One of the many consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as many employers are quick to mention, is a severe labor shortage. And while this labor shortage can be attributed to numerous factors, the fact remains: businesses are having a challenging time attracting new hires. Nowhere has this labor shortage become more evident than in the laundries industries.
Keeping and hiring new employees has been so difficult for some, hotel managers have resorted to washing towels and linen at home! However, there are ways that employers can address the labor shortage and keep up with the laundry demands of their business. Allow Yamamoto North America to provide you with a few ideas that you might find helpful in dealing with the lack of new hires and employee turnover.
If your company can find the people to support your labor needs but has a high rate of turnover, an assessment of onboarding procedures and initial training might be the solution. Like in any industry, employees who feel overwhelmed from the outset of a new job are less likely to stick with it. Thus, it can be challenging to keep employees from quitting or finding other employment.
To combat this scenario, employers and companies can improve their onboarding procedures. By taking more time to train your employees, ensuring they have management support, and giving access to tools and procedures meant to simplify the laundering process, you can bolster new hires’ confidence. Additionally, fostering an environment of teamwork can help employees connect with those they work with and discourage them from outright leaving a position.
Some employers looking to attract more employees have found success in offering additional incentives for new hires. Sign-on bonuses are an excellent tool and ensure you can bring in more applications. However, a sign-on bonus doesn’t necessarily help with employee retention. Instead, you could consider increased pay or retention bonuses for employees willing to stay with your company. Other common incentives include health insurance, referral programs for hiring, bonuses, vacation offerings, and more.
Of course, we understand employee incentives are only a viable option if your company has the capital to spare. And not only are the laundries industries facing labor shortages, but rising energy costs and loss of business can further confound your daily operations. Employee incentives, while effective, are only viable if your business can comfortably absorb the cost.
If all else fails and your company continues to suffer due to labor shortages, it might be time to consider long-term solutions to your labor woes. Rather than focus on hiring and retaining more employees, you might consider ways to improve your laundry facility productivity through the use of less labor. And in today’s modern age, the latest laundry technology may hold the key to streamlining your laundry process.
Yamamoto North America’s line of industrial washing machines is the most advanced equipment available to today’s laundry industries. Our machines were designed not only to make laundering simple for businesses but to reduce your need for as many laundry operators. For example, our machines feature:
As the world begins to overcome the worst of the pandemic, we hope that labor shortages will soon be a thing of the past. However, to protect your business in the long term, you should consider implementing changes, incentives or upgrades to your laundering process. And with help from Yamamoto North America, we can provide you with options to combat labor shortages. To learn more about our products, contact us today at 866-204-0519. Also, our main office is located at 205 S. Lee St. Bloomington, IL 61701.
