As hotels reopen following temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and new hotels make their debut, companies involved in the hospitality industry may need to reassess their benefits package as new employees come aboard.
Management company Real Hospitality Group, based here, knows that a strong benefits package can make the difference when attempting to hire the ace candidate or retaining a team member that it doesn’t want to lose.
“We know that to attract the talent we need, and to find those who have the drive, the energy and the juice to live in the hospitality space and ‘do what it takes,’ we must provide a great culture, rich with industry tools, learning and development platforms, and benefits that are designed to serve the needs of this unique workforce,” said Alma Seidel, the company’s VP of human resources. “Candidates want to hear about all of this in their interview process, and we are proud of what we have to offer as we truly look forward to the conversation. Each year, we anxiously anticipate the start of the third quarter, where we, again, can review our total employment package, particularly the benefits piece.”
She continued, “Our goal is for all our associates, both full-time and part-time, to be able to easily access whatever they need to stay happy and healthy. Without having to focus on what they do not have, our associates are able to spend more time thinking about how to improve the guest experience at the property they support. We review our offerings, up our game and improve every year. We are never sitting on our hands.”
The company is expected to move to a completely paperless onboarding system in the near future. However, Seidel said, “Our recruitment and onboarding processes, company resources, policies, discount programs, paid time off accruals, direct deposit information, pay stubs and W2s are all online accessible with a single sign-on.”
Once joining Real Hospitality, Seidel noted, associates are offered “competitive compensation, health, dental and vision insurance; vacation days; employer-paid life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance; and an associate assistance program, as well as commuter benefits available to all associates irrespective of location, a travel aid program and a 401k, providing the opportunity for associates to determine their contribution. We take care of our part-time associates by offering the opportunity for online access to a doctor, dental and vision, and a full suite of voluntary benefits.”
Other benefits include a continuous learning platform, a mentorship program and a career development program. “We work with many universities that offer internship programs and with the AHLA apprenticeship program,” Seidel added. “All associates have access to professional certification through the AHLEI [American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute]. Our associates also have access to many discount programs for services that can benefit them outside the workplace, such as gym memberships, pet insurance, vacation/cruise discounts and more. Additionally, we offer a Pay by Day program where associates can work and access their pay on the same day.”
From the first day on the job, Real Hospitality employees know exactly what they’re getting, which eliminates any confusion. “We ensure that this full-benefit offering is communicated from Day One, and our associates have everything they need to enjoy a happy work/life balance,” said Seidel. “That’s how we keep not only our employees happy but also our owners.”