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There’s a good chance that many employers and business owners shrug their shoulders in helplessness then they are told that offering housing can help retain and attract employees.

Helpless because as many people already know, affordable workforce housing in Grand County is extremely hard to find. Some would even say it’s impossible to find.

There are, however, some unlikely and unusual ways to address this housing crisis that is hurting the business climate in Grand County.

Some employers have resorted to using their own homes as places for employee housing. Is there a basement that isn’t used much? A spare bedroom in the attic? Using these spaces for employees just might be what it takes to get through a very busy crunch time.

Another source for housing can be in condominium complexes or hotels where there are many short term rentals or vacation rentals. It can pay for both property owners and management and cleaning companies to start suggesting that a few units be set aside each month for workers.

The alternative just might be dirty rooms and unhappy customers. It would be worth it to sacrifice a little bit of inventory for a lot of peace of mind.

Then there’s the tried and true tactic of begging. Yes, begging. Cleaning companies, restaurants and property management outfits should take the time to ask their clients to set aside space for workforce housing. Yes, it’s taking rentable inventory off the market, but it also helps ensure that the market with continue to thrive.

Grand Lake has declared an emergency around this issue. Steamboat Springs and other resort towns are pondering a moratorium on short terms rentals. Some companies are simply closing.

But in trying these innovative employee housing solutions, perhaps we can fend off a major collapse in the housing, rental and tourist economy the people in Grand County have come to depend upon.

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It’s the oldest saw for many employees in the business up here: ‘I came for winter but I stayed for the summer.’

Which could easily be expanded in general for many workers here: ‘I came to work but I stayed to play.’

This sums up a key element that employers, personnel managers and bosses in general might want to consider as the ponder how to keep their employees happy and on the job: Let them play.

In fact, don’t just “let” them play, make them play. In a way, almost, force them to play, or at least make it so easy for them to play that they will. And usually, once they play in the great outdoors up here in Grand County, they’ll see why so many visitors come to visit.

And perhaps they’ll realize why they should stay. And if they want to stay, they are much more likely to stay and work, too.

It may seem odd to many people but lots of workers come here to the county to work because there is attractive pay and the promise of regular work. Many don’t come to ski. Many don’t come to fish. Many don’t come to hike. They come to work.

But study after study reveals that workers who work all day and have no play become disenchanted, bored, over-worked and embittered. Those types of workers leave, adding to the already immense problem locally (and across the nation, too) of not having enough employees to hire.

What can a business owner do about this? Make play an integral part of the job by offering free “tokens” or “comps” for playing in the great outdoors that we enjoy so much here in Colorado. And perhaps give workers a four-day week so they can really enjoy these comps for play.

Many businesses here already offer free lift tickets or passes for their workers. This is a tactic that works well to create employee loyalty and satisfaction. But the free ski pass can be expanded to a wide range of other opportunities.

Why not team up with a fishing guide who needs a service offered by the business to offer free trips to employees in exchange, perhaps, for a free service or product offered by the business? These “play perks” don’t have to cost cash is the point.

What about bartering for a horse back trip for a group of employees who are in the same department? Not only would this be getting them out to play and enjoy the outdoors, it could also help to build team spirit and better office or work cohesion. It would also expose employees to something that could become a new past time or hobby. If those new past times rely particularly on being here, then there’s a better likelihood that employee will stay here.

For businesses that can’t offer a barter, perhaps they could trade in a different way. Maybe a marina could give away boat tours or trips on one of our lakes to a neighboring business’s employees. And then maybe the employees in that neighboring business could offer discounts on lunches or dinners or whatever they have to offer.

Perhaps groups of employers in Grand County create a pool of tokens for free gifts to employees of other businesses. Create a “play pool” on this web-site so people can see what’s available. Let a restaurant’s employees take advantage of these tokens, such as for a free guided fly fishing trip, in exchange for a token for a free appetizer or entrée at that restaurant.

The possibilities for these type of employee exchanges are endless.

So for those struggling employers hoping to keep their employees on the job, it pays to remember: Many workers came here to work, but they stayed to play.

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Aspiring and Established Artists beware

Fraser plans to host a 2-day Mural Arts Festival and raise money for Fraser Creative Arts Centre.

Fraser Mountain Mural Festival is proposed to be held on July 26 and 27 and feature the work of participating artists, as well as live music, food, and activities. Let your imagination run riot and add color to your favorite town of Grand County, Colorado.

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