Maintaining staff can be a challenge for many spa and leisure businesses, but what can be done to improve staff retention measures? This is a pertinent question given how long and costly the hiring process is, particularly when your current staff may already be what you need (with a bit of training). Therefore, we have examined several business areas to help improve your staff retention.
Improve staff retention measures using open communication
The first key area to improve staff retention is to make sure the team are looked after. This starts from opening communication channels with them. According to Forbes, 66% of employees (on average) would quit if they feel unappreciated, with a large part of this relating to staff wellbeing and feeling unheard.
Staff wellbeing is important for retention, so it is vital to regularly connect with each team member and listen to their concerns to improve this. Sometimes, all that’s needed is for your staff to talk to someone and for you to listen. If their worries are related to the business however, you could then implement measures to rectify those concerns.
Improve staff retention measures with personal development and training
Few employees start a new job with the desire to leave shortly after. Whilst many spa and leisure businesses will help train new staff, developing their skills beyond that can sometimes get side-lined. Personal development is a crucial area to help staff stay long-term, particularly if staff wish to progress and you need to pass over the managerial baton as part of succession planning, outlined in our five key steps in preparing a staffing plan. The first step of this process is to talk with each of your team to discover their long-term goals. This discussion can then lead to you supporting these goals by offering opportunities for personal development.
Your team’s development can be achieved through various methods. Depending on their goals, this could be through training internally. For example, should a member of staff wish to progress from a hotel receptionist to spa receptionist, then internal training will help prepare them for the role. This will also help staff become more versatile, covering the needs of the business should any illness occur. Outside of internal training, you could schedule a specific time for staff to practice types of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Implementing these staff retention measures ensures you help your team develop skills for their career goals and progression and the business.
Retain staff by evaluating current work patterns
One of the top reasons an employee wishes to leave their job is from a lack of remote work options, according to Forbes. Whilst it is understandable that those in service industries have less flexibility with this, such as those in spas and hospitality, there are similar staff retention measures that focus on working options.
Flexible work schedules ensure staff can balance their work and home lives much better, for example. Alternatively, a compressed work week may suit staff better, where more hours are worked on set days of the week to free up a full day elsewhere. These flexible rotas may provide staff the solution they are after, if the problems stem from the current work-life balance.
Implement staff retention measures via a rewards system
The Christmas season is often busy for spas, with the start of the New Year proving popular for leisure clubs. During such periods, staff will be working harder to keep pace with the demand. Whilst they may not ask for it, it is important their hard work is recognised in some manner, otherwise staff may feel unvalued. Therefore, it is worth considering a rewards system as one of your staff retention measures.
Staff rewards can be achieved through various means, depending on the scale of the achievement. This could be as simple as rewarding gift cards of bonus commission on hitting targets, or acknowledgement through staff newsletters or business perks. Why not consider these as well as these other low-cost ways to reward staff in the business?
Provide wellness offerings to retain staff
There are various other reasons staff leave businesses, such as low salary and underwhelming benefits packages, but very few reasons surpass a bad relationship with colleagues. Should anyone in the team disagree with another, it can turn into a problem that only escalates if left unresolved. Similarly, if management does not step in to help unify the team, this can also be seen as bad management – another reason often cited for staff attrition.
Ensuring team unity starts with their wellbeing. Problems with staff interaction could stem from behaviour, which could be impacted by wider problems at home or elsewhere in the working environment. You could start with wellness concepts and how to incorporate them in your business, to positively impact areas such as mental wellbeing via Mental Health First Aid, financial wellbeing via Financial Wellbeing Coaches, or physical wellbeing by providing team free use of your facilities. When it comes to the team dynamic as a whole, perhaps offer a more social engagement such as a coffee morning once a week or social nights out for those who wish to join. Regardless of your offerings, it is important to keep an eye on your how your team interacts to ensure any hiccups can be dealt with efficiently.
Core by Premier Software® is a business management solution designed for the spa, wellness and leisure industries, which can help take the weight of daily jobs and manage staff retention measures. From commission structures, working rotas, staff meeting scheduling, facility hours for staff and more, Core has a wealth of features to help your business. To find out how Core can help you, click the button below.
