Question

What advantages do large chains have over independents when it come to training? If you were advocating training in an independent operation, how you would counter the turnover argument from independent food service operators that they do not have enough time or there is too much turnover to make training worthwhile?

Answer 1

Definitely the large chain hotels have an advantage over the independents when it comes to training. The advantages are as below:

1. For attending the training, the employees could be easily relieved from their job. The replacement for employee who is attending the training could be provided from the chain of hotels which is available near by. The performance levels of the hotel does not drop when an employee goes for training.
2. There are sufficient amount of experienced employees who are available within the hotel chains, to train the needy employees. The training could be provided on a rotational basis, without affecting the routine work. This cannot be done in an independently run hotel.
3. An external trainer is not required in case of a large chains of hotels. People are available from withing the large chain of hotels to transfer the knowledge to the new recruits. Independent hotels does not have this kind of an advantage.

The problem in the independent hotel is the turnover issue. The turnover issue must be addressed, to reap the fruits of the training that is being provided. The turnover issue could be addressed by taking some corrective steps as

• providing good working environment to the employees
• providing them with the adequate monetary benefits.
• undertaking employee welfare measures to keep the employees happy
• having a definite working hour schedule, allowing the employees to enjoy their personal time with family.

The bottom line is that only by keeping the employees happy, the turnover issue could be addressed. Only then the training would be make worth while.