Tashas Group, a leader in the hospitality industry with over 35 venues globally, continues its commitment to the well-being of all employees by expanding upon the “Grow with Tashas” program. The innovative scheme “Grow with Tashas” enables employees to explore different career paths within the group, learn about various positions, and choose their desired path for development. Natasha Sideris, Founder and CEO, along with Stefano Mihalitsianos, Managing Director for the Middle East and the UK spearheaded this latest effort which leverages technology to empower employees.
Growth Opportunities
With a dedicated team of more than 2000 individuals spread across four countries on three continents, the group’s wellbeing efforts continue to uphold its values of transparency, support, and inclusivity. These include prioritising growth opportunities for all employees while maintaining their commitment to exceptional service and customer satisfaction.
Recognising that the hospitality industry is known for high employee turnover, Tashas Group has implemented a range of initiatives to create a positive and supportive work environment. As a new era dawns where economic shifts and a changing customer profile are putting added pressure on the sector and its people, change is necessary. These include an open-door policy for open communication, quarterly satisfaction surveys, flexible scheduling, regular breaks, and thorough management guidance. Team-building sessions and feedback meetings promote a sense of community, ensuring every employee feels valued and supported.
New recruits up to senior management are encouraged to discover their personal journey within the industry and the group, further enhancing Tashas Group’s care for every team member. Through this, performance management ensures that additional training is provided if necessary, and promotions and transfers are based on merit and skills. One such example is Elzet Geyser who is the Franchise Manager and Brand Trainer at Tashas Group. She reinforces standards set forth by the brand, training, implementation of standard operating procedures, and operational support. Elzet ensures the teams are fully trained and are trained. She started as a hostess at tashas café in 2019 and 5 years later has grown to take on her role in head office.
Under the leadership and mentorship of Natasha and the Head Office team, manu employees have benefitted from the program by advancing from waiters all the way to concept general managers. This showcases the group’s dedication to internal growth and development.
F&B Staffing & Scheduling Challenges
When it comes to daytime staff at Tashas Group, they excel in managing the dual challenges of high customer volume while maintaining impeccable service quality, showcasing their resilience. To address the issues faced in efforts to keep calm during a busy service while maintaining high standards, the Group has introduced flexible scheduling, regular breaks, and continuous support from management.
Jill Okkers, Culinary Director comments. “We focus on leadership training and creating a positive work environment. Initiatives like Employee of the Month, where team members vote for the most deserving colleague, offer significant recognition and boost morale,” Jill explains. This allows employees to feel empowered and be more vocal about real change within the organisation.
Nemanja Nedeykovic, Head of HR, highlights the importance of acknowledging personal lives and providing a sense of community, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported regardless of their shift. “Well-being is a challenging topic, particularly in my role as Head of HR. I have witnessed many individuals in our industry feel compelled to suffer in silence. Research indicates that approximately 8 out of 10 hospitality staff experience symptoms of poor mental health during their careers, yet almost half do not feel comfortable sharing their concerns with colleagues.* Our group is dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health by being available for our team, day or night. We strive to support our team members by meticulously planning schedules and ensuring a supportive and empowering environment consistently.”
The nighttime staff, particularly those in beverage service, navigate the demanding challenges of extended hours, high-pressure environments, and the complexities of dealing with customers during late night hours. To support relevant teams, Beverage Director Krystian Hordejuk explains that Tashas Group promotes a culture of open communication through team-building sessions and regular feedback meetings. “Our bar managers are encouraged to create opportunities for feedback and foster a sense of community within the workplace. Every team member is encouraged to openly share their struggles, the strategies they used to overcome them, and how these experiences have contributed to their personal and professional growth.” Krystian states. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone learns from each other, fostering a supportive and resilient team environment.
Ongoing Wellbeing Initiatives
The company conducts quarterly satisfaction surveys to understand staff needs and fosters a genuine people-first mindset. Putting this into action, Tashas Group’s gatherings bring people together and celebrate mutual success. In a first for Tashas Group, all venues across the UAE closed for a day in March 2024, allowing all 900 of the team to come together and celebrate their achievements, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to recognising and valuing every team member’s efforts.
Additionally, Tashas Group is on track to launch The Academy later this year located in Alserkal Avenue, an innovative and creative space that will bring together the culinary, beverage, and creative teams. This cutting-edge training facility will support the development of global talent and further enhance the “Grow with Tashas” program.
The senior management team at Tashas Group is also well taken care of by ensuring that the operations leads receive the necessary training to avoid burnout, enabling them to effectively support and motivate their teams. Head office teams have had the opportunity to participate in group and one-on-one sessions with Richard Sutton, the Group’s outsourced stress management coach who specialises in enhanced resilience, successful stress management, and improved emotional health and well-being. This ensures that senior management has everything they need to train the next trainers, resulting in approximately 90% of all managerial roles in the group being filled internally.
Looking ahead, Tashas Group is dedicated to continually enhancing community well-being. Their primary commitment is to not only deliver exceptional experiences to guests but also to maintain a motivated and resilient team year after year. Through this steadfast focus, Tashas Group aims to foster a thriving environment where both guests and team members feel valued and inspired.
