(02 Sep 2022, 9:57 pm)James101 wrote
It’s not the only way though is it?
Growing a strong co-operative culture, positive working environment. Empowering staff, making them feel valued. Favourable pay & terms.
Similar to what’s needed to to attract and retain new staff I suppose.
Agree. Culture is a long game. Also vastly cheaper to invest in retaining staff than attracting new ones.
A totally positive work environment for bus drivers won't exactly be an easy thing to achieve at the best of times, let alone at the moment.
Bus broken down in front? Endless customers having a go at the driver.
Bus broken down? Grumpy passengers to deal with until new one arrives.
Working a late Friday or Saturday? You're now essentially babysitting a bunch of drunk adults while also having to drive a 10+ tonne vehicle.
Those are just three little things that spring to mind that could cause a driver to get annoyed, add to that all the current abuse due to the staff shortage and it's no wonder people want to leave. There's only so much management can do in the short term, there is no magic wand.