Another avenue to combat the shortage of qualified full-time employees is the use of part-time workers. Although no reliable estimates are available as to the numbers of part-time workers in the hospitality industry, it is generally accepted that the numbers are significant and likely to grow. One reason is that they are not usually paid benefits. This can mean a difference of 1/3 of the wage bill.
Barriers to hiring part-time employees
Part-time workers tend to be less loyal to the operation. In addition, they have higher turnover rates and must be trained more often and supervised more closely. This last barrier is because they do not have as much on-the-job experience as full-time workers. On the other hand, they can be laid off more easily with less risk of lawsuits or unemployment compensation claims. They also are often more eager as employees because they work fewer hours per day or week and so may be more willing to do whatever job is assigned to them. Full-time employees need less supervision and tend to comply more with company regulations because they have more to lose and are more likely to seek advancement on the job. However, they are likely to become dissatisfied with working conditions more quickly than part-time employees, will demand wage increases more often, and are more vocal about expressing their opinions about the management of the operation.
Policies to attract and keep part-time employees
There are several procedures to help ensure successful hiring and utilization of part-time employees. First, it is preferable to hire people who actually want to work part-time. Much of the turnover of part-time workers comes from those who want to work full-time but settle for part-time work until a full-time position becomes available.
The orientation and training program is very important. It is vital that part-time workers receive the same orientation as full-time workers. There is a tendency to invest less time in these important activities because part- time employees may work only a few hours a day. Because they may work only the few hours when business is particularly busy, it is especially important that they feel comfortable in the working environment. They do not have the luxury of slack periods to get accustomed to where everything is. For this reason it is important to schedule training during those slack periods, when they would not ordinarily be working and when there is time to train.
It is also necessary to treat part-time workers like full-time staff in order to produce motivated employees. If the employees are treated like second-class citizens, they will act accordingly.
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