By Denis Sheehan
Yet again, hospitality is hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons, through the actions of high profile industry names deterring people from entering an industry that so desperately needs them.
The people and skills shortages in hospitality are fuelled by a multitude of contributing factors, the most embedded being the industry’s reputation as a poor employer. Poor in terms of renumeration and conditions of employment.
The focus on the problem in terms of bad press has never been more visible, and the need to rectify more urgent. Yet, the same mistakes continue being made and as such government has stepped in introducing new laws to counter them.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is set to announce rules to stop hospitality businesses keeping the whole, or part of the service charge customers pay. This will see a complete ban on taking tips intended for staff come into force ending unscrupulous HR policy in the hospitality industry.
The government’s action follows complaints aired through the media of low pay and morale causing severe people and skills shortages across hospitality, that make up a substantial proportion of the nation’s record job vacancies.
Job vacancies in hospitality in London have risen by 60% in the past year due to the combined impact of Brexit and the pandemic. Applications are scarce and as such the government has decided to act.
New laws will ensure that circa 1.7 million people working in restaurants, pubs, hotels and cafes will be legally entitled to 100% of tips. A government spokesperson commented saying: ‘Workers going above and beyond for their customers can now rest assured that their hard-earned tips will be going directly in their pockets and nobody else’s.
‘We’re putting an end to dodgy tipping practices and making sure that hard work pays off.
Businesses named and shamed in recent months for syphoning tips away from the people diners intended them for include… Pizza Express, River Cafe, Prezzo, Zizzi and many more.
The government have responded to intense lobbying from the Unite Union on behalf of their members. Well done the Unite Union, and well done government.
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News from the hospitality and catering industry is also being featured extensively in our Facebook and twitter social media accounts with the opportunity to engage with others in hospitality and share your views.
Hospitality & Catering News: Hospitality’s recidivism forces government to act. – 20 September 2021 – Hospitality’s recidivism forces government to act.
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