I've made my very firm point about recruitment in the hospitality industry in particular before. I'm sure no one can be in any doubt of my thoughts after my observations on future staffing needs here in Hobart, and my questions as to how owners and managers will deal with the upcoming shortage of dedicated workers in our industry.
You will then understand how overjoyed I was to hear of one such enterprising, thoughtful and generous local employer who is rewarding three of his team who have worked non-stop over the 5 or 6 weeks of the Christmas/New Year hectic period by paying for them to fly next weekend to Melbourne, accomodating them there, and buying them tickets for the cricket and a concert. Now that is a guy who deserves recognition in a number of ways.
Firstly, to personally, then publicly, recognise that his staff have, in fact, put themselves out majorly for him is one thing. For them to have done the job over and above what he paid them for is another thing. Then the fact that even though they would have already been financially compensated for the job they had to do was one thing, but we all know that the icing on the cake is to actually get recognition for the job you did to the best of your ability and knowing you did it bloody well is something no amount of money can ever compensate for. For him to then actually do something tangible about it following his verbal thanks to the staff is fantastic.
This trip will mean way more to them than any hollow words of thanks ever spoken to them over the course of their lives so far.
I salute this extremely generous and thoughtful man, and wish him well for the rest of his time in our hospitality industry. We need many more owners of businesses, particularly hospitality, to think laterally like this. Yes - you could cynically say he is 'buying' the loyalty of his staff, but would another business owner spend the money that way or pocket the money himself, as his due reward for owning the business and taking the risks?
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10 comments:
So who is it?
I'm sorry but I'm not going to say who it is, as it's the act that I'm paying tribute to, not promoting any particular restaurant.
My cynicism has been diluted!! Good on him - I don't see it as buying anything, just great recognition of others' effort.
Kzee
I don't think going to the cricket is a REWARD, Rita. More like punishment. The concert could be something horrible too...like one of them Australian Idle winners.
That restaurant owner is sick, sick sick.
Lucky I can see through your cynicism Sir G! And you're right - going to the cricket would be punishment for ME, as would the concert!
Yeah, good on him Rita. But I'm not sure that level of thanks is sustainable!
There's a happy medium somewhere (just cross my palm with silver and all will be revealed).
PS, where was this thing about a blog with invite only. I'm intrigued.
It was written about by GP in yesterdays Sunday Tas, Sir G. Link below:
http://eatingtassie.com/
But I'm with niceglassofred. Much prefer the instant-aneous of blogs!
It is time we had the blog about the health of the industry - things like this point to an industry in crisis. The staff shortage and the race to the bottom as establishments try to makeup the lost ground because of rising food costs electricity etc... and the decline in patronage.
Not gloom and doom but reality.
Not a prediction but reality - customers will have to adjust to paying higher prices for anything of quality.
Ask the waitress in your local cafe how much they pay for butter - its just about doubled in the past year. Bread, milk and eggs have had significant rises as well.
If the meal is cheaply priced the the produce is likwise. Free range eggs and meat cost more so expect to pay more.
I've always said we got it too cheap and am willing to pay more. But the inevitable rises will only cover food and energy costs.
Cafes and restaurants neede a profit-margin rise too.
I wouldn't argue about that aspect of increases one jot. And I like to argue. No I don't, yes I do.
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