My son is being bullied at a top restaurant

Question

My son is employed by a well-known chef in one of his restaurants and I have a few concerns. Is it normal for a commis chef to be working 17 hours a day with no breaks? Is this legal? Also, how much verbal abuse and bullying should he put up with?

What the expert says

Michael Moor, managing director, Chef Centre

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Young chefs training in top restaurants can face long hours, because often only labour-intensive outlets can achieve top accolades. It is generally believed that if you can cope with such demands you will emerge the better for it. Contracts of employment may be worded "until the requested work is finished", but if your son wishes to reduce his hours there are plenty of very good restaurants and hotels operating fewer shifts, although his eventual aims and ambitions must be carefully weighed against this. Verbal abuse and bullying are unacceptable. If his boss won't do anything about it, your son should move on. The fact that he has successfully held a post at such a place would normally be in his favour and such a reason for leaving would be viewed sympathetically by future employers.