Increasing demand for flexibility post-pandemic has not only helped employees but also businesses in finding new staffing solutions, MCA’s Hostech conference heard.
Speaking during a panel session on flexible working, BrewDog CEO of bars James Brown discussed using the Limber ‘shiftworking marketplace’ platform, which has helped the business avoid panic hiring as well as over- or under-staffing at the cost of profitability.
“There’s a trusted and experienced network of people built up over time who can jump in,” Brown said. “If we’re short on staff for a certain day part, we have the ability to react quickly.”
Jamie Welch, retail business manager for Mitchells & Butlers, agreed that locational flexibility has helped the pub operator tackle staffing concerns.
“We would’ve had to cap sales over Christmas if we didn’t have this solution,” he told delegates. “If we’re short-staffed, people are often doing jobs they don’t want to do or allow them to grow.
“It’s allowed people who want a career in hospitality the time to learn, grow, and develop skills.”
Welch also pointed out that the cost of living crisis has only intensified the demand for flexible working, as people look to pick up second jobs.
“We can now offer a better variety of shifts and have a flexible workforce, both front and back of house.”
In addition, Brown discussed access to different demographics in the workforce as a recruitment solution, while flexibility allows for retaining staff.
“We realised quickly that in an ever decreasing talent pool we wanted to give the best conditions to our team,” he added. “The permanent team enjoy the job a lot more because they’re not put into situations where they don’t have the right number of people on the shift.
“If anything, it’s helped team happiness grow.”
This has in turn contributed to work culture despite a lack of permanent team, although Limber also allows employees to shift between permanent jobs and temporary shifts.
“It’s about flexibility being flexible…for us it’s the perfect model.”
Limber CEO Chris Sanderson similarly spoke about the ability to tap into different labour pools and maintaining agility.
“Every hospitality business can be choppy due to seasonality, people problems, or busy peaks and troughs during the day,” he said. “Having a flexible workforce around your sites makes you more reactive to cope with changing environments.”
While Limber’s labour pool is skewed towards younger people, recent research indicates the second most popular age group on the platform is over-60s, suggesting that employees across demographics are looking for flexible work.
