In a company where some people are nice and some people aren't always thoughtful about others, are there things that can make people be more considerate of each other? What are some things a company can do to make its culture nicer?
I agree with Erica Friedman in that much of what I list below is based on a foundation of respect which must exist among employees and senior leadership. Equity, salary and fun events can never make up for mutual respect. Assuming that this exists, there are a few things that can help remind team members to be courteous and professional.Here are a few of the guidelines Jean Hsu and I came up with when discussing what would make a respectful work environment and culture at Pulse (app).Speak softly in common areas and move larger conversations into private rooms so as to not disturb others.Try not to disturb people who are "wired in" (aka headphones on, jamming away on their work). Gchat or email them instead.Work when and where you are most productive. Whether that's at your desk or at a coffee shop, as long as you're connected to the team, respect employees' needs for mixing up their work environment.Give constructive feedback to your peers. Do not make things personal and be aware of everyone's feelings.Take initiative to work on things you are passionate about or want to learn more about. Whether that's taking on a new project or helping out in an area you're unfamiliar with, let someone know you're willing to help.Speak up if you think improvements could be made as to how your time is spent.Always feel free to ask questions or let someone know when you need help.In addition...We have lunch delivered to let people on our team really get to know one another outside of work. We also have non-mandatory Happy Hours and team get-togethers to bring us closer together.Every Friday, our CEO, Akshay Kothari prompts the team to say what they like and what they wish for the previous week. Example: "I liked how well the new product launch went" or "I wish we would have had a meeting to discuss X sooner" - this prompts everyone to give quick feedback on various aspects of the company.We have an idea board at the office where team members can post their ideas about everything from swag to product design. Others on the team can vote ideas up and ideas that receive the most backing will become reality.
What is the average amount of time housekeeping spends per room at a 5-star hotel to prepare for a new guest?
I work as a housekeeper in W Hotel in the center of London. It’s a luxury 5-star hotel. We have to make 14 rooms during 8-hour working day. So it turns out that we should normally spend about 20–30 mins on a Stay Over and 40 mins on Departure rooms. Professional housekeepers do spend about 30 mins on preparing a room for new guests. Unexperienced spend from 1 to 1.5 hours. This includes a long checklist from cleaning mirrors to arranging stationery. It’s a very difficult job and requires more than 30 minutes to be made without mistakes and leave housekeepers happy. Our housekeepers with 14 rooms daily feel mad, exhausted, tired and unhappy at the end of each day. So I think that management in luxury hotels should think not only about making happy their guests but also about making happy their housekeepers by increasing time on cleaning rooms and reducing number of rooms at the same time. 8 rooms per day in a luxury hotel would sound perfect! It is a well known fact that only happy workers can make their customers happy. Can an angry and tired housekeeper smile sincerely to guests? No. And this would not help hotels to build great reputation. I would add that the success of the entire housekeeping department depends on management, attitude towards housekeepers and workers’ salaries. Invest time and money in permanent training. Invest in modern hoovers and gadgets to work fast and efficiently. Organize teambuilding activities and build the team. Talk often with the team members and listen to their suggestions and problems they face. Give them SPA vouchers. Make sure every employer is happy and in return they will make happy every guest. Only this way your hotel will definitely blossom. Sincerely, after hardworking month in W Hotel I realize I hate it and would not reccomend it to anyone as a workplace, or for a night stay. For me, it is impossible to make good cleaning in 14 rooms throughout a day. Everyone in our department was unhappy but the management just did not care.