GURMEET SINGH
Acknowledging industry’s attributes
With a rampant upsurge in attrition industry-wide, we acknowledge that this is a high-pressure job with a comparatively lower benchmark in compensation.
The challenge that we see is not remaining the first choice for young graduates, as a good number of millennials are choosing other service industries where they see attractive short-term growth opportunities. As the industry is expanding exponentially, the migration of talent to other companies or even industries is a reality. We are still acquiring the needed talent locally, however, there is a need for the industry to dig deeper and identify the real factors leading to such attrition.
At Marriott, we recognise that while money can undoubtedly cause a movement, it may not necessarily motivate and retain associates. During hiring, we ensure that we select candidates with values that resonate with Marriott’s culture.
We also make use of new-age platforms such as social media, mobile Apps, GRS (Global Recruitment System), and an internal intranet-based tool called ERT (External Ready Talent).
Building a stronger core
Our core values and business strategies drive our company and play a significant role in shaping our associates to attain personal and professional success. At Marriott, we create different platforms and empower our associates to participate in different decisionmaking processes. Our goal is to create a work environment in which people are empowered and we enable their career development and we trust them to do the right thing.
Granting employees access to management has always been a cornerstone of the company’s core value which can be utilised to voice and resolve workplace concerns. As we focus on driving business, Marriott’s unique
‘spirit to serve’ culture is our competitive advantage. Engaging our associates in service is an excellent way to enhance morale and build teamwork, while helping to meet the escalating needs in our communities. Providing new associates with a solid foundation to enhance their learning and provide them with the right information to do their job well is a key to engaging and retaining our associates. ‘In the Beginning’ is Marriott’s new hire orientation programme for all fulltime associates. We are committed to ensuring that all associates have the skills needed to perform their jobs effectively.
One of the important goals for an HR leader is to achieve a certain percentage of internal hires. This significantly helps us to manage the aspirations of our growing talent and make our business leaders invested in building an internal talent pipeline which is a critical part of our overall retention strategy. Also, every Marriott associate wanting to learn the trade of another discipline can do so by cross-training.