2016 Working in Whistler Survey
The 2016 “Working in Whistler Survey” was an action item coming out of the Chamber’s 2015 Whistler Labour Survey. The survey, for resort employees was conducted from March to June 2016 with a goal to gather actionable intel on employee experiences. The questions focused on the workplace, employee satisfaction and opportunities to attract and retain workforce.
The employee survey provides useful intelligence around how to better attract and retain the staff members that make this place tick – and the results will feed into the lager resort-wide “Recruitment & Retention Strategy” the Chamber has been asked to champion as part of its Economic Partnership Initiative (EPI) accountability..
1,263 employees participated in the survey
- 45% of participants were age 26-34
- Top three participating business categories: F&B, Accommodation, and Activity/recreation
- 45% of participants worked in their job for less than a year.
Survey Highlights:
- Whistler has a “young” workforce (69% under the age of 34) and they come for the work/lifestyle balance
- There is a significant workforce churn with 60% of respondents reporting they spent 2 years or less in their current position – yet 66% of total respondents are permanent residents of Whistler.
- Work Culture is important to our employees and the majority are satisfied with their work – but there are many opportunities for the community to improve the work experience (from training and mapping out career advancement opportunities to benefits and housing)
- There is a cohort of the workforce that feels they cannot sufficiently cover food, accommodation and daily needs.
- Access to affordable, adequate housing is a significant challenge for our workforce.
The Whistler Chamber thanks the volunteer members of their “Recruitment and Retention Committee” for their work on the survey and report.
Marla Zucht, Whistler Housing Authority
Norm McPhail, Resort Municipality of Whistler
Joel Chevalier, Whistler Blackcomb
Sue Adams, Community Member at Large
Bob Deeks, RDC Fine Homes
Dean Terry, Tim Hortons
Bevin Heath Ansley, Glades Consulting
Tess Evans, HR Galaxy
Scott Pass, Whistler Connection Travel
Kyle Hannay, McCoos and Rip Curl
James Retty, Arc’teryx & Escape Route
Pepe Barajas, Infinity Enterprises
Josianne Fox, Westin Hotel
BC Delegation to Ottawa
Val Litwin, CEO of the Whistler Chamber joined the BC Delegation to Ottawa on February 3 and 4, 2016, on invitation by the Honourable Shirley Bond, Provincial Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.
2015 Whistler Labour Survey
The 2015 Whistler Business Labour Survey was an action item coming out of the Chamber-hosted “Finding Solutions to Whistler’s Labour Issues” meeting on August 18th where nearly 100 local businesses attended
Garibaldi at Squamish
As a business organization, the WCC supports well-considered growth and intelligent investment that drives long term economic health in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Yet the proposal put forward by Garibaldi At Squamish, Inc. in its current form does not appear to support either.
BC Family Day
Moving Family Day to the 3rd Monday would cause unnecessary compression in BC destination mountain resorts which could have a negative impact on the guest experience. Avoiding a holiday overlap, however, provides British Columbians – and out-of-province guests – with better quality Family Day and vacation experiences respectively.
IOC inclusion of LGBT community
As a business community, we encourage the IOC to recall its Olympic Charter when it says it will cooperate with competent organizations and authorities in the endeavor to place sport at the service of humanity, as Russia’s anti-gay stance threatens to overshadow the games.