Worldwide, the hospitality industry is looking for new ways to attract and retain staff, increase their employees’ productivity, and improve wellbeing. However, in most cases, these are woven into (at least) 5-day work weeks with typically long shifts. This has resulted in a recruitment crisis within the industry which is currently facing vacancies of over 200,000 and an estimated loss in revenue amounting to £21 billion in the UK, whilst thousands of workers leave the industry attracted to a better work/life balance offered in alternative career paths.
5-day work weeks, worked on a shift pattern have been the norm for a long time, but new ways of working are starting to emerge within innovative companies, and with impressive results when it comes to company performance, employee retention, absenteeism and recruitment.
Introducing the 3-day week
3-day work weeks are coming into practice and early indicators suggest brilliant results! It essentially involves compressing a regular 40-hour work week into three days. Companies are encouraging their employees to work longer 12–14-hour shifts for three days, making up the weekly hours requirement while also giving them 4 days off. The logic behind this is to provide employees with a few intense workdays, rather than many moderate ones. Think of it as a HIIT workout that is more effective in burning calories, building muscles and achieving results quicker than a long drawn-out gym session!
With many employees complaining about the poor work-life balance offered by hospitality due to them working unsocial hours, a 3-day work week could be a game changer for them!
How does the 3-day week work in practice?
Chick-fil-A, an American tycoon in the hospitality industry, rolled out this 3-day workweek system back in February, resulting in 100% employee retention and an overwhelming number of applications for new vacancies. Their employees are reporting higher levels of satisfaction and performance as they can balance their work and personal life, which they struggled with earlier. They’re reporting improved mental health at work as well, stating that an expectation of a focused, high intensity long shift is balanced by the extended opportunity to relax and recharge at home between shifts. It’s proving extremely popular with staff as it allows employees to plan their lives outside of work with more ease. The mental comfort of being able to do so, makes them more productive and recharged at work resulting in better company performance, sales and profits!
For those who work at bars, eateries and hotels, could this be a much-needed new way of working?
How can I make a 3-day week work?
For hospitality companies struggling to recruit staff this new way of working is well worth considering.
It may seem daunting to reimagine the way you create your shift rotas but piloting a new approach within a segment of your workforce could be a good way to experiment with this.
Implementing a hotel management system such as Rezcontrol will free you of unnecessary manual tasks, giving you the time and headspace to review new shift pattern ideas that could be a game changer for your business.
Why not get in touch for a free demonstration and consultation specific to your own hotel goals?
What are the challenges of a 3-day week?
While the 3-day work week has done wonders for company performance and employee well-being at Chick-fil-A, it does come with some considerations. Asking for extra shifts or an extra day of work from an employee may become more difficult if you have staff shortages, as it goes against the principle of the 3-day work week. Having said this, there has never been a better time to experiment with new ways of working and colleagues are more open today to trying new things, even for an initial trial, than ever before.
To find out how Rezcontrol PMS can help streamline your hotel, please contact the sales team on 0330 223 1456 or email sales@avondata.co.uk.