Luxe holidays, free gyms, big discounts: Crazy incentives luring Qld workers

Savvy Queensland restaurant and cafe owners are offering incredible perks to attract and retain workers.

Free holidays, cash payments for referring friends, discounts on dining and clothing, even complimentary pilates and gym memberships – these are just some of the incentives being offered to attract and retain hospitality workers as the industry deals with a staffing crisis.

With Covid causing many to leave hospitality and international workers still not back to their pre-Covid numbers, finding employees to work in eateries has become tougher than ever.

Now savvy operators are going above and beyond for workers, rolling out impressive benefit schemes and rewards to lure people into roles.

At Howard Smith Wharves, employees are offered everything from a 50 per cent discount at all venues in the Brisbane City precinct to extra weeks of annual leave and yoga, running and mindfulness sessions.

“We really started working on our culture through Covid and we wanted to take it to the next level,” said HSW chief executive officer Luke Fraser, with the company employing 1500 staff and recruiting up to 40 each week in the lead up to Christmas. “As part of that, it’s about offering our staff great rewards but also creating opportunities for them to grow their hospitality careers within the business.”

Felons Brewery staff Clara Baredes and Stephany Manipis. Picture: Richard Walker

At newly opened Everton Park cafe Gather & Graze, in Brisbane’s north, employees receive free access to the pilates studio and 24-hour gym next door, as well as free healthy meals from the cafe.

“Staff retention is probably a huge aspect and I feel like if we can offer that little bit extra in terms of being able to take care of their mental health and physical health through exercise that’s something that we will continue to do and feel it’s a very important part of our recruitment process,” said Gather & Graze’s Olivia Brown.

The recently opened Langham hotel on the Gold Coast offers its staff a free holiday annually with six complimentary hotel nights at LHG Hotel and Resorts each year; plus complimentary meals and laundry while at work.

ALH group, which runs pubs and hotels across Australia, is offering staff food discounts at their venues, plus savings at the company-owned BWS Woolworths stores. Discovery Holiday Parks in the Whitsundays is offering employees onsite accommodation, discounts for family and friends at their associated parks across the country, plus savings on gym memberships, flights, petrol, car hire and more. InterContinental Hayman Island offers something similar, as well as an abundance of recreational activities. Meanwhile, The Talisman Group (Sasso Italiano, Casa Chow and Purple Palm in Woolloongabba) will soon introduce a referral scheme, where existing employees receive a cash payment if they recommend someone who is then hired.

The group behind top Fortitude Valley restaurants such as Agnes, SameSame, Bianca and Honto also offer referral payments of up to $1000, as well as a host of other rewards like free coffee at their bakery, 25 per cent off at their venues, and substantial discounts at fellow local businesses Total Fusion Gym, City Cave Newstead and Nudie Jeans.

“The workplace becomes more than half of your life and it’s all the auxiliary benefits that add up, so if you’re looking at a deal and the hours on paper seem the same, the role seems the same, if there’s a greater community here that you can be a part of, we find that that helps us a lot,” co-owner Ty Simon said.

“Any competitive edge that you can get to help build up a good team you’re mad if you don’t implore those tactics.