COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC

Archived in VIURRSpace with permission from Zero Ceiling. This report documents a qualitative research project conducted between May and July 2020 by two researchers from Royal Roads University. The focus of the project was to understand more fully the Human Resource (HR) and training needs of Whist...

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Main Authors: Axe, Jo, Wilson-Mah, Rebecca
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Zero Ceiling 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf
https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23412
https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309
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spelling ftviurr:oai:viurrspace.ca:10613/23412 2023-05-15T16:17:16+02:00 COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC Axe, Jo Wilson-Mah, Rebecca 2020 application/pdf https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23412 https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309 en eng Zero Ceiling Axe, J., & Wilson-Mah, R. (2020). COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC. Zero Ceiling. https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23412 http://dx.doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309 COVID-19 British Columbia Technical Report 2020 ftviurr https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309 2020-11-14T23:12:31Z Archived in VIURRSpace with permission from Zero Ceiling. This report documents a qualitative research project conducted between May and July 2020 by two researchers from Royal Roads University. The focus of the project was to understand more fully the Human Resource (HR) and training needs of Whistler employers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. These needs were explored in the following sectors: food and beverage, retail, accommodation, and not-for-profit. The research will assist organizations in these four sectors in Whistler as they adapt and respond to the changing pandemic environment. A literature review explored several major catastrophes with an emphasis on recovery strategies. Ten recovery strategies were identified in the literature, as well as seven lessons learned. Four virtual focus groups were held with representatives from each of the four sectors; these representatives were primarily managers and owners of Whistler-based organizations. A qualitative analysis software program was used to aid in the identification of themes. The resulting themes were further analyzed to develop the findings and recommendations presented in this report. Throughout the discussions with the research participants, there were several consistent findings. The questions and findings are organized into two areas: (1) HR needs, as organizations began to open operations, and (2) professional development and training needs. With respect to HR needs, the following five needs were identified as common issues: staffing, adaptability, uncertainty, communication, and strategies for working in the COVID-19 pandemic. With regard to professional development and training needs, all sectors identified conflict resolution and difficult conversations as priorities. The report lists the training and development needs by sector for managers and owners, and staff and volunteers. The research culminated in the development of the 4C model which focusses on workplace adaptation and recovery. The research will have relevance not only to Whistler, but also to other resort communities that have an economy that is reliant on tourism and hospitality. The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the Squamish and Lílwat ̓ First Nations upon whose ancestral lands the village of Whistler is located, and the Xwsepsum and Lekwungen families upon whose lands Royal Roads University campus is situated. The researchers would like to thank the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and Zero Ceiling Society of Canada for their support in connecting the researchers with the Whistler community, and the research participants who each gave 90 minutes of time for focus group discussions. In addition, we are thankful to research assistants Karen Charlebois and Charlotte Gorley for their expertise. Report First Nations VIURRSpace (Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University) Canada British Columbia ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) Charlebois ENVELOPE(-94.072,-94.072,56.691,56.691)
institution Open Polar
collection VIURRSpace (Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University)
op_collection_id ftviurr
language English
topic COVID-19
British Columbia
spellingShingle COVID-19
British Columbia
Axe, Jo
Wilson-Mah, Rebecca
COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
topic_facet COVID-19
British Columbia
description Archived in VIURRSpace with permission from Zero Ceiling. This report documents a qualitative research project conducted between May and July 2020 by two researchers from Royal Roads University. The focus of the project was to understand more fully the Human Resource (HR) and training needs of Whistler employers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. These needs were explored in the following sectors: food and beverage, retail, accommodation, and not-for-profit. The research will assist organizations in these four sectors in Whistler as they adapt and respond to the changing pandemic environment. A literature review explored several major catastrophes with an emphasis on recovery strategies. Ten recovery strategies were identified in the literature, as well as seven lessons learned. Four virtual focus groups were held with representatives from each of the four sectors; these representatives were primarily managers and owners of Whistler-based organizations. A qualitative analysis software program was used to aid in the identification of themes. The resulting themes were further analyzed to develop the findings and recommendations presented in this report. Throughout the discussions with the research participants, there were several consistent findings. The questions and findings are organized into two areas: (1) HR needs, as organizations began to open operations, and (2) professional development and training needs. With respect to HR needs, the following five needs were identified as common issues: staffing, adaptability, uncertainty, communication, and strategies for working in the COVID-19 pandemic. With regard to professional development and training needs, all sectors identified conflict resolution and difficult conversations as priorities. The report lists the training and development needs by sector for managers and owners, and staff and volunteers. The research culminated in the development of the 4C model which focusses on workplace adaptation and recovery. The research will have relevance not only to Whistler, but also to other resort communities that have an economy that is reliant on tourism and hospitality. The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the Squamish and Lílwat ̓ First Nations upon whose ancestral lands the village of Whistler is located, and the Xwsepsum and Lekwungen families upon whose lands Royal Roads University campus is situated. The researchers would like to thank the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and Zero Ceiling Society of Canada for their support in connecting the researchers with the Whistler community, and the research participants who each gave 90 minutes of time for focus group discussions. In addition, we are thankful to research assistants Karen Charlebois and Charlotte Gorley for their expertise.
format Report
author Axe, Jo
Wilson-Mah, Rebecca
author_facet Axe, Jo
Wilson-Mah, Rebecca
author_sort Axe, Jo
title COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
title_short COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
title_full COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
title_fullStr COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC
title_sort covid-19 adaptation and recovery: human resource and training needs in whistler, bc
publisher Zero Ceiling
publishDate 2020
url https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf
https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23412
https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309
long_lat ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000)
ENVELOPE(-94.072,-94.072,56.691,56.691)
geographic Canada
British Columbia
Charlebois
geographic_facet Canada
British Columbia
Charlebois
genre First Nations
genre_facet First Nations
op_relation Axe, J., & Wilson-Mah, R. (2020). COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: Human resource and training needs in Whistler, BC. Zero Ceiling. https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf
https://zeroceiling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Royal-Roads-University-Whistler-HR-needs-Report.pdf
https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23412
http://dx.doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309
op_doi https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-15309
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