The Impact of Economic Crisis on the Motivation to Work in Food Service: The case of the Municipality of Piran

Marko Kukanja and Saša Planinc
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Marko Kukanja: University of Primorska, Slovenia
Saša Planinc: University of Primorska, Slovenia

Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, 2012, vol. 5, issue 2, 27-38

Abstract: This study examines factors that help to attract, retain and motivate employees in the hospitality industry. The survey was conducted in the municipality of Piran, the most developed Slovenian municipality and an important tourist centre in the northern Mediterranean. The aim of this study was to determine the key factors that motivate people to work as servers. Respondents were asked to rate the six key factors that motivated them to work in the catering industry. The findings show that in times of economic crisis, money is the most important motivating factor. Other significant motivational factors identified are strongly associated with worker age and type of catering facility. Our findings are consistent with attribution-based motivational theories, which are based on the theory of choice, stating that individuals are primarily motivated by the factor that meets their most important need. Motivational theories whose tenets underpin our research are briefly discussed. Practical considerations for managers of catering businesses, that is, how to selectively engage and motivate different groups of employees in different types of facilities, are discussed in conclusion.

Keywords: Food service workers; motivation; recession; municipality of Piran (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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