Work Ethic Queried

Walling Whittaker	Hon Roy Bodden

by Brian Buckley

Friday, July 9, 2004

At the recent Career Fair sponsored by Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Employment Relations Director Walling Whittaker addressed the crowd of jobseekers, citing his Department’s findings that most employers primarily seek a positive work attitude above all else from applicants.

“In 2003 the Department of Employment Relations (DER) surveyed 277 employers in the Cayman Islands. Sixty-five percent of those employers told us that the most important thing they were looking for were not skills, not necessarily experience, but most importantly a positive attitude toward work,” he told the crowd.

The findings of his department’s survey indicate a fundamental paradigm shift in the field of employment, according to Mr Whittaker. “Employers are now requiring a good attitude from their workers. The employers are then willing to train those applicants with healthy attitudes and give them jobs,” he said.

Besides a positive work attitude, Mr Whittaker said the traits that employers are seeking also include a solid work ethic, dependability, communication skills, and willingness and ability to work as a team player.

Mr Whittaker stressed that the DER is ready for the increase of available jobs due to the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, which is scheduled to occur in December. “We have known all along that the Ritz-Carlton would require a substantial effort on our behalf. We have been assured that Caymanians will get first access to all of these job openings,” he said.

While Caymanians will be given priority for positions at the Ritz-Carlton, Mr Whittaker indicated that they would still have show the right attitude for the job. “I want to stress to Caymanians the importance of this positive work ethic that the Ritz will be looking for.” He said remained confident that Caymanians would be able to display the attitude standards when they apply for positions.

Mr Whittaker said he found the intersection of his department’s survey and the timing of the Ritz’s opening as a wonderful coincidence. “This career fair today is actually the best example of the paradigm shift. The Ritz is all about presenting a positive attitude.”

The Minister for Human Resources, the Hon Roy Bodden, offered advice to those that are hired by The Ritz-Carlton. “Smile an inch wider for each guest that you meet, so that each guest will not just leave, but will leave with a pledge to come again and again. This will be the best guarantee of your future and your family’s future,” he said.

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