Springboard must go beyond a week
A recent report published in the British Medical Journal suggested that people who know that they are susceptible to a certain disease don't automatically take steps to prevent its occurrence. Quite the opposite, in fact. Chronic bronchitis sufferers sneak out of their hospital clinics for a crafty cigarette. "Too late to change now," they say. Heart attack victims go home and continue to consume a diet of fried eggs, chips and beer.
A survey conducted by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund found that seven out of 10 people believe that getting a sun tan presents a health risk, and yet the same number believe that a tan looks healthy and will lie in the sun to get one. If that's not bad enough, 14% said that they would still try and get a tan even after a skin cancer scare.
Problems with recruitment are hospitality's health scare, and yet operators persist in ignoring the causes (while moaning about the symptoms). They cough loudly while disregarding medical advice.
This was obvious from recent research into conditions experienced by live-in staff in the industry, released by Portfolio International at the start of the Springboard UK Careers Festival last week (Caterer, 18 October, page 5). The real-life horror stories in the report might have formed part of the Blair Witch Project, but still some operators can't seem to make the connection: poor conditions of service contribute to the skills shortage.
The third annual Careers Festival has seen companies all over the UK demonstrate the attractions of working in hospitality (see page 24, this week). And let's face it, the industry is more attractive than it was 10 years ago. A greater understanding of staff motivation, better training and legislation such as the minimum wage and the Working Time Directive have combined to improve the lot of the average hospitality employee.
But the long-term battle to attract staff is obviously far from being over. Despite the current short-term employment setbacks experienced in some industries because of the so-called "softening" economy, overall, the number of people on the jobless register in the UK has not yet risen. It is therefore vital that a multi-levelled campaign to attract skilled staff into hospitality continues. After all, the number of unfilled vacancies in the industry remains high and catering college rolls continue to fall.
Clearly, Springboard's mission remains as valid today as it was four years ago. So it is extremely frustrating, not only for Springboard but for everyone who has the best interests of the industry at heart, to see that support for a better industry "image" can be so patchy. Despite loud proclamation and acceptance of the message that "things must improve and be seen to improve", some companies continue to torpedo the boat with poor conditions of service. Careers Festival chairman Guy Hands is right when he says that such firms should be named and shamed, as they do nothing but undermine the progress of others.
Congratulations to all those individuals and companies that got involved in the Careers Festival this year, but don't forget, it isn't just a one-week, high-profile publicity event - it has to represent an on-going, all-year-round attitude. It won't do any good if some firms continue to sneak off and do things that contradict what the doctor has clearly ordered.
