News
THE KITCHEN PORTER – AN ENDANGERED SPECIES Staffing headaches are expected to increase for hoteliers as over 3,000 new hotel bedrooms become available and minimum wage is increased again this year. For a large number of businesses, the biggest struggle is trying to recruit kitchen porters. This difficulty is set to continue unless employers start to think seriously about the pay rate for this vital member of the kitchen team, according to Shane Mclave, Excel Recruitment Director. “Nearly all of the hotel and catering teams that contributed to Excel Recruitment’s 2020 Hotel and Catering salary survey noted that when pay rates for junior staff were brought 30-50 cent above minimum wage, staff turnover slowed significantly.” The report found that 2019 saw unprecedented demand for staff in several areas across the hospitality industry, some of which have never before been seen as supply-challenged. The employment market is driven by candidates, with jobseekers securing multiple interviews and job offers before making a decision. “One of the most common questions that we get from candidates is ‘What are the benefits?’ Taxsaver commuter tickets and bike to work schemes and meals and uniforms provided by the employer are standard for many jobseekers. Candidates are comfortable pushing to get as good a deal as possible before accepting new offers.”
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CATERING REVIEW | ISSUE 1 2020
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17/01/2020 09:13