What do you think?

I've just recently gotten a new job at a cafe in St. Ives, after being unemloyed for 2 months. This new place pays fairly well (for a cafe - I'm a barista) and I get tips and free food and drinks. The bad things are I can work for up to 11 hours a day without a designated break, something which is causing me to become very fatigued, which has lead to some sickness. So now Im sick, but I still have to work, being the only real barista there.

What should I do? Stick up for my rights and walk out for half an hour, therby possibly risking my job which I really need at the moment, or just stick it out and quit complaining?

u should check what the requirements are i think its half hour every 6 hours. and then speak to management.

I think it may even be a break every four hours.

You should def. not work for 11 hours straight, no matter how much it pays!

been in the same position as you E
gotta make your break, tell the the manager you need a break and remind them
either before or after the rushes
ya only need a 15 minute break, a coffee and a bit to eat. eat to much and ya feel sick i found.
generaly the agreement is 30 mins after 5 hours work but hospitality runs by its own rules.
have u got a rubber mat to stand on otherwise u will feel real tired !

for example at large events like summer days i have done a 15 or 16 hour day without sitting down. just 5 minute food stuffing sessions. juat the way it is

how many kilos of coffee u doing in 8 hours?

you know there is only 1 or 2 real barristas in australia, its a 4 year course in Italy to become one

My god - you shouldn't have got me started, this is a huge bone of contention for me and my partner......

...I don't even work in hospitality, but my partner does. I can't believe what he puts up with all in the name of "that's how it is in hospitality". He just accepts it and thinks it's normal - and the sad part is - that it is normal:duh

* Little or no breaks (like you say)
* Working public holidays without any time in lieu or extra $$
* Working longer than average days
* Dodgey payment systems (ie part cash/no super/no timesheets/no records!!)
* Unfair dismissalls (sackings) at their whim
* having to make up your week if you do take a sick day (ie to pay back the guy that filled in for you)

AAAGGGGHHHH (insert angry little icon waving it's fist and blurting expletives - he's missing from my selection).

And being behind the scenes (ie chef/kitchen) he doesn't see any of the tips.

So in answer to your question - nothing will change until people do start standing up for and demanding their rights. My response is - take your half an hour (or whatever it is). Try not to just 'walk out' - but make the arrangements in advance (ie - ask "what time can i have my break today). If your boss says "but there is no one to cover" - then just ask him/her straight out - do you expect me to work without a break?? If necessary, explain how it is actually effecting your health.

Unless you are on some sort of dodgey employment deal (ie off the books - or casual), they can;t sack you for demanding your break (but they can and will try if it doesn't suit them). But again, this will only change if people stand up for themselves.

....Any hospitality owners/management out there - get your act together and stop treating your staff like SH*T. Yes, that's right - SH*T!! If you can't afford it to hire extra staff, or pay your staff what they deserve in the first place, then you cannot afford to run your business and stop expecting your staff to cover your downfalls. It's exploitation, and like you said E, you will consider putting up with it because you need your job.

Employees of hospitality - unite - fight the good fight...:vader hopefully some positive 😠changes will be made...

I meant to add to my previous post....

My little address to employers (to get their act together) does not apply to any employer that does treat and pay their staff correctly. You would be a rare breed (in hospitality that is) and I would say good on you....
:kiss

I don't think your health is worth risking by working long hours in the long run you will end up losing out more by needing to take time off to recover. Does the hospitality industry have a union you can talk to in regards to your rights?

SKEWtYpe3 wrote:for example at large events like summer days i have done a 15 or 16 hour day without sitting down. just 5 minute food stuffing sessions. juat the way it is

This is not directed at you specifically Skewtype3 - but why is it 'JUST THE WAY IT IS'??

Why can/does hospitality run by it's own rules. NO other industry gets away with treating it's staff they way hospitality does.

does anyone have any theories behind this??? I think this industry seriously needs looking into in that regard. Does anyone else feel the same??

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so true.. chefs/baristas/waiters/kitchenhands/hospitality people alike get it pretty bad and there's not much they can do except find a better job

he he.
welcome to the hospitality industry.
I was a chef for 10 years before I was smart enough to give it away.
55+ hour weeks for 38 hours pay is the way it is.
designated breaks? only if you do a split shift.
forget about public holidays.
forget about a social life outside of work.


good luck with the new job though.
you'll eventually get used to the hours.

Someone i know replied to an ad in the paper for a "Full time Cafe manager". Goes for the interview. Gets the job.

Can't remember if this was explained at the interview - or when actually started - but....

Find out - that it's NOT full time. it's actually casual and full time hours cannot be guaranteed. So - it was casual - but not at casual rate. At a full time rate - divided by how many hours you did :duh

Then - part on the books, part off the books - with a dodgey envelope scrawled as a timesheet each week - but no record of super paid or tax paid.

Howz that???? i reckon it sucks.

It could all come back to "fool" for accepting this - but like everyone is saying "that's how it is in hospitality". but I just want to know WHY???

You should still be working to award rates so I believe you would be under HMAA rules which states 30 mins after 6 hours and any time past that 6 hours without a break must be paid at a higher rate. Your boss will be breaking the law if this is the case. Get in touch with the LHMU or go to their website ......www.lhmu.org.au
Bazza

You shouldnt be doing that many hours without a break!! I was reading my mums union book and it said employees are allowed to have half an hour to every 5.5 hours (i think), unless the employee chooses not too! but then again like everyone said 'hospitality makes it own rules' which is crap!!!

I worked long hours last year, which i wasnt used to and also got sick and ended up spending the next 2 and a half months in bed, and still not 100% now!! Your health is very important and you shouldnt be risking it!!

