InnFocus Fall 2022

Professional Development
Workplace expectations have changed
significantly in the past couple of years.
Employees want to know what’s in it for them.
Offer opportunities for training and education,
and a clear path to career advancement.
Promoting from within not only helps
employees feel valued but also allows them
to feel they are contributing to the success of
the business. If the employee isn’t yet ready
for the next step, then set up a plan to help
the person get there.
Review HR Policies
Take time to review your existing
policies and update your
employee handbook. Do your
current policies reflect the new
work world? Consider allowing employees
to take time off work to deal with personal
or family-related issues. Some may still be
struggling to balance home and work-life
responsibilities such as childcare, elder care,
or pet care. Review your travel policy, if you
require your employees to travel. And don’t
forget to review and update any policies that
pertain to your employee’s health and safety.
Compensation & Perks
Review your total compensation plans, not just
the base salary. Look at the whole package.
What types of benefits do you offer and are
they currently being used? Could you consider
eliminating perks that aren’t frequently used
and replace them with something more
meaningful or relevant? Can you personalize
benefit selections by offering financial tools for
retirement, pet insurance, or floating holidays
to accommodate different cultures? Consider
Consider floating holidays to
accommodate different cultures.
partnering with another local business so
you can swap employee discounts or gift
certificates. Review your salary structure and
wages. Are your base salaries and wages
competitive within the industry?
Motivate Your Seasonal Employees
to Return
Before the season ends, talk openly with
your departing employees. Schedule a
quick check-in meeting and ask them about
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their experiences and whether they would
consider returning the following season.
Stay connected after they leave. Create an
Instagram or Facebook page, a WhatsApp
group, or another social media page for
employees to stay in touch. The more ways
you can make employees feel like they are
still part of the family, the more inclined they
will be to return.
One of the many advantages of having
employees return to your business is that
it is not necessary to retrain them
each year. Saved training dollars
can be used as incentives. Consider
offering returning staff a higher salary
upon their return or offer a returning
signing bonus.
Make Mental Health a Priority in the
Workplace
If we have learned anything over the past
two years, it’s that the health and wellness of
your employees is vital, especially if you want
them to stick around. From the uncertainty of
job security to the ups and downs of layoffs
and recalls to being on the receiving end
of upset guests, your employees have kept
your business running, and it has taken a
significant toll on their mental and physical
well-being. Start talking about mental health
in the workplace. Understand that employees
may need help if they aren’t feeling like
themselves. You need to notice if they are
struggling to meet the daily demands of their
jobs. Communicate with your employees and
allow their voices to be heard without fear of
reprimand. Ensure they know who they can
safely go to if they have questions or concerns.
Become known for having a workplace culture
that values the well-being of its staff. When
employees feel valued and connect to your
organization, they work with a deeper sense
of meaning and strong motivation.
As the tourism and hospitality industry
continues to recover from the impacts of
the pandemic, inspiring and motivating your
employees to retain them needs to be a
workplace priority. As business leaders, you
are not expected to have all the answers.
There is a wealth of free resources available
and go2HR is here to help. We invite you to
contact us to learn more about how you can
support your employees at hr@go2HR.ca.
Cindy Conti, CPHR, is HR Consultant-
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains with go2HR,
the human resources and health and safety
association for the BC tourism industry.
14 InnFocus