Employees working longer hours to 'keep hospitality afloat'

Hospitality staff are working about six hours a week longer than they were before the pandemic, figures released by recruitment specialist Bizimply show.

Staff at wet-led companies work an average 28 hours per week compared to about 23 in wet-led contractors.

While the hospitality industry is working to address the unprecedented recruitment crisis, analysis of real-time data from Bizimply's clients shows precisely what practical steps operators are taking to address service levels clients have expected.

"Most operators have significant numbers of part-time employees, such as students or those juggling work with childcare commitments, so we expect to see the average hours worked to be below the typical full-time tally of around 35 hours," said Conor Shaw, CEO of Bizimply.

Among the customer base, the number of workers working regular shifts has gone up by more than 25 per cent compared with March 2020.

Bizimply warns that employers that are now counting on the goodwill of their workforce to keep their doors open for their clients must be willing to pay that commitment back, in the form of improved pay and conditions as well as a better work-life balance.

It will mean employers require existing staff to allow for additional time to help address the acute labour shortages affecting the hospitality industry and many other sectors of the UK economy.