Why Are New Hires Such a Headache? Tales from the Front Desk Trenches
Picture this: You’ve just finished a 14-hour shift at the front desk of a bustling hotel. Your coffee is cold, your feet ache, and you’re running on equal parts adrenaline and existential dread. But hey, at least you’ve trained up some new hires to help, right? Except—plot twist!—your new full-timer suddenly announces they’re only available “some days” because they’re busy, the part-timers keep calling in sick, and one staff member claims their flat tire delayed them exactly two hours (with not a speck of rain or mud on their shoes). If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you might be nodding along—or just openly weeping.
Welcome to the wild world of hiring in 2024, as hilariously and heartbreakingly captured in a recent viral post on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk. Let’s dive into the drama, the dubious excuses, and the desperate hunt for anyone who can show up on time and tell the truth.
The Hotel Hiring Hall of Shame
Reddit user u/Hotelslave93, a hospitality veteran, let loose in a cathartic rant that resonated with dozens of fellow front desk warriors. The gist? “Fed up with new hires” doesn’t even begin to cover it. After investing precious time and resources into training new staff, OP (original poster) discovers, to their dismay, that these fresh recruits have a tendency to redefine the word “unreliable.”
We’re talking about full-timers who suddenly want to work like part-timers, relief staff who are “sick” with suspiciously perfect timing, and—my personal favorite—a compulsive liar clocking in two hours late after a “flat tire” incident, looking as if she'd just strolled out of a spa. One candidate even faked references, only to be caught by an old-fashioned phone call to the actual property. Sherlock Holmes would be proud.
In the words of u/Flyer5231, “a lot of new hires in this day and age are deeply unserious people.” Ouch, but also—kind of true?
It’s Not About the Money (This Time!)
Before you start drafting your “raise the minimum wage” think-piece, OP is quick to clarify: wages and benefits aren’t the issue here. “We’re union and get good wages and benefits and paid sick leave, holidays, etc. We’re a good company,” they write in an update. So why the revolving door of unreliable hires?
Community members had thoughts. Plenty of them. While a few still pointed to wages as a root cause—u/SkwrlTail argued, “Pay crap wages, and the only ones who will apply are the ones who don't wanna flip burgers”—the consensus seemed to shift elsewhere. As u/No-Koala1918 put it, the problem often “starts with the hiring. Someone needs to get past the ‘any warm body can do this job’ stage and start vetting candidates seriously.”
Turns out, the real issue isn’t just about paychecks, but about hiring practices, vetting, and, perhaps, a post-pandemic shift in work culture. As u/RoyallyOakie observed, “You can work hard and still have to live with five roommates these days. There’s less incentive to care.” The vibe? If loyalty is a two-way street, someone forgot to lay the asphalt.
The Resume Olympics: Lies, Liars, and References from Mom
It’s a tale as old as time—or at least as old as LinkedIn: resumes that sparkle with fabricated experience, references that “just happen” to be relatives (who knew Aunt Linda was the former GM of the Ritz?), and interviews that could win Oscars for best performance.
OP’s team has started playing detective, calling up properties and chatting with real employees, not just the ones listed as references. The results? Hilariously revealing. One candidate was exposed when workers at the referenced property had never even heard of her. The moral: if you’re going to fake it, at least do your homework.
As u/RedDazzlr succinctly put it, “Some people just suck.” Sometimes, that’s all the analysis you need.
Is There Hope for the Front Desk?
With all this chaos, is the front desk doomed to eternal short-staffing and creative excuses? Maybe not. OP notes that they’re “getting better during the interviews spotting the fakes,” and a few commenters share tips for sifting the gold from the gravel—like putting more effort into the interview process and not settling for “any warm body.”
But, as u/YogurtOk2555 points out, there’s a wider cultural storm brewing: “People now wanna do the bare minimum because the bare minimum is all we get back.” After years of pandemic-induced burnout and watching billionaires get richer, why should anyone go above and beyond for a job that—let’s face it—might not go above and beyond for them?
Still, for those who love hospitality, like OP and their long-time colleagues, there’s hope. Maybe the answer is better hiring, more honest conversations, and—dare we say—a little less tolerance for the over-the-top fibbers. Or, as one commenter quipped, maybe just “look out for yourself.” The front desk life isn’t for the faint of heart.
Conclusion: Your Tales (and Theories) Wanted!
So, have you survived the front desk gauntlet? Been burned by a new hire’s “emergency” or laughed at a reference check gone wrong? Or maybe you’re one of the rare unicorns who shows up, works hard, and tells the truth (if so, please apply). Share your stories and survival tips in the comments—because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that misery (and hilarity) loves company in the hotel biz.
The next time you check in, remember: behind every key card is a staffer just hoping the next new hire won’t call in “sick” from the parking lot.
What’s your wildest hiring tale? Let’s hear it!
Original Reddit Post: Fed up with new hires