A preliminary cross-cultural study of occupational community dimensions and hotel work

Abstract

Whilst cultural variables are likely to have an important bearing on the attitudes and behaviour of hotel employees, anecdotally, a pan-industrial work orientation has also been long advocated as key in the formation of worker attitudes and behaviour. This study sought to identify and establish the extent to which this occupational view of work exists amongst employees in a number of international hotels based in Greece, Australia, St. Lucia and Britain. Using a survey approach with questions derived from earlier related studies, occupational communities were discovered in all hotels. The findings have significant implications for the recruitment and management of existing hotel workers as the occupational perspective challenges cultural notions of employee motivations and subsequent performance.