No time for breaks, being paid cash in hand, and tips unjustly ending up in your boss's pocket: hundreds of young people tell NOS Stories that things don't always go by the book at their hospitality side jobs.
About five thousand people filled out a questionnaire on Instagram about this. Many of them say they are happy with their work, but things do sometimes go wrong. At least 1200 minors report not always getting breaks, even though they are legally entitled to them. Due to the busyness, there isn't always time, but by law, minors are entitled to a break every 4.5 hours.
But what is allowed and not allowed in hospitality? And what about the new rules regarding on-call workers? In the video below, NOS Stories investigates this for you, from the kitchen of the Hospitality & Tourism College of ROC Midden Nederland:
Merel (16) worked as a dishwasher in a café and hardly had time to sit down. "Sometimes I worked eight hours without a break because it was so busy. If I did have a half-hour break, I was often asked if I could still do something."
Additionally, five hundred 15-year-olds report doing work that is not legally permitted. For example, they work as dishwashers with washing machines or serve alcohol. Christian Paul (16) started in service last year and was immediately put behind the bar for the first four days. "I had to serve alcohol there, which is actually not allowed. I had no idea how to do that and was really thrown in at the deep end."
Moreover, over 400 hospitality workers report being paid in cash. The likelihood is high that they are working off the books. If you then fall ill or have an accident, you as an employee bear the costs yourself.
A lot is happening in the hospitality sector: last week, the Senate passed the Labour Market in Balance Act. This new labour law aims to ensure that flexible workers or people with zero-hour contracts gain more rights from next year.
An important change for hospitality in the new law is the standby shifts: currently, on-call workers must come whenever the boss calls. From 1 January 2020, this will change: employers must schedule a shift four days in advance. This can still be reduced to one day in the CLA negotiations.
If a hospitality boss does not adhere to this period, an employee may refuse the call.
You don't know in advance when it will be busy or if someone, for example, needs to cover for a sick colleague.
Koninklijke hospitality Nederland
If you, as an employee, are informed less than a day in advance that you don't need to come in after all, because, for example, it will be quiet, you are still entitled to at least three hours' pay with a zero-hour contract, even if you haven't actually worked.
According to CLA negotiator Jacqueline Twerda of CNV Vakmensen, the four-day protection is an important step for employees. "Imagine you have exams: it's almost impossible if you're suddenly required to come in. That's why scheduling four days in advance is very important."
Employers are not keen on this, says Koninklijke hospitality Nederland. "Of course, scheduling in advance is better for everyone. But often it can't be done because you don't know in advance when it will be busy or if someone needs to cover for a sick colleague. The weather is also unpredictable."
CNV also finds it important that it doesn't become too difficult for employers to deploy staff. "If an employer calls someone at short notice and they are happy to work, then of course there's no problem. But it's important that hospitality entrepreneurs don't force someone, so no conflict situation arises."
If you said no, it didn't give you a good feeling.
Merel (16), dishwasher
And this does happen sometimes, as our survey shows. Young hospitality workers tell NOS Stories that they sometimes find it difficult to say no. For example, Daniel (18) who worked in service. "Employers usually tried to force it by saying there would be sanctions. Or they pushed very hard, making you feel bad if you didn't come."
Dishwasher Merel (16) was occasionally called while she was on holiday. "I could just say no, but you noticed that he was very grumpy with you then. If you said no, it didn't give you a good feeling."
NOS Stories distributed a survey for this story via its own Instagram account. About 5000 people filled it in, but the research is not fully representative.
Source: NOS