Gasthof Löwen in Hausen am Albis ZH is by far the largest restaurant in the region. Aslan writes on his website that he has been hosting guests here for nearly 200 years. But right now, anyone who throws a birthday party in the Löwen wine cellar, holds a wedding dinner in the great hall, or invites people to an aperitif in Löwenbar is out of luck: the restaurant has been closed for two months.
“Working with us is exhausting, I want to give the team a break,” says Joëlle Apter, 46, general manager and owner of Lion. Important point: your 20 permanent employees will receive full pay during the two months of vacation. “People were so happy, some of them booked flights to Thailand right away,” Apter says.
Lack of skilled workers is the mother of invention
For the first time, Löwen closed for the winter and sent employees on paid leave. This symbolizes the change in business: employees are no longer willing to work until they quit. A shortage of skilled workers works for them: companies depend on staff, not vice versa.
“But we don’t have a shortage of skilled workers,” says gastro entrepreneur Apter. Paid company holidays are not a fire drill for attracting new staff. Instead, they adapt to an appreciative company culture. “The rumors will spread,” Apter was convinced.
During the summer, employees at Löwen buy a season ticket to the nearby Türlersee so they can use their room hours for swimming. Other catering businesses give their employees fitness subscriptions or kick off the four-day week.
Apter believes the change has gone far beyond the catering industry. The graduating biologist was formerly an IT entrepreneur and today runs several other companies alongside the lion, including a company for DNA origin analysis.
Given the record low unemployment rate of 2.2 percent, it’s not surprising that companies are increasingly making concessions to their employees. If you do not continue, you will lose in the search for personnel.
Customers respond positively
Sending your employees on long vacations already makes sense, Apter thinks: “People come back rested.” They also need energy – the high season in Löwen starts in March. It lasts until December.
In addition to the restaurant, wine cellar, several lounges and bars, Lion also operates a large beer garden in the summer and a park pub nearby. Operations continue seven days a week. Last year, Löwen hosted more than 250 banquets, and the à la carte restaurant is often fully booked on weekends.
Apter promises employees won’t have to work the rest of the year after two months of company vacation. During this period, employees are also entitled to paid leave.
Gone are the customers standing in front of closed doors now. “There are guests who miss us already,” Apter says. But the majority understands the long break. This is also illustrated by the dozens of comments below a Facebook post about the restaurant’s shutdown. “What a wonderful and exemplary appreciation for your staff, bravo,” someone writes. Another comment: “Enjoy your well-deserved break!”
Dear readers, have you received a generous offer from your company or boss, as in Löwen? Please write in the comments below.