it simple Lisa, if I need an economist/marketer you'll be the last to know!
Lisa I take your point on fully but if I hired a disabled person who had physical challenges it would be excedingly difficult for them to work in a traditional kitchen role. I am not sure if you have ever had the opportunity to work or be party to a commericial kitchen in full flight, but they are a place that requires quick thinking, physical demands not unlike those of an athlete and an extreme ability to multi task. I am in no way saying a disabled person could not do this but most employers will look to the best and safest prospects when hiring.
These is not a lot of money in restaurants so a tight ship is a must. Breaking traditional roles would be almost impossible when you are operating to a sucessful tried and tested restaurant formula.
While not wanting necessarily to detract from hrv's concerns re the demands on staff in a kitchen in full flight and hence where a disabled person may have difficulty,I will never forget one day, in a totally different profession, which taught me to never underestimate the value of anyone, disabled or not. It was in the surgery prep area of a veterinary hospital full of equipment, staff and glass fronted medicine cupboards. A very stroppy cat got loose and began flying around the room. It hurled itself at everything imaginable, smashing the glass fronts and scattering the drug bottles. Finally, as it literally made a flying dash through the air the deaf work experience student reached up and caught and restrained it mid flight. Perhaps her visually based response time had been sharpened by her lack of hearing.
While not wanting necessarily to detract from hrv's concerns re the demands on staff in a kitchen in full flight and hence where a disabled person may have difficulty,I will never forget one day, in a totally different profession, which taught me to never underestimate the value of anyone, disabled or not. It was in the surgery prep area of a veterinary hospital full of equipment, staff and glass fronted medicine cupboards. A very stroppy cat got loose and began flying around the room. It hurled itself at everything imaginable, smashing the glass fronts and scattering the drug bottles. Finally, as it literally made a flying dash through the air the deaf work experience student reached up and caught and restrained it mid flight. Perhaps her visually based response time had been sharpened by her lack of hearing.
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