"I feel that I do a lot of work for not very much money," says Femke (35). ‘Since I was 28, my salary in various roles with different employers has only increased by 30 euros.’
It’s easy to guess that Femke works in hospitality. As a pastry chef, she is in charge of the bakery in a restaurant. ‘I bake the bread, the pastries, and make the desserts for the restaurant. I have eleven years of experience as a chef and three years as a pastry chef.’
Femke holds the necessary diplomas in social hygiene and emergency response and is qualified to act as a mentor for trainee chefs. She currently earns 1,970 euros gross and is allowed to spend 50 euros per month on Your career. ‘That can be anything as long as it’s related to food.’ Femke has a six-month contract, which will soon be extended. Is there more in store?
Register of Reference Functions in Hospitality
Jacco van den Berg: ‘Since this year, hospitality has a new CLA, and it can be easily found online. In this CLA, it has been agreed that salaries will increase by 1 percent on 1 July 2018 and 2019. These salary increases already offer you more than those of the past seven years.
You feel that you work a lot for not very much money. With the help of the Register of Reference Functions in Hospitality, you can substantiate your feeling further. In this register, you’ll find the information and tools to classify your role within the hospitality CLA’s group system. If you can’t figure it out, you can contact SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid hospitality). Based on the information received, it’s difficult for me to determine which group your role is classified in. If it’s in scale 6 or 7, there’s still room for growth. After 11 years of experience in hospitality in various roles, you are quite skilled.
My advice is to consult the hospitality CLA, the register, your payslip, and employment contract. Then, during the conversation when your contract is extended, present a well-substantiated salary request. By the way, what is the reason your contract isn’t being converted into a permanent one? You independently run the bakery and have a good position in the restaurant, and it seems you deserve to earn more than you currently do.’
Job Satisfaction
Maud Schaapveld, Berenschot: ‘Working in the hospitality industry often means working long hours, for low pay, and under high pressure. You also wonder if you earn enough. Given the number of years of work experience and the minimal salary increase you’ve received in recent years, I understand why you’re asking this question.
The salary you receive isn’t unusual, but it is somewhat at the lower end of what we typically encounter for such roles. We see in the market that a salary between 1,900 and 2,300 euros is common. This excludes variable rewards like tips, which can significantly increase in the hospitality sector.
The monthly allowance you receive to spend on your own Your career stands out positively. Both in practice and in scientific research, it appears that not only salary is an important aspect of job satisfaction, but also Your career opportunities, appreciation, and autonomy are important.
Nevertheless, I advise you to have a conversation with your manager and ask about the possibilities for a salary increase.’
Sample Letters
Marco Bouma, union representative FNV hospitality: ‘Femke works as a pastry chef in a restaurant. Her employment contract does not declare any CLA applicable. From 1 January 2018, there is a new hospitality CLA. This CLA has (not yet) been declared generally binding. If Femke were covered by the CLA Hospitality 2018-2019, her role would best be compared to the role of chef de partie.
A chef de partie is classified in job grade 5. The salary for a skilled worker, which Femke is with her fourteen years of work experience, is at least 1,813.96 euros and at most 2,230.96 euros gross per month based on a 38-hour workweek. Femke works 35 hours per week. Proportionate to the number of hours she works, she should earn at least 1,670.75 euros and at most 2,054.83 euros gross per month. Femke’s salary of 1,950.58 euros gross per month for 35 hours per week seems proportionate to the work.
Femke holds several professional diplomas, including her mentor qualification. If Femke has more responsibilities, such as supervising trainees in the absence of the head chef, her role would be classified in job grade 6 based on the hospitality CLA. The salary is then at least 2,021.94 euros and at most 2,486.76 euros gross per month for a 38-hour workweek.
Femke indicates that her salary Your career over the past seven years with various employers has been minimal. During the CLA-less period from 2014-2017, there were no salary increases unless otherwise agreed. From 1 July 2018, the hospitality CLA grants a 1 percent salary increase. Femke’s employment contract will be extended next month. We advise Femke, given her work experience and her perceived good position within the company, to negotiate well over her employment conditions and aim for a higher salary.
FNV hospitality did not agree to the new CLA due to the deterioration of various agreements and the lack of a real improvement in purchasing power for hospitality employees. Important proposals from FNV hospitality included improving purchasing power, more security, and no further deterioration of collective employment conditions.
FNV hospitality finds the salary Your career in the hospitality sector concerning, with the lowest wages of all sectors in the Netherlands. The salary increase in the new hospitality CLA is only 1 percent over two years and only for skilled workers. FNV hospitality aims to promote good employment practices. Sample letters have been developed for hospitality employees to engage in discussions with their employer and colleagues to reach better agreements.’
Source: Intermediar.nl