I worked in the hospitality industry once when i was 17 and was paid $4.20 an hour and I worked bloody hard that according to the owner was the casual wage and being my first job wouldn't dare question rates of pay. I found out two weeks into the job that the girl 2 years younger than me was getting paid more I soon gave that job the ass but not after two weeks of working like I was in a sweat shop. I honestly don't know how people do it. I now work in health care and I know people complain that we don't get paid enough but I wouldn't swap what i do to go back to hospitality rates of pay it's a joke and obviously the union aren't much better to allow this to happen

i used to work (many many moons ago) in hosp. And had a great boss. Worked really long hours...like 5pm to 3.00am for $60.00 plus tips...sometimes up to $100/nite

And my family owned a restuarant...we had all worked hosp, so we knew what it could be like...

So we made the staff take their break after 5 hours...even sitting them down and making them eat like they were part of the clientele...we figured we just could not afford for them to NOT be taking their breaks...They could choose from menu, or ask chef for something different...(he was great...so long as we had ingredients he'd cook it...he loved changes to menu)

But we organised it that it was in the 'non-peak' times.

We went into work, set up food (slice dice etc) and then got them to eat before major rush came....usually about 6.00pm...we could all then work until 11.00pm, but we would make them take a rest (& light food) at that point...before clean up...

Fuuny part was when ppl who were regulars would coem late and ask if they could have some 'finger food'...(which we ended up adding into menu later..)

If we were open until really late (parties), then we would get them to take another dinner break (cooks first...)...usually whilst waiter/waitresses set up for desserts/coffees and continue from there (waiter/waitresses next).

in addition, the tips are dividy up..50/50...that is, cooking staff also get 50% of tips....without good food, wait staff woudl nto be getting tips...

we also made them have SUPER...paid TAX (hey, i used to work for TAX, so i made sure my family were all honest in this area...plus my dad was tax accountant...so everyoen had to comply) they were also given 10 days off each year...5 were family days..5 sick. Rules were clearly advised of at interview...then applicants given option to continue...

Most of grunt work was done by family...not our staff.

Never had staff complain...i think the fact we had worked in industry...and thought about all the things our bosses did to that we liked/disliked...well, it meant u had different perspective to 'just industry'

We had great staff, happy as...all healthy...most never even used sick days..they did use the family days...which was ok...

And if they ever turned up looking seedy and unwell...we sent them straight home...or took them home if no transport..

only reason we gave it up was because my brother and his wife were injured, and surgery took it out of them...(they had two businesses) so we closed rest...and kept other business going.

When we think we've found another good project again, we will head back into it again.

so hope ti helps...there are legitimate businesses out there...who do take care of it's staff..even the chefs and cooks

Hey, according to the government employment rules and conduct, you are elegible for a 30 minute break every 4 hours.

Therefore, your getting screwed and the cafe is breaking the legal conduct.

Man, your health is worth more than money. Whats the use earning it if it has to be wasted on doctors, drugs etc.

I use to work in a resturant/cafe, (terrible place in which I shall not name, according to the aussieveedubbers rules) and the hospitality idustry in my opinion sux.

The retail industry is so much better. Anyways, there are heaps of better jobs out there besides being a cafe slave, you just need to find them.

(This is a 16 year old trying to sound wise, phhh!)

stick it out and quit complaining.. breaks are for whimps!

I was working approx 13 hour days with only 1hr break for 6 months !! I would work from 8-4:30 in housekeeping and 5-10 or 11 (or sometimes even later) waitressing! This was my choice though so I didn't complain to much I just wanted the $$.

Worst thing was it was on an island and therefore "off shore agreement" -government had no legislation on employment conditions == No overtime doh!

Definitely not worth it on your body - I finished in December and I'm only just starting to look for another job now.

I'd definitely voice your concerns to your boss or starting looking for another job asap! You are being shafted!@

Yeh, ive been in the retail industry for 3 years, and that was a much more enjoyable job. Thanks for the support guys, I know that almost everyone in this industry gets shafted. The only thing that is keeping me back is that I am a casual, so they can just let me go without any concern, though being the only barista, thats not likely to happen. I think Ill voice it tommorrow when i go back.

Good luck E, I hope they see reason. Your health is worth more than money any day.

Keep us informed of the response....Good luck...

If you bend over and hold your cheeks apart, do not complain about being screwed!
talk to your boss and explain what you require. If he is a prick about it then who wants to work for a PRICK. Lincoln freed the slaves maybe you should try it. Your boss probably drives a trendy sports car and multipule real estate investments and a nice share portfolio from your sweat and unpaid breaks.
Dead people don't need jobs. Your health comes first.

ive actually done quite well in the hospitality field. my bosses have been quite nice most of the time, with my current boss being an absolute gem. i work for an agency where we are hired out to places all round wollondilly and wingecarribee shires where we wait tables, bartend, and we also hire ourselves out as a group for functions ie weddings. breaks are good, we get time to eat, smoke, refresh etc.

but i do know what its like to get shafted in this biz dude, fight the power! one love!

hows it going?

why is it just this way - my idea is that when u have a good boss and takes care of you maybe not with breaks as there is no chance but by taking you out after work etc then you understand they appreciate you.
you dont generaly know this till you start the job, then u find out they are pricks.
i have an awesome job in a bar in the city at the moment, hoping to stay there for ages, great pay, boss takes us out (2 of us) breaks on thurs, fri, sat but not on maonday or sunday when i have the bar to myself, but i dont mind as he is a great boss. plus they are cruzy nites and i have japanese next door - big adventage
how did i get this job, by being drunk in this guys bar and asking for a job 🙂
just ask around at other places, stick it out till another cae u like the look of says yes.......

blah blah blah..................

try less days making coffees and do some staffing work like KK or join a function company.
used to work for a function company, had good food, breakes and took home red wine every nite 🙂