MARRIOTT HOTELS INDIA
Industry: Hospitality
Employees: 3,250
Workplace locations: 4
Business units: 5
Unique roles: 27
BUSINESS IS tough, which is even more reason for Marriott to hone its workforce. “Our values get stronger during such times,” says Rajeev Menon, Vice-President for Marriott in India, Malaysia, Maldives and Pakistan. The company’s pyramid organisation structure has associates (its front-end staff ) at the top. They are the company’s biggest asset, says Menon. “So, we have already paid bonuses and the increment has been 8-10%,” he says.
Once a year, associates take an online survey of 42 questions on personal leadership, teamwork, worklife balance, personal growth and rewards. “The survey helps us understand associates and improve their performance,” says Gurmeet Singh, Area Director of HR for India, Maldives and Pakistan.
Marriott runs 14 different training programmes for its employees, and the investment on training is on the no-compromise list. New recruits undergo a week-long training, and follow ups after 60 days and 90 days on the job. There’s an online programme to develop skills of associates and a portal that facilitates their personal development. At the managerial level, Marriott employees are categorised into three bands: red (entry level), blue (department-head level) and purple (divisionalhead level). Across these bands, the company runs a talent development and succession plan. “We have groomed about 80% of our associates to the red band,” says Singh.
With an average increment of 8-10%, Marriott is not a big paymaster, and its 30% attrition rate is a cause for concern. “But we don’t lose employees due to monetary issues. It’s mainly to foreign competition and luxury cruises,” says Nayna Panjanani, Director of HR at JW Marriott (a division of Marriott, in Mumbai). “Many do come back.” Adds Singh: “We focus more on recognition than on rewards.” Every May, Marriott hosts an associate appreciation week, which is a time to thank its associates. “Th e executive committee is on the floor serving them,” says Panjanani.
Source : outlook business
