Legacy setting an example in Africa

IT IS common belief that staff simply don’t stay loyal to their companies, a trend that has human resources directors looking for unique ways to retain their human assets.
This is not, however, a trend that is prevalent at the Legacy Hotels Group (Legacy), which after an analysis of its employment data can report that not only do its staffers stay, but that the average number of years they stay exceeds eight.
Bucking the trend, the company’s internal audit has revealed that its some 2 105 employees have worked for the company a collective 17 065 years.
This works out to a staggering average of 8,1 years per person.
This shows a stark contrast to the South African average, where the most recent Labour Market Dynamics Report for 2009 to 2015, released by Statistics South Africa in 2016, highlighted that the average number of months an employee stayed at a company in 2015 was 44 or 3.6 years.
“Ultimately a Legacy employee spends on average 4,5 years longer at the company, whereas the total number of years worked by a Legacy employee translates to an overwhelming 225 percent of the South African average,” states Bart Dorrestein, chairman and CEO at Legacy Hotels and Resorts. ‘
This is a figure that we are immensely proud of, and is testament to the work environment we create for our people, the family atmosphere we encourage, as well as our approach to innovation in the hospitality sector.
“We take great care to ensure that our employees are well trained and motivated at every level of the business. That they practise and adhere to an uncompromising standard of service, as well as are informed of our values of integrity, respect, teamwork and innovation and take this to the guest experience at every step of the way.”
The history of the Legacy Hotel Group stems from its initial formation by its founding members in 1983 with the formation of the then Stocks Leisure and its first property Kwa Maritane, this then transformed a decade later in 1993 to Stocks Leisure and Hotels.
The formation of the Legacy Hotels and Resorts, as it is known today, formally came to fruition in 1999 following a management buyout.
While the name of the company may have changed in its formative years, the face of Legacy, its people, have remained steadfast and loyal to the business.
Notably two of the company’s longest standing staffers are from the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge, who joined the company in 1984 and 1985 and are still with the company.
A company that they feel is not just a place of work — but a family. — Wires