Marina Dock Age, March 2002

Successfully Competing for Employees in the Marketplace
by Dennis P. Kissman

We were recently asked by one of our clients to compare the rates of pay for various positions at his marina to similar positions at other marinas in the area. This sounds like a reasonable request, but there is a major flaw in this approach. It has been our experience that many marinas underpay their employees. The hourly rate does not represent what is paid for positions requiring similar skills in other industries.

Many marina owners feel they offer a unique working environment, and it is a privilege to be able to work in a marina.

They also believe that privilege should cost the employee lower than competitive pay rates. Marina owners who feel this way need to refocus.

I think it is fair to say that every good employee has skills that give them value in the workplace. If someone has mastered the skill to properly dispense fuel and deal with customers, does it matter whether that person is working in a service station or at a marina’s fuel dock? The answer is “no.” This is the exact reason why comparing the wage rates paid at one marina to those of another is only part of the equation. For a marina to compete in the marketplace for quality employees you must compare the skills required for your position with positions requiring similar skills in other industries.

When I talk to marina owners about this problem they inevitability bring up how loyal their employees are to the marina and to them as owner. Any marina owner who relies on loyalty to keep their organization intact is taking a big risk of losing more than just employees. Remember a marina is in the service business and a service business relies on its people. A frequent change of personnel will reduce the level of service.  

Now the question is how does one go about comparing marina jobs with other industries to see that the marina is paying competitive wages? Paying competitive wages will reduce the risk of employee turnover and, more importantly, involuntary profit sharing. Continue »