Hotel Director: Now we measure the mood of our employees
The lack of available hands in the hotel and experience industry is now causing Atlantic Hotels and KulturCenter Skive to measure the wellbeing of their employees to ensure a better work environment. It is necessary, says Tony Bak, a hotel director with 40 years of experience in the industry: “If we continue to lead as we have done for the last 20-30 years, we will lose.”
Hotels and restaurants are so affected by the lack of manpower that the industry is losing money. The latest figures from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment show that, from June last year until November, it was most difficult to find new employees in this sector in Denmark: More than half of the positions were not filled.
Specifically, the hotel, restaurant, and experience industry, with its many seasonal workers and peak periods, has a reputation for being a tough industry to work in, with a work environment that often affects employees’ wellbeing.
“If we continue to lead as we have done for the last 20-30 years, we will lose.” – Tony Bak
Outdated Industry
Therefore, there is a need for innovation, believes Tony Bak, who as the managing hotel director runs three hotels in the Atlantic group in Aarhus, Kolding and Billund, and himself has found new ways in his attempt to create a better work environment and retain employees.
“There are many in the hotel industry who are very old-fashioned and still think in ancient terms, where people are just replaced if things do not work. That will not do today. We lose competencies every time.” – Tony Bak
The hotel, restaurant, and experience industry is known for seasonal workers and peak periods, and it has a reputation for being a tough industry to work in—often affecting employees’ wellbeing. Tony Bak argues that the industry’s work culture needs a makeover, and that retaining competencies requires a different leadership approach than before.
New Generations at Work
The director of the Atlantic hotels has introduced an offer of an anonymous wellbeing measurement for employees from the company HR-ON Wellbeing, which every fortnight nudges Atlantic’s employees to answer questions about, for example, their mood and sleep.
“The generation that is now entering the labor market is used to being included and consulted in everything, so if I continue in the old track, I lose.” – Tony Bak
Tony Bak explains that many younger employees are only in the industry for a short period of their lives—and they require something different today. He sees HR-ON’s readiness as an initiative that relatively cheaply signals to employees that the organization is willing to listen.
With experience from both Hotel D’Angleterre and Radisson SAS, Tony Bak points out that hard work in kitchens, receptions, and cleaning contributes to high absenteeism and turnover—making culture change unavoidable.
Happy Employees – Happy Customers
Knud Bjerre, who runs the 22,500 m2 large Culture Center Skive with cinema, water park and handball halls, concert halls and course and conference facilities, has also begun to offer his employees wellbeing measurements.
“We have over 500,000 guests a year, so we need to ensure a good work environment. If the employees are not satisfied, the customers do not get the good service and treatment they expect and are entitled to.” – Knud Bjerre
Knud Bjerre sees many colleagues in the culture industry struggle with poor wellbeing, and emphasizes that salary is not decisive for retention. It is equally important that leaders care about employees, practice openness, and listen to them.
Anonymity
The director of the Culture Center Skive has been pleased with the solution of an external wellbeing responseteam, because it gives employees the opportunity to get help anonymously.
“There can be topics where the employee would like to talk to an anonymous person. Howdy provides advice to tackle the challenges the employee may have – both physically and mentally. It is important that the employee thus gets anonymous external sparring, where I as a leader am not listening.” – Knud Bjerre
According to Knud Bjerre, he has received a lot of positive feedback from employees who have been happy with the advice from HR-ON’s experts – who can call up employees and offer help if app-driven answers show declining wellbeing.
Summary
– Atlantic Hotels and KulturCenter Skive measure employee wellbeing to ensure a better work environment.
– Tony Bak highlights the need for innovation and culture change to retain competencies and reduce turnover.
– HR-ON’s anonymous wellbeing measurement nudges employees every fortnight about topics like mood and sleep.
– Knud Bjerre links employee wellbeing directly to guest experience: happy employees create better service.
– Anonymous external sparring makes it easier for employees to seek help on sensitive topics.
– The trend is growing across the industry, supported by a broader focus on mental wellbeing and work environment.
