Why Generation or Where Generation?
By Darrel Vecchio | BIZMATRIX

Over the years I have travelled throughout the world meeting hundreds of business owners in the foodservice industry. I was a business owner for over 30 years and during the 1980s I employed over 30 technicians and office staff. It was an employer’s market. Staff was in great abundance... even during the 1990s with the recession, employing staff wasn’t a problem. Unknowingly, many businesses in the trades area were taking on fewer apprentices and our education system was pushing many students to go on to University.

In the past few years all I seem to hear from business owners is the difficulty in finding staff. They can’t get staff to work. They place ads and no one applies. The “Y” Generation started to appear over the past few years, and coincidentally, finding loyal staff has become more difficult. Many business owners have resorted to employing Baby Boomers, those born 1940-1965. This set of people are more stable and loyal with a high work ethic and are matched with life’s experiences, unlike “X” and “Y” Generation who average changing jobs 32 times and changing careers six times in their life time. “Y” Generation wants to earn big money and be promoted quickly and can have a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude. “Y” Generation believes we need them and they don’t need us!

I spoke to a Subway franchisee who owns three Subway stores in Adelaide. He is also a paramedic with a emergency response unit. I asked him what is more stressful, managing a Subway store or being a paramedic.

His reply surprised me. He said, “ Managing a Subway store is more stressful than being a paramedic, where I am in total control.” He noticed my shocked look and continued, “I am in total control of the medical emergency as I am trained to do everything possible to make the victim comfortable and administer medical assistance. I know I can do everything possible to make the victim stable and reduce the chances of dying, and if they do die, I know I have done everything possible as a trained professional. However, in my Subway stores, if on a Saturday night or Sunday morning my manager decides not show up and throw in the job without notice, I then have a shop without staff and control. I can’t control the situation and I lose customers and money!”

Then the cycle starts again, having to find new staff. It doesn’t matter which industry. Many would agree finding staff and keeping them is a challenge. It is the common war cry amongst most employers. Is there a solution? Interestingly, the number 1 reason why business lose customers is due to bad employees and training. In some cases many employers will select staff no matter what their skills or attitude with only the criteria that they are breathing. Probably not a good way to chose staff, however their isn’t an abundance of willing applicants. The success of a good business is good employees. Finding staff is like fishing, it can cost lots for little return. You can place many hooks and bait the waters, but if there are no fish you are just wasting bait. Most have tried the Internet, the Saturday and Wednesday newspapers, signs on cars, signs in the windows, employment consultants, poaching from your competitors and head hunters. All very time consuming and expensive.

Matt Kesby is a former restaurant owner of the multi-award winning Watt Modern Dining at the Powerhouse. Matt employed over 55 staff from chefs and waiters to admin staff. He has the firsthand pain of the constant issues of managing staff, especially on Sunday mornings where he experienced the mystery illness that always left him with five or more staff members missing in action.

Matt developed a website, Ployme.com.au, which specialises in emergency casual labour for times when you need to fill in shifts quickly with experienced staff or when your business needs a staff member to fill in a gap. It is a great system for both the employer and the employee.The staff he employs might be looking at supplementing their income and at the same time get experience by working for several employers. Matt says the labour market is changing and workers have more choices than ever before. This means the worker tends to switch jobs more frequently than ever Unlike the Baby Boomers, “X” and “Y” Generation do not fear changing jobs and careers. Ployme has been developed to help make the process easier to match up workers with casual shifts. Additionally they are introducing a system which is similar to Facebook for casual employment where the employer can invite past employees and applicants to join the employers My Casuals work group. The employer can keep in contact with the group and have access to them to fill shifts and keep in contact. Ployme is currently available in every capital city in Australia.

How does it work? Ployme is a simple process. Once you have registered your business, Ployme gives you a trial period so you can test the system. You then place your shift requirements and get a list of potential workers. You can then review which ones are suitable then send them a SMS and email to make contact with you to go the next step if the worker is available.

The system works extremely well. Once you are through the trial period you can decide what plan you would like. There is a subscription system where you pay a set fee per month enabling you to place unlimited ads and other cool features or they offer a pay-per advert system.

The great thing with Ployme is it is a tool to easily, efficiently and economically manage your casual staff requirements with less hassles. More importantly, it is a secret weapon to manager “X” and “Y” Generation. I am not certain what we are going to do with “Z” Generation. These kids/future employees are only 10 years old at the moment. We still have time...or do we?

We would love to hear your stories. If you have or would like more information or have feedback, please do not hesitate contacting Darrel Vecchio BIZMATRIX Interactive Business Solutions.
Phone 0411884901
www.bizmatrix.com.au
Vecchio@bizmatrix.com.au