Hard Rock Human Resources Strategy

OPIM 3104

Hard Rock’s Human Resource Strategy

1. What has Hard Rock done to lower employee turnover to half the industry average?

2. How does Hard Rock’s human resource department support the company’s overall strategy?

3. How would Hard Rock’s value system work for automobile assembly line workers?

Employee turnover in the restaurant industry is estimated at 80 – 150% annually, but Hard Rock Café International, Inc. has effectively utilized human resources operations management decisions to lower employee turnover to half the industry average. Hard Rock’s initial commitment to employees is apparent in its mission statement which states that the company offers, “… the Hard Rock family a fun, healthy, and nurturing work environment …”. The simple act of referring to employees as being part of a “family” helps establish and promote a positive culture of mutual caring and responsibility where everyone is committed to success of both the company and individuals. Of course, there are several other factors that contribute Hard Rock’s successful human resources strategy.

Hard Rock’s human resources practices focus on “… hiring the best qualified, not just the best available …” employees. For example, staff scheduling takes into account employee seniority and preferences including, preferred work days, shifts, and stations. Employees submit a schedule request form with this data including their weekly preferences and restrictions, which is in turn inputted into a computer software program that uses linear programming (a mathematical optimization technique) to create daily schedules for each employee. Daily schedules provide work shift start and stop times that are just long enough to be financially productive for each worker, but short enough to not over-staff during less busy hours between lunch and dinner. To help make work schedules financially productive, each worker that works a minimum of nineteen hours a week is eligible to receive...