Keeping older workers employed in the hotel industry in Singapore – a study
contributed by Shereen Pong, Research Associate >60 Design Centre
Keeping older workers employed in the hotel industry in Singapore – a study
The global workforce is ageing, as lifespan extends in Singapore and other developed countries. By 2030, one out of every five Singapore residents will be a senior. "Between now and 2030, Singapore will witness an unprecedented profound age shift. The number of residents aged 65 years or older will multiply threefold from current 300,000 to 900,000 in 2030" (Singapore, Committee On Ageing Issues, Report On The Ageing Population, 2006). In the area of employment, the shortage of young workers will be one of the challenges an ageing society will face. To maintain competitiveness in the industry, it will become increasingly important for employers to attract and retain mature, experienced older workers.
Having a job can contribute to the psychological well-being of the elderly. Some senior citizens believe that productive work provides a purpose for living and ontributes to a healthy state of mind and body. It is imperative that job opportunities continue to be open to those who wish to continue working. However, certain jobs may still need to re-designed or certain workflows and work processes streamlined to cater to the physical strength and stamina that is characteristic of many an older person.
The >60 Design Centre embarked on a study of older workers in the hotel industry, with the following objectives in mind:
1) To allow ageing workers to continue to work for more years
2) To enable the ageing workers to return to the workforce
3) To identify problem areas to improve work processes, increase job effiiency and work satisfaction
Three main areas of focus were indentified for the study, namely Housekeeping, Laundry, and Food and Beverage. The report's main sample included 6 room attendants 3 older (45 and above) and 3 younger (below the age of 45), ages from 25 to 60, who are currently working in the Hotel Industry. The workers were being observed and timed throughout their 8 hours shift while they carry out their daily job tasks.
The team studied the workflow and use of equipment in the 3 main focus areas. One-to-one interviews were conducted with both management and staff to better understand their needs and opinions.
Results: The research team identified bending as the biggest problem faced by existing older room attendants. Throughout the whole cleaning process, extensive bending is required, from replenishing the fridge, wiping, bed-making to bathroom cleaning. Older workers' physical ability is another concern to note as the job requires heavy manual work as well as constant standing and movement. The team recommend that hoteliers when considering any initial design of a new hotel room or any retrofitting of an older hotel, the housekeeping and maintenance process involved. By better understanding the workflow and the constraints faced by staff, hotel rooms and furniture may be designed and arranged to keep excessive bending or physical movement to a mininum.
The observation study also showed that the flow of the laundry is sequential and manageable for the older workers. Text and tables in the laundry forms can be enlarged, and icons instead of text can be introduced for easy reading. The laundry environment is also relatively humid and warm, particularly in the heavy machine areas. It is recommended that hotels provide air-conditioning or a well ventilated area for the workers.
In the area of Food and Beverage, workers are constantly standing on wet or slippery ground. Not all hotels provide safety mats throughout the whole kitchen washing area and anti-slip shoes to all kitche staff. Hotels are encouraged to adopt this practice as it is highly effective in preventing accidents from happening. However, the study also noted that only a small number of older workers are in this division, and are usually allocated to the pantry area where less heavy work is required.
Conclusion: In general, hotel servicing is an intensive and laborious job. It might be difficult for new-comers enter this industry which involved heavy manual work and shift duties. However, improving the ergonomics in various areas of work will go a long way to encouraging older workers currently already in the industry to continue serving the industry even as they age.
Reference:
1. AARP, Staying Ahead of the Curve 2007: The AARP Work and Career Study, 2008
2. Tripartite Committee, Report of the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers, 2006
3. MCYS Singapore, Committe On Ageing Issues, Report On The Ageing Population, 2006
4. Manpower Research and Statistics Department Singapore, Paper No. 3/99 Older Workers, 1999
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