As you enjoy your office party or celebrate with friends, spare a thought for those in the hospitality industry who'll be catering to your every need this Christmas
Many people work in the catering and hospitality industry because they enjoy it. It’s an energised, buzzy industry with lots of opportunities. But it’s also a high-risk industry, with antisocial hours, poor pay and physically demanding work.
“If you finish work at 11pm, sometimes midnight, the moment service is over you go from pumping adrenalin to nothing, it’s very hard to switch off” say Ken Crossland, from Hospitality Action, a charity that provides support and training for those in the industry.
Sarah’s story
Sarah worked as a catering assistant for three years. When she was sixteen her mother was diagnosed with cancer and this, coupled with an abusive father, caused Sarah to turn to drugs and alcohol. When Sarah’s mother passed away she moved out of home and turned to the charity Hospitality Action for support. They were able to provide Sarah with an Essential Needs Grant to help turn her new flat into a proper home, to provide her with some much needed stability while she underwent rehabilitation.
Sarah’s story is far from unusual. With more than seven in ten people having witnessed other employees misusing alcohol, drugs or both at work (Caterer and Hotelkeeper survey, 2008) drug and alcohol abuse across the industry is a serious concern.
All areas of the industry
It’s easy to think that these problems are at the bottom end of the market, but Ken is quick to dispel this myth. “We work with some of the biggest names in the business” he tells me. Clients for the Ark for Business include The Goring, The Ivy, The Dorchester and Le Manoir. Not because they have a problem, but because they want to spot the warning signs should one arise. ‘Even in the best establishments someone might get into a spot of bother and good employers want to help’.
Phil Howard
One high profile chef that has spoken publicly about their addiction to drink and drugs is Phil Howard, head chef and co-owner of the much praised The Square in Mayfair (there’s an excellent interview with Phil here). Phil's breaking of the silence on the issue has no doubt helped others seek out assistance.
Donation
If you’d like to make a donation to Hospitality Action during the season of goodwill, see this page on their website. For further information about the work the charity does visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/seaonal
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