(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.
Interesting you mention that. There are a handful of people in management roles, who have climbed that slippery pole from the bottom up.
Whether they've over-achieved, is another thing.
Interestingly, two of the more well-known of those names were involved in a published court case last year.
A court case, that saw in favour of a long-established, well respected, experienced driver.
Just one of many drivers shown the door or pushed towards the door. Just one of many added to the growing names on that huge attrition list.
Didn't MG mention a second tranche of leavers recently? I'd be embarrassed.
(02 Sep 2022, 10:09 pm)mb134 wrote What can the current management do to address that right now though?
Pay more? Well yes, to an extent. But lots of drivers have families who they might want to spend time with, so the extra money for the 6 day week will only be attractive to a point.
Train more? I imagine they are. But what happens when 3 out of 4 of the new recruits fail their test because they have road rage at old Doris in her Honda Jazz, is the man in charge of IT meant to swoop in and bribe the instructor?
Retain more? Again, payment will only go so far. I know of at least one person who is an active member on this forum who has left one of the "big three" in the past few months not because of the pay, or the job, or the management - but because they wanted to change career, and there are many individuals in similar boats (especially after Covid). Lots of people have seen how their friends/family can now work from home and get paid the same/more, how can bus company management facilitate people driving buses from their sofa?
This isn't a new issue. This isn't an issue unique to current or recent management or the pandemic.
This is an issue which has gone on for far too long. It sees people making the wrong decisions (see above) rewarded. Whilst those at the receiving end (generally the drivers at the bottom of the heirachy) shafted.
It stinks and it's resulted in the situation we see now. A situation which has built up over years and a situation that conveniently has a finger pointed in the direction of Covid.