One hotel is so desperate for employees they are trying to a clever approach: give them $500 towards a tattoo if they stay there for six months. And it’s working as applications have gone up 25%.
The German-owned Ruby Hotel group which features 16 properties across Europe has found itself where many hotels are these days: desperate for staff. Like many travel companies, a crushing surge of travel demand has seen many travel providers struggling to staff their businesses properly and hotels have been no expectation.
In the wake of mass layoffs or furloughs as was seen in the early days of the pandemic, hotels have found it hard to find folks willing to come back to work, particularly as inflationary costs have increased costs while simultaneously finding themselves in the midst of a very competitive job market.
The Ruby Hotel group decided to get creative with their approach to this solution and has started offering 500 euros, or roughly a little more than $500, to applicants who stay at least six months. The money can be used towards a tattoo, a piercing, or a haircut.
In comments made to CNN, Uta Scheurer, a VP of HR, noted, that the campaign has an element of “attention grab” to it, but is deeper than simply that. She noted they are trying to attract staff that matches their culture. “Team players who value character, soul, and individuality. Ruby wants to encourage its employees to create their individual success story, to show their own personality and also showcase it at work.”
And the program is working with applications reportedly up 25% so far. In fact, it’s working so well that the company will now match the 500 Euros for an employee who recruits a new employee.
Pretty soon, the staff will be fully sleeved. And we are behind that 100%.
