Post by Peppersmum on May 31, 2022 18:25:09 GMT
Apparently (heard from our department head) the hospitality industry (which includes school meals) is working with a staff defecit of 60%
SIXTY percent!!
We have approx 40 school kitchens in our area, I'm temporarily running one of the comp ones. NONE of our kitchens are running fully staffed at the moment, and that's now having a detrimental effect.
I've been in my present position since April 2021, when I got there, we had one lady who had been on the sick for around three months.
In July 21, one lady was due to retire, (she'd been in this kitchen 34 years) she was diagnosed with cancer 6 weeks before retirement, and died six month later.
The lady who was already on the sick due to cancer, died in March 22
The lady who was the cook, is on long term sick, (not cancer) but her sister who was our original area manager before she retired 5 years ago, died of cancer in March 22 too.
I have another lady off with breast cancer - totally out of the blue, she's recieveing treatment and all is looking well.
I have another lady off with a fractured clavicle.
Another lady left to change her career,
None of these ladies (apart from the cook) have been replaced (and I'm only temporarily filling the cook's position) and so we are all working flat out. As covid is not "a thing" right now, all the kids are back to school, so while staff numbers are dwindling, student numbers and therefore dinner attendees, are rising, and so we are expected to provide more and more, with less and less.
I now leave work at least an hour later every day because the office work that I would get done through the day, cannot get done because I can't leave the floor. (Not a huge problem for me, I still get to finish before 4pm - but start at 7am)
We still have the general sickness bugs and colds which can see other staff take days off through the week - and we all have appointments for ailments etc.
Not a day goes by where someone doesn't cut or burn themselves due to tiredness, (usually me and usually just a small one) but we carry on becuase we are providing for children, and we know we are not alone with this.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you have kids/grandkids in school, please tell them to give their dinnerstaff a little smile, and a little patience, and if you have kids looking for work, or you yourself are looking for something part time/term time, get in touch with the Education Catering Department of your local council (or speak to schools themselves if they are private or part of an Academy) and ask if they have any positions available in their school kitchens.
You could make ALL the difference.
SIXTY percent!!
We have approx 40 school kitchens in our area, I'm temporarily running one of the comp ones. NONE of our kitchens are running fully staffed at the moment, and that's now having a detrimental effect.
I've been in my present position since April 2021, when I got there, we had one lady who had been on the sick for around three months.
In July 21, one lady was due to retire, (she'd been in this kitchen 34 years) she was diagnosed with cancer 6 weeks before retirement, and died six month later.
The lady who was already on the sick due to cancer, died in March 22
The lady who was the cook, is on long term sick, (not cancer) but her sister who was our original area manager before she retired 5 years ago, died of cancer in March 22 too.
I have another lady off with breast cancer - totally out of the blue, she's recieveing treatment and all is looking well.
I have another lady off with a fractured clavicle.
Another lady left to change her career,
None of these ladies (apart from the cook) have been replaced (and I'm only temporarily filling the cook's position) and so we are all working flat out. As covid is not "a thing" right now, all the kids are back to school, so while staff numbers are dwindling, student numbers and therefore dinner attendees, are rising, and so we are expected to provide more and more, with less and less.
I now leave work at least an hour later every day because the office work that I would get done through the day, cannot get done because I can't leave the floor. (Not a huge problem for me, I still get to finish before 4pm - but start at 7am)
We still have the general sickness bugs and colds which can see other staff take days off through the week - and we all have appointments for ailments etc.
Not a day goes by where someone doesn't cut or burn themselves due to tiredness, (usually me and usually just a small one) but we carry on becuase we are providing for children, and we know we are not alone with this.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you have kids/grandkids in school, please tell them to give their dinnerstaff a little smile, and a little patience, and if you have kids looking for work, or you yourself are looking for something part time/term time, get in touch with the Education Catering Department of your local council (or speak to schools themselves if they are private or part of an Academy) and ask if they have any positions available in their school kitchens.
You could make ALL the difference.
hope we are all enjoying a brill weekend, will catch up later xx
who is going through the mill at the mo, wishing you a very speedy recovery Trisha big luv 
storm brewing, must get me cauldron out 
