Att återhämta en bransch i kris. En kvalitativ studie om den rådande personalbristen i hotell- & restaurangbranschen

Abstract

Following the removal of the restrictions that were caused by the covid-19 pandemic the hotel and restaurant industry have suffered a significant staff shortage. The study aims to create an understanding as to whether the work environment in the hotel and restaurant industry have contributed to the current staff shortage and how companies within the hotel and restaurant industry can work in order to attract and motivate workforce in the short and long term. The theoretical framework consists of theories regarding work environment, Self determination theory and skill development. The study has been conducted through qualitative research using first-hand sources collected through interviews with current employees and former employees from the hotel and restaurant industry, and representatives from the union and an employer organization. The results of the research show that working hours, wages, physical and psychological work environment, motivational factors and the needs of the employees are important factors to the respondents and these topics that are frequently brought up in the interviews. The results also show that the industry works as an integration engine for the labor market and many workers choose to leave the industry rather quickly. The analysis shows that the factors regarding the working environment and motivational aspects can be improved, those potential improvements and analysis of how the working environment might have affected the staff shortage are then presented in the conclusion.