employee engagement services

We partnered with research and insights experts KAM Media to understand the use and awareness of employee engagement services within the hospitality sector.  The research also revealed to what extent employees are more likely to remain in a role because of them.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of employees leaving the hospitality sector for other industries, such as warehouses, delivery, and supermarkets. The numbers don’t lie – by the end of 2022, there were 149,000 job vacancies in the accommodation and food service sector (ONS). These numbers reemphasise why employers in the sector need to consider how attractive they are to help retain employees.

We’ve rounded up seven eye-opening stats from our research to shed light on employee perceptions and preferences when it comes to employee engagement and employee benefits as well as the impact on retention and satisfaction.

The Power of Employee Benefits
3 out of 4 employees agree that employee benefits have the power to make them happier at work. This is a significant finding, as happier employees lead to improved service, customer satisfaction, and increased spending.

Given the impact that employee benefits have on overall workplace happiness, hospitality businesses should consider these offerings and the impact on their bottom line.

Employee Benefits and Retention
An impressive 79% of employees have chosen to stay in their hospitality roles for a longer duration due to the presence of employee benefits. This statistic emphasises the importance of offering attractive and valuable benefits to foster loyalty and reduce turnover within the sector. By investing in employee benefits, businesses can create a positive work environment that encourages long-term commitment. This in turn reduces recruitment and training costs.

Face-to-Face Training
Almost half (48%) of employees surveyed expressed a desire for face-to-face training opportunities. This indicates that traditional, hands-on training methods are still valued by hospitality employees. Organisations should consider providing regular in-person training sessions to empower employees, enhance their skills, and promote their professional growth.

Online Access to Pay Documents
45% of employees said they would like online access to their pay documents. In the digital age, it is essential to offer convenient and secure platforms for employees to access their financial information wherever and whenever they are.

Gym Discounts
40% of employees expressed a desire for gym discounts. Promoting employee wellbeing through fitness initiatives can positively impact overall job satisfaction which in turn helps reduce churn rate and absences. Collaborating with gyms to offer discounted memberships or wellness programs can incentivise employees to prioritise their health and create a healthier, more engaged workforce.

Employee Benefits all-in-one place
A staggering 77% of employees mentioned they would use employee benefits more frequently if they were all consolidated in one place. Making employee benefits easily accessible and user-friendly is crucial to their effective implementation. Employers should aim to streamline the process by providing a single platform, such as an app or portal, where employees can access and navigate various benefits seamlessly.

Health Benefits as Job Switching Incentives
An overwhelming 83% of respondents admitted that offering a specific health benefit influenced their decision to switch jobs. Health and wellbeing benefits have a significant influence over employees’ job choices. Hospitality businesses should prioritise relevant health benefits to attract and retain top talent, demonstrating a commitment to employee wellness.

Offering attractive benefits, all-in-one place not only creates a positive work environment that fosters employee loyalty and satisfaction, but also contributes to the overall success and profitability of the organisation. A motivated and engaged workforce will ultimately deliver exceptional service, create happy customers, and establish the hospitality sector as an attractive and competitive industry for both current and prospective employees.

Download your copy of the research

From the impact of employee benefits on overall workplace happiness to the influence of specific health benefits on employees switching jobs, our findings offer actionable insights for organisations looking to boost employee engagement. You can download the full research here.

We’ve partnered with KAM, to reveal the use and awareness of employee engagement services within the hospitality sector and understand to what extent employees are more likely to remain in a role because of them.

The study led by research consultancy KAM involved 500 employees within the hospitality sector as well as eight hospitality bosses. The findings clearly highlight how employers in the hospitality sector are missing a trick in effectively communicating the employee benefits they offer as part of their retention strategies.

Unsurprisingly, there is a demand for certain employee engagement services and even an expectation from employees. And the availability of such services increases the extent to which they are likely to remain in a role – 75% say that offering employee engagement services makes the business a more attractive place to work and 3 in 4 hospitality employees said they were happier in their role because of employee engagement services.  In fact, offering certain benefits can have the power to encourage employees to switch jobs; 83% said their company offering a specific health and wellbeing benefit contributed to them deciding to switch jobs.

But despite high numbers of hospitality employers offering employee engagement services, the research found that many employees find them difficult to understand and access; 72% said they would use employee engagement services more if they were easier to access. The majority would find it easier if they were all accessible in one place, like an app (82%.)

Key findings from the research

• Employee engagement services make a business a more attractive place to work and there is an expectation for businesses to offer services which look after employees’ physical and mental wellbeing as well as their financial wellbeing.
• Employers need to do a better job of communicating employee engagement services not just when advertising, but to current employees too.
• Employees would use employee engagement services more if they were easier to access, most employees have them but find them difficult to understand and access.
• Health and wellbeing benefits have the power to encourage employees to switch jobs with 83% of people saying the offer of a specific health and wellbeing benefit contributed to them deciding to switch jobs.
• Online access to pay slips, receiving pay earlier than payday and an online chat to sort out issues with pay are the most sought-after financial benefits employees look for.

→Download the new Research Paper here

When it comes to health and lifestyle the most popular benefits among hospitality employees are gym discounts, flexible shifts, healthy eating programmes and medical healthcare –  this is particularly popular among older employees. And when asked about financial benefits, 24/7 online access to pay documents, the ability to receive their pay earlier than payday and an online chat service to query/sort out issues with their pay slip came top.

This research has highlighted how employers may have employee benefits in place but if they’re not easy to access or communicated effectively, they’re not having an impact – potentially adding to the problem rather than helping to resolve it.

Do you need help bringing services together all in one place?

We provide employers across all sectors with a cost-effective end-to-end service for payroll, pensions and employee engagement services. If your workforce could benefit from their pay, pension and employee benefits all in one place, book your no-obligation demo of My SMART-e here.

Did you know? We provide all our clients with an employee engagement support payment and a dedicated employee engagement manager. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you to reduce costs, attract and retain employees, increase productivity and ensure compliance.