The Boulder Area Food, Beverage and Hospitality Sector Partnership explores innovative solutions for recruiting and retaining skilled talent at OZO Coffee gathering
On Thursday, May 30 the Boulder Area Food, Beverage and Healthcare Sector Partnership convened at OZO Coffee to learn and have a conversation about services that help businesses recruit and retain skilled talent.
The meeting consisted of presentations from:
Will Shepherd, TDM Outreach Specialist at Boulder Transportation Connections
- Boulder Clean Commute Program
- Employees working in Downtown or Boulder Junction can take a sustainable transportation option to work and receive a financial incentive from their employer, matched by the city. Sustainable options include anything except for driving alone, including carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, riding a scooter, walking, or bicycling.
- The employee can then spend rewards earned (up to $5 per day) at participating local businesses, allowing more of Downtown Boulder to benefit from the program and contributing to the local economy.
- Participating employers can apply for the state Alternative Transportation Options Tax Credit, which provides a 50% tax credit on any funds they use to invest in the program.
Jordyn Pearson, Program Director at Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness
- CHOW Program and Offerings
- CHOW is a nonprofit working to create an open conversation around mental health in the hospitality industry and to provide a place for hospitality staff to feel supported, heard and appreciated.
- A 2023 survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) revealed that 87 percent of hotels in the United States do not have enough staff, and 36 percent of the respondents cited severe staff shortages.
- A culture of poor mental health within the hospitality industry directly affects employees but can also lead to lower workforce recruitment and retention.
- CHOW currently offers peer group discussions, mental health courses, access to affordable individual clinical therapy, toolkits for businesses, and more, all free of charge for folks in the hospitality industry.
Industry partners shared these insights during small group discussion:
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Management sees a disconnect between themselves and the younger generation that occupies much of their workforce. They often take different approaches in addressing mental health and need better methods of communication.
- Businesses have developed resources such as an employee engagement care team, one-on-one check-ins with staff, and easier access to health benefits through online applications.
- Workforce Needs and Support
- Employers have found that employee referrals, comprehensive onboarding and soft-skill training, compensation adjustments, and benefits to be most effective in attracting and retaining skilled employees
- Partners are taking advantage of the Strong Sectors, Good Jobs Grant to provide TIPs and ServSafe Manager trainings to employees. More opportunities related specifically to comprehensive manager training and marketing support are needed.
Thank you to OZO Coffee for hosting this meeting!
About the company: OZO Coffee Company is a coffee roaster & retail operator based in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 2007 by Justin Hartman, OZO Coffee has based its growth on core principles of service, quality, community, and sustainability.