Millennials in the workplace

Join STEC for a Lunch and Learn Seminar, presented by Darcy Acton, STEC's Manager of Industry Human Resources Development

• Tuesday, June 5
• 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Saskatoon, SK

Hiring: The Next Generation

From Baby Boomer to Gen X, employers have had to learn how to hire and motivate the best workers.

Now, the Next Generation, Millennial Generation or Generation Y, is joining the workforce.

This technologically savvy, socially active generation strives for work-life balance, with an optimistic view of the future.

Discover what it takes to woo and wow Millennials. Learn practical tips for hiring and inspiring a young, involved workforce.

Only $35/person

For more information or to register by phone: (306) 933-7186 or 1-800-331-1529.
Email stec.training@sasktourism.com
Registration deadline: Friday, June 1, 2012.

Why you keep showing up for work (hint: it's not because of the money)

Have you noticed that whenever you ask someone, "How are you doing?" the answer is always "Fine", or some variation of that? It's one of those automatic responses we all give, and all expect. You don't really give it that much thought. Workplace gurus and entrepreneurial consultants advise that the best answer is an enthusiastic "Fantastic!!" But, really, it's still the same automatic response. No one actually says how they're really doing (try it some time, just to see what happens).

If you ask people what they think motivates others to work, more often than not their response is automatic, too. They'll say, "money." Maybe they say that because it's what they've always heard, or maybe because they think it's what they're supposed to say. (Or, maybe they're hoping that saying so in front of the boss will land them a nice raise!) It's just one of those automatic responses. But, when pressed to think about it, most people know that money is a poor motivator.

Last month, the Canadian HR Reporter blog reported on research by PsychTests AIM Inc. (company news release), about what motivates people to do their best at work.

Here are the top five things that keep people motivated at work:

1. Being customer focused.
2. Having a challenging work environment in which you can achieve something meaningful.
3. Being able to inspire others.
4. Working in a company or field that provides identity and purpose.
5. Having fun, working in a position or corporate culture that is entertaining.

Number one on that list above is what strikes me as interesting, not because people think customer focus is important, but that it's more important than all the other motivators. That really shouldn't come as a surprise. Helping someone else achieve their goal is at the heart of a lot of human motivation. When you look at it that way, you see that value in all five of the motivators above: working toward a common purpose makes people feel like they are achieving something meaningful.

That doesn't mean money isn't important. It may not motivate people to do better, but poor compensation certainly motivates people to leave a job.

Think about tourism careers during Saskatchewan Tourism Week

Shearwater Tours,
Saskatoon

During an economic boom like the one Saskatchewan's experiencing, a lot of employers have trouble finding qualified workers. But right now, all across Canada, tourism employers are feeling the pinch of a national labour shortage. So, combine our boom with with a national labour shortage of tourism workers, right at the start of the busy summer tourism season, and you can see that tourism businesses in our province are going to have a really tough time finding workers.

Already, we're projecting a shortfall of about 1,600 people to fill tourism jobs this year. That demand for workers is only going to get worse, because travel and visitor spending is increasing faster than other consumer purchases, meaning even more tourism work for fewer tourism workers. For workers, this is a great time to be in tourism, because you can basically write your own ticket to a job.

That doesn't mean the work is easy - far from it, because international competition for travellers and customer expectations for service have never been higher - but there is no better time to find rewarding work and careers in tourism, especially in Saskatchewan. Take a gander over at our sister Saskatchewan Tourism Saskatchewan Facebook page or the Tourism Saskatchewan website to see everything that our province has for visitors. Our tourism businesses are among the best you'll find anywhere (they have to be, because people are able and willing to travel anywhere to get the experiences they want).

So, while things are looking pretty rosy for workers, businesses have to offer not only the kinds of experiences that can attract ever-more-discerning customers, but also nurture the kinds of workplaces that attract and keep the best employees. That's a tough challenge for everyone, and no business is in a position to be able to meet that challenge alone. We all have to pull together to develop a qualified and motivated tourism workforce, a workforce that's well trained and well rewarded for the contribution that everyone makes to our economy.

Keeping track of employee training needs

How do you know what training your employees need? How do you know if their training is up to date?

We'd like you to take a moment to give us your feedback about a simple, quick tool that we hope will make it easier for you plan and track your employee training. We're not asking you plan anyone's training, or asking you for any personal information. This is just a short survey to help us develop the planning tool.

The survey is designed for business owners, supervisors and managers. Please take a moment to visit this link and take the survey. Your feedback is important. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2JX8T5N

Nominate someone you know as "Tourism Ambassador"

I bet you know someone who makes a tremendous contribution toward tourism in Saskatchewan. Maybe it's someone who makes every customer feel like a million bucks. It could be a coworker who inspires professionalism among everyone in the workplace. Perhaps you know of an instructor who has made an outstanding contribution to tourism or hospitality education. We want to hear your suggestions for this year's "Tourism Ambassador" awards at the 19th Annual Saskatchewan Tourism Professional Recognition Dinners, June 11 in Saskatoon and June 13 in Regina. Nominations are accepted until Friday, May 11. Download the nomination form (PDF).

Nominations are open in each of the five industries that make up the tourism sector:

• Accommodations,
• Food & Beverage Services,
• Recreation and Entertainment,
• Transportation, and
• Travel Services, as well as
• Educator of the Year.

Nominees for an Ambassador Award must meet the following criteria:

• be Certified in a tourism occupation,
• be active in tourism,
• embody the values of Certification, and
• exhibit an ongoing commitment to professionalism in tourism.

Download the nomination form (PDF).

If you have any questions, please contact:

Lesley Welter
Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council
Suite 102, 202 Fourth Avenue North
Saskatoon SK  S7K 0K1
Phone:  (306) 933-7188  Fax: (306) 933-6250
Toll Free:  1-800-331-1529
Email:  lesley.welter@sasktoruism.com

Awards may not be given for all industries in every year. Last year's awards were presented for Accommodations, Recreation and Entertainment, Food and Beverage, and Educator of the Year.

2013 Employer of Choice applications now open

Hurray, hurray!
First of May!
Employer of Choice
opens today!

(Ok, so the rhythm is off a bit, but the rhyme works.)

Visit www.steceoc.com and register to qualify as a Saskatchewan Tourism Employer of Choice for 2013. Applications are now open until November 30. But don't procrastinate. The application will take a bit of time, so start now to make sure you can help celebrate the 2013 Employers of Choice next spring.

See the 2012 Employers of Choice, and find out more about becoming an Employer of Choice, by visiting the STEC.com website.