Staff poaching is rife on high street

Poaching of pub managers is reaching epidemic proportions, according to new research into the high street jobs market.

In some areas, managers are approached by head-hunters recruiting for rival chains once a week or more, says employment specialist Retail Human Resources.

Pub operators including JD Wetherspoon, Scottish & Newcastle, and Hall & Woodhouse took part in the survey, along with retailers from other sectors such as Boots, Virgin Megastore, Top Shop and Gap.

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Recruiting is half the battle, retaining staff is the other half. If you get the first part right, the rest follows. In general, people leave a job because they are offered a better package elsewhere or because they don't like their workplace.

"Our retention rates are higher than the industry average because we give people an attractive employment package, a good working environment and the opportunity for career progression if that's they want."

The survey showed overall turnover figures of 60 per cent for all staff, and 26 per cent for managers.

But the report's author Peter Burgess said the figures were considerably higher for pubs than for the high street as a whole. "Pub staff tend to be even more transient, and good pub managers in particular are in high demand."

He said: "Managers should be briefed that, by and large, the head-hunt calls are not because the head-hunter knows how good they are or because of their reputation. It is more often just the company name that was the reason for the call."

More than 50 major retail companies were polled, each employing more than 500 people, and representing one third of the retail workforce in total.

Chief executives at The Publican Conference, held on November 7, admitted high staff turnover was still a major problem in the pub trade.

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Pub trade needs to work on training and keeping good staff (11 November 2002)