Easing a hygiene training headache
It is impossible to train my casual waiting staff to the basic hygiene standard. First, they don't work regular hours and so it is difficult to get them together for a training programme. Second, they want to be paid for the training time. Third, I have got such a high staff turnover that it is a never-ending task. Have you got any advice?
I am pleased to see that you recognise the need for your staff to achieve a hygiene qualification. To answer your three points: First, try dividing the hygiene training up into short sessions that can be run over a longer period. At Chartwells, we use a package consisting of 17 10-minute sessions. You could then organise the sessions to match the times your staff work.
Second, you may be able to avoid extra payment if you run short sessions. But, you should stress the benefits of them gaining a qualification as they may then be more prepared to be flexible on timing.
Third, consider ways of building a regular team through developing them so that they feel more committed to the job.
I am a tenant with a runover rent lease and I pay 13% of turnover as rent. Trade has been bad, the premises need a refit and the landlord is pressing me to do it. Do I have to? If I do, am I entitled to any allowance against the rent?
To begin with, the 13% you pay is on the high side unless the premises were let to you fully furnished and fitted. About 10-11% would be nearer the mark.
The basic rent provision in your lease will insulate the landlord against the effects of falling turnover but leave you with a problem. If the premises were let fully furnished, you will most likely have an obligation to renew and replace.
In any event, most runover rent leases oblige the tenant periodically to refit and upgrade to a standard consistent with the market position of the premises at the time of the lease. However, if your lease says nothing, you may not have to do anything. If your landlord is worried about flat turnover and the possible long-term effects on his investment, you may be able to agree a reduction in the turnover percentage in return for a commitment on your part to invest.
We have taken part in several local Chamber of Commerce projects to make the town look attractive, but we would like to go further than putting a few flower tubs outside the hotel. What else could a 10-bedroom, high-street hotel do to improve the local environment?
There are many ways you can help. Contact your local Groundwork Trust (a nationwide initiative set up by the Government), schools and colleges to find out what their environmental programmes are.
You and your colleagues at the chamber could tackle waste collectively. For example, each of your businesses generates waste paper that could be recycled if you had sufficient to interest a contractor. If, however, you transferred your recyclable paper to one location, you probably could generate enough. You shouldn't have to pay anything and you will reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill.
On a recent search for a supplier to provide a weighing machine, I came across a manufacturer who said that his company had quality assurance systems in place. I asked him what he meant by quality assurance but his answer was vague. Can you help?
In this case, quality assurance can be defined as "all activities the supplier performs in producing the weighing scales are done with quality in mind". In other words, controls are in place to ensure the supplier gets it right first time and that no defective products are made.
The most well-known quality assurance programme is BS5750. It is documented and is subject to formal reviews and audits by external inspectors.
