Understanding employment perceptions in Ontario’s hospitality industry
Examining the expectations of hospitality employers and employees to identify opportunities for stronger recruitment and retention
Carrie Herzog, School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts
About the project
This research examined how employees, job applicants, and employers perceive employment opportunities and decent work practices within the hospitality industry in southwestern Ontario. The study focused on identifying gaps between what employers believe workers expect and how workers perceive available jobs and workplace practices.
The challenge
Hospitality businesses continue to experience recruitment, hiring, and retention challenges that can contribute to unfilled positions, high employee turnover, and operational pressures. Misconceptions between employers and employees may further complicate these challenges, creating a need for current evidence about what both groups expect from hospitality workplaces.
Approach
- Gathered data from employees and managers in the hospitality industry
- Examined perceptions of employment opportunities and workplace practices
- Compared employer perspectives with those of employees and job applicants
- Investigated potential gaps and misconceptions between the two groups
- Identified factors influencing recruitment, hiring, and employee retention
Results
- Generated current data on employment perceptions within southwestern Ontario’s hospitality industry
- Identified issues influencing how employees and employers view hospitality work
- Provided insight into expectations surrounding employment and decent work practices
- Highlighted perception gaps that may contribute to recruitment and retention challenges
- Created evidence that hospitality businesses can use to better understand their workforce
Why it matters
- Helps hospitality businesses better understand employee expectations
- Supports more effective recruitment and hiring practices
- Provides insights that can help improve employee retention
- Challenges assumptions about employment within the hospitality sector
- Supports stronger and more sustainable hospitality workplaces