Work-life balance is key for hospitality employees: survey

One in four employees said the ability to work flexibly is even more important today.

A recent survey conducted by flexible recruitment platform limber and hospitality insight firm KAM has found that work-life balance is now a critical consideration for people when choosing a job in the hospitality industry. The survey revealed that one in four employees stated the ability to work flexibly is even more important since the pandemic.

The survey was conducted online amongst current and recent hospitality workers. The results showed that work-life balance is now on par with pay and benefits, with over 50% of respondents choosing these factors as having the most influence over the job they choose. Fun and enjoyment were also crucial, with 47% of respondents citing them as an important factor.

The survey also revealed a focus on choice and flexibility from employers on their hours, with 60% wanting the chance to work additional hours, 43% wanting the opportunity to pick up extra shifts last minute, and 43% wanting to switch hours easily. The desire for flexibility is not just about the hours and days worked, with 47% of workers appreciating flexibility in which locations they work at, as well as the opportunity to work multiple roles.

Chris Sanderson, the founder of limber, said many businesses have found that flexibility forms a key part of the future of work and people thrive in an environment where they are able to adapt their work to their needs. 

“The trend for flexible working is only set to continue. We have seen over 46,000 new workers join limber since Pandemic restrictions eased, with numbers growing each day. And the benefits for operators are clear - through accessing a wider talent pool through flexible working, operators will fundamentally be able to appeal to a far broader selection of people and therefore make better use of their talent by building their network. This will help operators build a more liquid workforce, which in turn will help with reactive hirings, such as managing leavers, holiday requests or seasonality,” Sanderson added.

The survey highlights the need for operators to implement and get ahead on flexible working practices, reducing staff turnover, and in turn strain on their operations. With flexible teams deployed properly, they can be a massive asset to any operator.