Employee Turnover At Casinos Can Be Understood and Steps Can Be Taken to Reduce It, Says Robinson & Associates, Inc.

Casino executives struggling with a high level of employee turnover should take heart in knowing that gaming is not the only industry hit hard by this problem and that there are ways to reduce turnover.

Annapolis, MD (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Casino executives struggling with a high level of employee turnover should take heart in knowing that gaming is not the only industry hit hard by this problem and that there are ways to reduce turnover, according to Robinson & Associates, Inc., a gaming industry consulting firm.   

"Many casino managers openly worry about the impact of employee turnover and they are not alone," says Martin R. Baird, chief executive officer of Annapolis, Maryland-based Robinson & Associates. "Fortunately, the causes of turnover can be understood, and there are steps that can be taken."

Baird offers the following information and thoughts about employee turnover.

Turnover Is Widespread -- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the typical American worker holds nine different jobs before age 32, Baird says. "The highest turnover by far is in the accommodation and food services sector at 56.4 percent and the leisure and hospitality sector at 52.2 percent," Baird notes.

Hospitality Sector Turnover May Be Under-Reported -- Some sources say employee turnover is as high as 200 to 300 percent per year in the hospitality industry, Baird says. "This has very serious and negative implications for casino guests' gaming experience long term," Baird adds.

Variety of Factors Affect Turnover -- Surprisingly, pay and benefits are not generally the root cause of most turnover, according to Baird. "Psychological disengagement, low levels of job involvement, casino location, poor performance, hiring practices, managerial styles, lack of recognition, low levels of organization commitment, job dissatisfaction - all lead to higher turnover," Baird explains.

Some Causes of Turnover Can Be Managed -- "High levels of stress, unpleasant working conditions, monotony, ineffective supervision, insufficient training and poor internal communication can contribute to turnover, but all of those factors can be managed if a casino makes a concerted effort to do so," Baird says.

Other Steps Can Be Taken to Reduce Turnover -- There are a wide variety of additional steps casinos can take to trim turnover rates, Baird says. "Employee turnover can be reduced by focusing on quality recruitment, providing better training and orientation, establishing realistic career opportunities and creating long-term incentives and rewards for outstanding job performance," Baird notes.

Examine Hiring Practices and Employee Motivation -- "In order to reduce employee turnover, it's important to hire the right people and continue to develop their careers, hire the right demographic for the casino, understand employee motivation and truly examine the real causes of turnover," Baird says. "Most employees want the casino to succeed."

To help casinos understand and deal with this issue, Robinson & Associates has published a white paper on casino employee turnover. Those interested in obtaining a copy of the white paper should call Lydia Baird, Robinson & Associates' director of business development, at 206-774-8856.

Robinson & Associates, Inc., is a global customer service consulting firm for the gaming industry. It helps casinos determine their Advocate Index, a number that indicates the extent to which properties have guests who are willing to be advocates. The company then implements its Advocate Development System in combination with the proven methodology of Advocate Index and best business practices to help casinos create more guest advocates and chart a course for growth and profitability. Robinson & Associates may be reached by phone at 480-991-6420, or via its Web sites at www.advocatedevelopmentsystem.com and www.casinocustomerservice.com.

Robinson & Associates is a member of the Casino Management Association and an associate member of the National Indian Gaming Association.

Contact:
Martin R. Baird
Robinson & Associates, Inc.
http://www.advocatedevelopmentsystem
http://www.casinocustomerservice.com
480-991-6420

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