The rate of gambling service workers is projected to grow 24% over the next eight years.1 With an average of 20,500 openings for gambling services workers projected each year from 2020 to 20301, one thing is clear – once you hire great employees, it’s important to keep them from leaving. The loss of tenured employees can be especially damaging to a casino as training new employees is costly and the gap between employees can negatively affect business quickly.
Your best bet in the casino industry is to retain current employees and the best way to retain employees is to keep them paid well, engaged, and happy at work. According to a survey by the American Gaming Association, casino employees say they receive good pay (75%) and good benefits (74%), yet some of the less tangible aspects of their work lives, such as being treated well by their company (80%), being able to make use of their skills and training (80%) and striking a good work/life balance (77%) have contributed significantly to their employee experience.2 A less engaged employee may be more likely to miss work which will reduce efficiency and productivity within casino operations, and ultimately could impact profits.
Since the new wave of hybrid workplaces and working from home all together are not a good fit for casino service workers employers need to look to other ways to build an engaging workplace culture. To build a great workplace and culture that engages, motivates, and retains casino employees you need to understand what your employees care about most. We’ve compiled valuable insight into what casino employees want and developed two key areas to focus on:
Anytime Access to Benefits.
Access to the right tools, insights, and expertise can help engage the casino workforce. For example, providing casino employees access to a robust HR platform that allows them to seamlessly access pay, benefits, time, performance, and other types of key information right from their personal devices can help them feel connected to their jobs no matter where they are. It also gives employees access to benefits enrollment and direct deposit, while allowing them to submit timesheets and vacation requests at their convenience. A custom app that helps them understand and access their benefits more easily could increase engagement and overall job satisfaction.
Room to Grow.
Growth is a mindset and casino employees are always looking to expand their skill sets which can also increase employee satisfaction and ultimately help reduce turnover. So be sure to play your cards right and cross-train employees. This can help prevent employee burnout and allows employees to improve their skillsets to further their careers within the industry. Increased control and responsibility in their jobs leads to improved employee engagement. Promoting from within always makes employees feel more valued. Having employees available to work different roles provides casinos and their employees greater flexibility from a scheduling standpoint and the ability to always cover gaps on the casino floor. Not to mention, allocating the right team member to the right work, at the right time, allows you to deliver exceptional customer service. Ultimately, cross-training casino workers is a win-win for employees, the casino, and its guests.2
In the end, the key to retaining your employees is betting high on their success. Offering employees exceptional pay & benefits, flexibility ranging from seamless scheduling to training opportunities that allow for career growth, and the tools to easily access and take advantage of all your offerings – are key components to keeping your employees happy. When employees are happy – your guests will be too and happy guests spend more time and money on the casino floor.
1- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/gaming-services-occupations.htm#tab-6