Luxury Hotel Caters
to Its Employees 

Many people know the Mandarin Oriental on Miami’s Brickell Key as a hotel that pampers its guests.

What most people don’t realize is that this international hotel chain takes an equal amount of pride in treating its workforce just as well.

The Mandarin reaches out to its Miami employees through a benefits fair, monthly orientations and one-on-one sessions with financial advisors. The diverse strategy helps the luxury hotel keep its turnover low, says Mirta Brawn, the Mandarin’s benefits manager since it opened in 2005.

“We treat everybody as if they’re family. It’s all about respect,” Brawn says.

Here’s how the Mandarin maintains good employee relations:

Benefits Fair

Every year, the hotel hosts a benefits fair for its more than 530-member staff. Employees are treated massages, health screenings and tips on how to maximize their income.

Monthly Benefits Orientation

These monthly meetings are mandatory for new staff. However, current staff members are encouraged to attend if they need a refresher on what benefits are available through the hotel. The Mandarin covers 80 percent of their employee’s heath insurance costs. This also includes family coverage.

Commuter Services

The hotel has teamed up with South Florida Commuter Services to help employees using public transportation get to work on time. Since the public bus system didn’t have a stop on Brickell Key, the hotel and other employers on the island worked with the Commuter Services to set up a shuttle from the nearest MetroMover stop.

Discounts and Events

The Mandarin Oriental treats its employees to four staff only parties and events during the year. The hotel gives out cash prizes and raffles off gifts like plasma TVs. The staff also receives a 50 percent discount on gifts and services available through the hotel.

Access to Financial Advisors

Each month, financial advisors are made available to the Mandarin employees. Brawn says these sessions, available in English, Spanish and Creole, help the staff better understand their investment options, tax issues and building a savings account.

Tax Information

During tax season, employees receive notices about where they can get their taxes done and available benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.