Dive Brief:
- To compete in an ever-tightening hiring market — specifically, seasonal hiring in the Orlando area — Disney is upping its hiring bonus for full- and part-time workers, the Orlando Sentinel reports. New hires may receive up to $3,000 to fill the 3,500 openings the park anticipates.
- For full or part-time housekeeping, a $1,250 bonus can be earned for the $10.50 per hour job, which is more than double the $500 bonus the company offered in 2017. Full- or part-time lifeguards can earn as much as $1,000 in a bonus, while bus drivers and seasonal lifeguards can receive a $500 bonus. Culinary chefs can earn $3,000. To receive the bonus, employees must remain on board for at least 30 days following training.
- Disney has already started its seasonal hiring push with events in the park and online programs.
Dive Insight:
Employers, especially those in the seasonal hospitality and retail business, are facing stiff competition for talent that represents their “be our guest” attitude. Hiring is up in many sectors, and employers are still rolling out new measures to attract talent during big hiring pushes. Some companies are upping their wages or benefits offerings, even including paid parental leave, while others are working to attract talent with educational benefits for employees and their relatives.
Industry reports show businesses that maintain low staffing levels in customer-facing areas risk profits, so employers are understandably working hard to fill vacancies. But in a competitive market, bonuses may only go so far, especially for non-seasonal workers. Retail employees say they're looking for more than money; for part-timers, flexible scheduling (as well as a predictable, stable schedule) is a top priority.
For seasonal venues, in particular, the lack of H-2B visas has put tremendous pressure on the industry to find the right people. Time will tell which techniques offer the most success in nabbing top talent — and keeping them on board and engaged.
