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Priya Kumar
The Australian hospitality and tourism industries must find new ways to combat recruitment and retention challenges, says a new report from global HR think-tank Reventure,
As the Government’s Tourism 2020 target nears, the Industry Insights report has found that tourism and hospitality are experiencing a skills shortage with 38,000 current unfilled vacancies in the sector.
20 October 2017
Travel Daily Newspaper
Section: General News • Page: 7
THE Australian tourism and hospitality industry is battling a major skills shortage, according to an Industry Insights report by HR think-tank Reventure.
The tourism and hospitality sector currently has more than 38,000 unfilled vacancies ni Australia and has been called upon to cultivate new ways of combating the skills issue.
Suggestions include creating a "job landscape" for employees and ensuring staff "have a purpose and feel valued".
The most effective approach for getting employees to promote their workplace is by aligning their role with the organisation’s narrative, according to Dr Lindsay McMillan, lead researcher at A future that works.
It’s McMillan’s belief that happy employees with purpose and meaning in their work will be the best advertisement any company could possibly hope for.
“Giving employees genuine purpose and meaning in the work negates the need for employee advocacy,” he said.
“An employee that understands the organisation’s goals is more likely to enjoy coming to work which will lead to a positive workforce and organisational brand.”
McMillan added that it is important that staff feel like they are valued and contributing to the goals of the business.
“If employees know how their role fits into the broader organisational objectives, they will be happier and more productive,” McMillan said.
“It may sound like a basic step – but it is surprising how often business leaders take this for granted, especially when the results are extremely beneficial.
“An employee that does not understand how they are contributing to a broader goal is more likely to be disengaged and unhappy in their job.
“This isn’t good for them or the reputation of the business.”
A study of the Australian hospitality industry has found casual workers are fearful of reporting bullying to their bosses because they are afraid of losing their jobs. With more an more people entering casual jobs, and as traditional workplace roles change, this is a significant concern.
Dr Lindsay McMillan, lead researcher of global HR think-tank Reventure said workplace bullying is a major concern, with one in ten workers having experienced verbal abuse or bullying in 2016.
“Bullying has a devastating effect on the mental health of victims especially if their claims are being dismissed by senior management,”he said.
Casual workers “put up and shut up” about workplace bullying because they are afraid of losing their jobs, according to a pilot study into bullying in the Australian hospitality industry.
Indeed, employees with insecure, casual employment were under increased pressure to tolerate bullying because they needed the work, according to Professor Michael Quinlan from the UNSW Business School.
Moreover, Dr Lindsay McMillan, lead researcher of Reventure, said that workplace bullying is a major concern, with one in ten workers having experienced verbal abuse or bullying in 2016.
“Bullying has a devastating effect on the mental health of victims especially if their claims are being dismissed by senior management,” said Dr McMillan.
