Staff say they get a raw deal on pay

Users of Caterer & Hotelkeeper's Web site, caterer.com, think staff in the hospitality industry are underpaid.

In an interactive poll featured on the Web site, 86% of respondents said employees were getting a raw deal. Only 14% thought pay was adequate.

One food and beverage manager commented: "As a graduate, it upsets me to see my peers outside the industry on higher wages, while due to my love of catering I am earning the same as unskilled individuals with a lower educational level.

"During the past year the hotel I have been working at has seen three middle-management staff members leave for a job outside catering. The most common reason has been low pay and poor working conditions.

"Catering is slowly improving, with more and more employers realising that to gain and retain good staff they have to improve their pay and conditions.

"Unfortunately, this may not be fast enough to prevent losing more skilled workers."

The poll ran from 13-20 December 2000.