Hospitality workplace problems and poor training: a close relationship

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine common hospitality problems with the aim of identifying relationships between them, and the central issue.Design/methodology/approachSelf‐completed questionnaires were used to collect data from hospitality students and employees, and analyses of variance used to identify relationships between the problems, and isolate the central issue.FindingsThe paper finds that poor training is associated with workplace problems, and improving training is likely to reduce problems such as under‐staffing and theft.Research limitations/implicationsThe collection of data on exact lengths of employment would have facilitated a more rigorous analysis of the causes and effects of staff turnover and is recommended for future studies of training and turnover.Practical implicationsInvestment in training is recommended even when turnover is high, as training reduces workplace problems.Originality/valueThis study focuses on the relationships between problems, rather than investigating them in isolation, facilitating an holistic approach to solving staff turnover.