While most of the publicity about "tight" labor move around. The turnover in her stores and the markets usually revolves around systems stores of many of their competitors is often 400% engineers, nurses, and chemical engineers, some per year. The problem. Mary says. is maddening: of the tightest markets are often found in some "On the one hand, the quality of our service surprising places. For example, if you were to ask depends on the skills of the cleaner-spotters, Mary the head of her family's six-store pressers, and counter staff. People come to us for chain of dry-cleaning stores, what the main our ability to return their clothes to them problem was in running their firm, the answer spotless and crisply pressed. On the other hand, would be quick and short: hiring good people. profit margins are thin and we've got to keep our The typical dry-cleaning store is heavily stores running, so I'm happy just to be able to dependent on hiring good managers, cleaner- round up enough live applicants to be able to spotters, and pressers. Employees generally have keep my stores fully manned." no more than a high-school education (many have less), and the market is very competitive. Over a typical weekend, literally dozens of want QUESTIONS ads for cleaner-spotters or pressers can be found 1. Provide a detailed list of recommendations in area newspapers. These people are generally concerning how Mary should go about paid about $8 an hour, and they change jobs increasing the number of acceptable job frequently. applicants, so that her company need no Why so much difficulty finding good help? longer hire just about anyone who walks in The work is hot and uncomfortable; the hours the door. Specifically, your recommenda- are often long; the pay is often the same or less tions should include: than the typical applicant could earn working in an air-conditioned environment, and the fringe rded cinssills benefits are usually nonexistent, unless you Recommendations concerning any count getting your clothes cleaned for free. other recruiting strategies you would Complicating the problem is the fact that suggest she use Mary and other cleaners are usually faced with 2. What practical suggestions could you make the continuing task of recruiting and hiring that might help reduce turnover and make qualified workers out of a pool of individuals the stores an attractive place in which to who are almost nomadic in their propensity to work, thereby reducing recruiting problems