For many, the summer holiday is about to start or has already begun. It's time to relax with your friends or family and recharge after all that hard work. Often, this time also provides the opportunity to put things in perspective and look towards the future. To think about and feel what is truly important to you in terms of work and personal life.
How wonderful would it be if employees and employers could bring their wishes and ideas to the workplace. In our wonderful sector, this unfortunately happens far too little, in my experience. People enter hospitality with certain (rosy) expectations, thinking they know what the other finds important. While unjustified assumptions and a mismatch in expectations often lead to misunderstandings and, in the worst case, even a departure from the sector.
I like to compare this to a couple in love. In the beginning, everything is wonderful and beautiful. You have a certain image of the other and only see the positive things in each other. Love is blind, after all. But as the relationship lasts longer, you also see each other's negative traits. And if you want to build a future together, you will have to talk about it and work on it together.
I believe the solution lies here: engage in dialogue from the start and talk about: who are you really, what do you want, and what are you worth? Sometimes this is 'asking the obvious', but usually, it is not. Because everyone is different, and everyone has their individual needs, often depending on the life stage they are in.
For example, many young people need flexibility in their work and want to earn a lot of money in a short time, while those in their thirties seek income stability to pay their mortgage. And as people approach retirement, it's nice if the work is physically less demanding. So no 'one size fits all', but individual customisation in hospitality!!
What we need to move towards is creating an atmosphere where everyone wants and dares to empathise with others. Understanding and genuine interest in each other ensures a safe and warm workplace where people work with great pleasure and want to continue working. This sometimes leads to beautiful and unexpected outcomes that make all parties happy.
This necessary change in corporate culture takes time and happens in small steps. And you can make an important contribution to this. By not sitting back and letting others determine your future, but by actively participating yourself. You hold the key. Even though conversations may not always be easy, true collaboration on an equal level offers the greatest chance of success. Without a shot, no goal!
Edwin Vlek
Union representative hospitality