Ski Industry Faces Labor Headaches

[aveski2000]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071001/nne_ski_workers.html?.v=1

 

[marcski]

tough time for ski resorts to find employees>??

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071001/nne_ski_workers.html?.v=1

Interesting article right on Yahoo's home page!

 

[Hawkshot99]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/18130-ski-industry-faces-labor-headaches.html

 

[tjf67]

thats funny. The spokesman for Vermont where much of the economics are based on skiing does not where the bills stand. yeah good luck

 

[snoseek]

i would personally pay more $$$ to know that resort employees could actually make a modest living. Maybe wouldn't have to ship so many in.

 

[mlctvt]

i would personally pay more $$$ to know that resort employees could actually make a modest living. Maybe wouldn't have to ship so many in.

Me too.
The resorts all say they hire the foreign workers to fill positions few domestic workers like but the reality is who would stand out in the cold operating a lift for minimum wage? I doubt the foreign workers are even making minimum wage but I could be wrong. Does anyone know what kind of compensation packages are offered to these workers? I was having a conversation with one of the guest workers at Mount Snow last year (after hours not when he was on duty) when I asked him if they were “paid well enough” he said no.

 

[snoseek]

Me too.
The resorts all say they hire the foreign workers to fill positions few domestic workers like but the reality is who would stand out in the cold operating a lift for minimum wage? I doubt the foreign workers are even making minimum wage but I could be wrong. Does anyone know what kind of compensation packages are offered to these workers? I was having a conversation with one of the guest workers at Mount Snow last year (after hours not when he was on duty) when I asked him if they were “paid well enough” he said no.

often the foreign workers will be able to secure cheap housing (sometimes form the resort), bank 1/2 their money (above minimum wage, but still very low) and bring money home to their home country (think slovakia or jamacia) and take the rest of the year off. i know guys that have done this for years in seasonal gigs. maybe a weaker dollar will have an impact, i know little about economics.

 

[threecy]

i would personally pay more $$$ to know that resort employees could actually make a modest living. Maybe wouldn't have to ship so many in.

If you mean all resort employees, then you'd be paying a lot more $$$.

A few issues.

1) There isn't enough money to raise most of the wages to a 'living wage'

2) Many of the jobs are, all said and done, very simplistic. Even if the wages were good, the work itself is not something one would make a career out of.

3) There isn't enough money to give every worker (esp. the part time and/or seasonal jobs) health/dental/retirement benefits.

4) The jobs are seasonal. While many in the industry either have summer jobs or collect unemployment, carrying two season jobs results in a lot of risk. There isn't much that can be done, either, to create year round positions for a large bulk of ski area jobs.


It's going to take major changes in the overall structure of the industry to ever make it a place to make a career for those who aren't in upper management. There's a reason working in the industry is called 'taking a vow of poverty'

 

[snoseek]

If you mean all resort employees, then you'd be paying a lot more $$$.

A few issues.

1) There isn't enough money to raise most of the wages to a 'living wage'

2) Many of the jobs are, all said and done, very simplistic. Even if the wages were good, the work itself is not something one would make a career out of.

3) There isn't enough money to give every worker (esp. the part time and/or seasonal jobs) health/dental/retirement benefits.

4) The jobs are seasonal. While many in the industry either have summer jobs or collect unemployment, carrying two season jobs results in a lot of risk. There isn't much that can be done, either, to create year round positions for a large bulk of ski area jobs.


It's going to take major changes in the overall structure of the industry to ever make it a place to make a career for those who aren't in upper management. There's a reason working in the industry is called 'taking a vow of poverty'

not really talking about careers. just an overall better wage for hourly workers.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Just so you know the minimum wage in Vermont is $7.53 and it goes up every Jan 1st, 5% so this Jan 1st it will be almost $8. Most resorts pay better than minimum wage to start. At the Bush and I assume others, fulltime SEASONAL workers can sign up for health insurance benefits.

 

[mattchuck2]

Wages in resorts should definitely be higher . . .

In Europe, they're able to pay "living wages" to everyone that works at mountains . . .

The problem over here is that ski areas have to pay for ridiculous lawsuits that CRUSH their bottom lines.

 

[ccskier]

As long as they have lift operators/attendants that is fine with me.

 

[threecy]

not really talking about careers. just an overall better wage for hourly workers.

It's tough to get good help if they can't make a living out of it.

 

[threecy]

Most resorts pay better than minimum wage to start.

For most of those who do pay better than minimum to start, it's only cents more.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

But take into account the free season pass and other perks and the meager wage isn't so bad..

 

[threecy]

But take into account the free season pass and other perks and the meager wage isn't so bad..

Take into account that a lot of industry employees end up working so much that they can't use the season pass

 

[marcski]

Wages in resorts should definitely be higher . . .

In Europe, they're able to pay "living wages" to everyone that works at mountains . . .

The problem over here is that ski areas have to pay for ridiculous lawsuits that CRUSH their bottom lines.

You know this is really a misconception. First off, its the insurance premiums that the resorts pay, they don't pay out for recoveries. 2ndly, if you look at the hard numbers of the amounts of monies actually recovered by plaintiffs compared to the insurance companies profits...You'd be quite surprised. The insurance companies are the only ones that are making money. Unless there is a case where you get run over by a snowmobile, or they leave something unprotected around a blind curve...most lawsuits against ski areas get dismissed.

 

[Hawkshot99]

You know this is really a misconception. First off, its the insurance premiums that the resorts pay, they don't pay out for recoveries. 2ndly, if you look at the hard numbers of the amounts of monies actually recovered by plaintiffs compared to the insurance companies profits...You'd be quite surprised. The insurance companies are the only ones that are making money. Unless there is a case where you get run over by a snowmobile, or they leave something unprotected around a blind curve...most lawsuits against ski areas get dismissed.

Yes but there are lots of lawyer fees to get them dismissed.

 

[marcski]

Yes but there are lots of lawyer fees to get them dismissed.

Yes, but again, the insurance company pays the defense costs....

 

[ski_resort_observer]

For most of those who do pay better than minimum to start, it's only cents more.

Like which resorts in particular?