Help!!! We can't find staff! Four Focus areas for immediate action:

During the past few weeks and months at EffCo, we have held numerous engagements with executives in two significant practice areas, particularly in the retail and the hospitality industry.

During these conversations, the primary challenge that emerged almost all the time, aside from the issue of inflation, was the severe shortage of human resources.

It is tremendously hard to attract and retain quality personnel in the actual business climate.

It is not only in roles with immediate commercial responsibilities and end customer interaction, but even in supporting functions that upskilled staff have become vital to face the ferocious competitive challenge. Tackling this particular challenge is therefore high on most boardrooms' agendas.

In the current market, "work" is already not the priority for many younger employees; today, they can easily pick where they would like to be employed. They have to be willing to grant it to you!

Beyond simply being able to find people, the standard of quality of service has become paramount. Consumers are spoiled and choosy, so they want to only purchase from truly compelling "brand ambassadors."

The pressing staff shortage is playing out not only in the front of the house but also in the back. Since Corona, sourcing and purchasing have become high-specialized fields and getting staff in the supply chain has become an absolute nightmare.

In a decade, the number of open vacancies in the Netherlands in the retail and hospitality sectors has risen by more than 50%.

In Recent workshops, we have worked alongside our clients and our practice leaders to identify the following four key focus areas for immediate action:

- Managerial behavior

- Employer branding

- Sustainability

- Alternate fishing techniques and tactics

1. Leadership and managerial behavior, as is so often the case, is the most critical factor for success, particularly the first-line managers' and supervisors' leadership conduct.

In addition to a healthy work/life balance, personal development and positive steering are at the top of most employees' desires.

Active leading and positive guidance do not have to be very difficult; unfortunately, in the workplace, it often turns out differently: The best employees are promoted to supervisors without even having a notion of what is being expected of them, often leading to the loss of a good employee and the substitution with a poor manager. From most of our observations, it appears that managers spend far too much time doing paperwork, extinguishing fires, and performing tasks by themselves rather than steering and improving the competencies of their staff.

2. For many jobseekers, the employer brand is an essential element in their final choice, more often even more significant than any wage or commuting time. A good employer brand substantially decreases recruitment time. It thus creates a more competitive edge, so it is essential to clearly identify the benefits of joining your organization and ensure that these core values are integrated and disseminated by everyone in your workplace. Unfortunately, employer branding is not a static thing, but it requires continuous refinement.

3. Sustainability has been an important topic for a considerable time now, not just among the younger generation! Being truly durable is a crucial requirement that is very much considered by jobseekers. In recent research studies, it appears that the number one core value is that of respect; well, being respectful of the environment is part of that. Not in the form of storytelling, but instead actually putting it into action.

4. Fish in different ponds with other rods! During Covid-19 time, many talents left and do not intend to return anytime soon. Please find out about this in one of my blog posts: (https://bit.ly/3SfYF73). In numerous metropolitan areas, retail stores and many restaurants are forced to shut their doors due to a lack of staff. Robotics may be helpful but are not an all-purpose solution. Abandon the obsession with diplomas and working experiences and look at individuals' actual skill sets and potential abilities. Utilize better bait as your neighbor, seek an extra rod and look for new fishing ponds.