The Causes and Remedies for High Employee Turnover in the United States Hospitality Industry

Abstract

Abstract

This study analyzed the causes and remedies for high employee turnover in the United States hospitality sector. The labor turnover rate increased especially during the COVID-19 period and indicates the unsustainable operations of the hospitality industry. This study applied a qualitative design to gather information from a population of workers in the hospitality industry regarding the causes of high labor turnover and strategies that may be applied to reduce the turnover. A sample of 20 workers from the US hospitality industry was extracted from LinkedIn for the research. The researcher paid Survey Monkey to collect a relevant sample and provide it with an open-ended questionnaire. The response rate was 90%. After collecting the filled-up questionnaires, the researcher applied thematic analysis to synthesize the results. The factors that affected turnover were income, non-adherence to workplace ethical standards, quality of services, and the effects of COVID-19. The employee perceptions of labor turnover were influenced by the leadership system. The management strategies that could be applied to improve employee retention included sustainable finance allocation, employee appreciation, and a conducive working environment. Health crisis management was the key theme for optimizing employee turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19, Employee motivation, Employee turnover, Ethical standards, Income, Leadership system, Sustainable finance allocation.