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- HR Leisure: A Complete Guide for Employers
HR Leisure: A Complete Guide for Employers
- HR Policies & Documentation
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
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The leisure industry is one that’s fast-paced, dynamic, and driven. It places a heavy prominence on customer-first services – ensuring employees represent their business’s goals, values, and ethos.
But economic inflation and the cost of living has left the leisure sector struggling to reach pre-COVID levels. Employers are battling labour shortages, high turnover, and staff dissatisfaction – all in a saturated, competitive market.
For more information on leisure HR, speak to one of our expert HR advisors today. Now, let’s look at ways employers can improve their HR services to encourage success in their leisure business:
Create a personalised recruitment process
Research by Hireology found 91% of hotels found hiring somewhat difficult or extremely challenging. And the sports and fitness sector faced a decreased in recruitment numbers from 183,300 to 180,000 in 2024, according to Statista.
A combination of job insecurity, low wages, and high work demands has paved the way for continuous recruitment issues. Employers need to focus on finding qualified, investible candidates who’ll help grow the business – and remain loyal to it.
Let’s look at ways leisure HR teams can help improve their businesses:
Recruitment methods: HR teams should think about improving their recruitment methods; particularly for selection, interviews, and onboarding. With the right people, you’ll benefit from full rotas, continuous output, and steady business growth.
Job adverts: Businesses in the leisure sector can range from sports centres to medical spas. So, your job adverts need to specifically highlight what skills or qualifications your business requires. Steps like this will help save you money, time, and effort during your recruitment process.
Casual workers: Many of your staff members might classify as a casual worker. For example, seasonal, agency, or zero-hours contract workers. Employers must apply all relevant statutory rights and benefits according to their employment status.
Grow employee retention rates
The current social interest in personal health and wellbeing has benefitted leisure businesses; like gyms, spas, and sports facilities. However, it’s a completely different story in the hotel world which faced staff attrition rates of 54%, according to CIPD.
One regular duty that all employers have is growing and maintaining respectable employee retention. Whether you hire full-time staff or casual workers… A fully functioning workforce leads to regular business productivity and success.
Let’s look at ways leisure HR teams can help improve their businesses:
Staff development: The leisure industry is a place where employees can work their way from the bottom to the top. To encourage this further, employers should invest in staff development. Work experience, eLearning, and staff training can lead to dedicated and hard-working individuals.
Soft skills: Without customers, your leisure business will most likely remain desolate. Providing soft skills allows employees to best represent your business – encouraging revenue and continuous growth. Remember, soft skills are transferable across numerous employment sectors.
Work benefits: A fool-proof way to encourage employee retention is through work benefits. You might automatically think of cash bonuses; but there are so many varieties to invest in. Like healthcare insurance, childcare discounts, even tickets to social events. Give your employees no reason to join rival companies.
Ensure compliance with legal regulations
Slips, trips, and falls is the most common leisure H&S risk – adding to 29% of all non-fatal injuries, according to Safety & Health Practionier (SHP).
Workplace safety is just a small area of statutory compliance to adhere to. Any evidence of negligence or legal breach could cause serious consequences for your business continuity.
Let’s look at ways leisure HR teams can help improve their businesses:
Employment law: Customer service businesses often hire casual workers, who have their own employment law. Make sure they receive their statutory rights for working time, annual leave, sick pay, and family leave. They may also receive day-one rights for protection from unlawful discrimination and dismissal.
Health & Safety compliance: From employee wellbeing to on-site hazards… There are numerous workplace safety risks found in leisure businesses. Employers need to ensure all health & safety compliance is adhered to – for the welfare of their staff and the business.
Safeguarding: Most of the workforce in leisure businesses are public facing. Meaning, they can be exposed to aggression, abuse, and even violence at work. Employers need to ensure the correct, legal safeguarding processes are in place – minimising risks to one’s health and welfare.
Encourage a healthy, happy work environment
The leisure sector runs on providing services to satisfy recreational welfare. From spa therapy to personal fitness training – the aim of the business is to provide satisfactory wellbeing services.
Employers need to replicate this ethos towards their staff; specifically their wellbeing. Research by Health@work found almost 83% of people had mental health concerns at work in 2024. That’s why it’s important for employers to encourage a healthy, happy, and supportive working environment.
Let’s look at ways leisure HR teams can help improve their businesses:
Equality and inclusion: Every employer should ensure their business practices are inclusive of all people from different walks of life. Equality and diversity don’t just comply with legal regulations, but it also reflects positive ethical standards.
Employee assistance programmes (EAPs): Unfortunately, leisure businesses can consist of long working hours, minimum wages, and poor employee wellbeing. Using EAPs provide access to confidential guidance that helps improve one’s personal and professional life.
Workplace culture: A workforce is a direct reflection of your workplace. That’s why it’s important to promote a respectful, cohesive, and ethical work environment. Not only does it strengthen employee relations, but it also promotes their loyalty towards the business.
Keep track of economic fluctuations
Despite economic fluxes and increased cost of living, more people are choosing to invest in personal health and wellbeing. Choosing ‘staycations’ instead of going abroad or investing in long-term skincare are just some methods that help make savings.
Leisure employers need to keep on top of socio-economic fluctuations that could impact their business. Planning ahead like this allows you to spot issues, rectify them in real-time, and minimise recurrence in the future.
Let’s look at ways leisure HR teams can help improve their businesses:
Sustainability: The government is aiming to reach carbon-free and zero-emissions barriers across all business sectors – including leisure. Nothing promotes a business better than presenting sustainable practices and eco-friendly services.
Customer satisfaction: The leisure sector relies on positive customer services. Without them, your trade could be bought to a halt. Support, respect, and value your staff. They’ll reciprocate this through hard work and customer satisfaction.
Tech and AI: We live in a world where you cannot escape digitalisation – even in the workplace. Technological advancements and AI generation are some of the most impactful changes that could advance your business against market competitors.
Get expert advice on leisure HR with Peninsula
From high turnover rates to skills qualifications… The leisure industry presents all kinds of HR requirements that fall on employers. It’s important to ensure the right steps are adhered to – helping to avoid serious legal or administrative challenges.
Peninsula offers expert advice on leisure HR. We offer specialised guidance on HR contracts and documentation – ensuring your business meets all its HR compliance. Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our HR consultants today.
Sources
Future of Hospitality Hiring 2024 | Hireology
Benchmarking employee turnover: What are the latest trends and insights? | CIPD
- HR Leisure: A Complete Guide for Employers
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