There I said it. I QUIT!
While I adored so many of the regulars, the reasons to leave outweighed that by a landslide.
I honestly thought long and hard. I knew months ago, there was no future in the position. There were just entirely too many problems. The biggest being extremely poor management. And I do mean poor. I won't bother going into detail, because if you're reading this, odds are you already know what I mean. You've either witnessed it or quit a job for the very same reason.
However, if you're an employer in the hospitality industry with a high turnover and no idea why...here's a list of reasons why your employees may be leaving for greener pastures.
- Overworked : If you're constantly calling in the same people on their days off, odds are that's gonna wear thin over time. Believe it or not, people have families. You aren't their world. It's YOUR business, not theirs. Having them do it all, while you sit back and collect the dough isn't going to fly for long. Eventually, you will lose decent employees over it.
- Low Pay: Not recognizing good employees for what they are. If you're paying the one who shows up daily, the same as the one who calls off once a week, that's not gonna fly.
- Poor Management: If the management does not lead by example. This happens more frequently in small family run operations. Frequently due to hiring family members, who may be incapable of the job, but they're family...so you keep them on board anyway. Maybe you're the only one even willing to hire them! There's a reason for that. So don't let them be the reason your business tanks. If they're a problem, they have to go.
- Not enough Staff: This goes along with 'overworked'. If one person is doing the job of 4 or 5, eventually they're going to burn out. Hire the appropriate amount of staff.
- No benefits: Benefits matter! This should need no explanation.
- Hostile work environment: If the environment is unsafe or employees are being harassed, you'll see a high turn over. If the management is abusive or abusing substances and you have been told so by multiple individuals, you are culpable if you do nothing. You need to get rid of the problem.
- Poor Explanation of Finances: Trying to coerce your employees into cash cards instead of direct deposit. Or paying out different amounts for the same amount of hours. This shows your company is in trouble. Randomly docking pay for imaginary things. That's when employees start jumping ship.
- Poor Maintenance: If the building is falling apart, again...this typically shows a business that is in trouble. Half-assing the repairs with duct tape, shows a lack of care. Employees will leave for greener pastures.
- Poor training: Just throwing someone into the fire is not gonna cut it. If the owner doesn't know how to work the register, that's a bad sign. If basic kitchen hygiene isn't being taught, that's a really bad sign.
- Hiring employees without background checks: If you're hiring people with substance or alcohol issues, multiple arrests and a clear inability to do the job, the average Joe isn't going to stick around. Why would they? Who needs that drama? Actually, jobs with no background checks, are typically a huge red flag. Straight hires on the spot, are another red flag. It means they can't keep people and they'll take anyone.
- Anything illegal: Just don't! The average citizen is going to walk away from laws being broken.
You know it's bad when employees jump ship at the alarming rate of three a month. Sometimes more. Or worse yet, when the vast majority only stick around a couple of weeks. If this is the case with your bar or restaurant, you need to decide if running a business is really right for you. Are you willing to do what it takes to correct the problems? If not, I'd go ahead and post a 'For Sale' sign on that bad boy.