Managers in the dark' over post-reform hours
by John Harrington
The National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM) has criticised pubcos for leaving their managers in the dark about the hours they will be expected to work under the new licensing laws.
The group also made a plea for pub operators not to put pressure on managers to optout of legislation that limitstheir working week to 48 hours.
At a recent meeting, NALHM members expressed concern at a lack of communication between pubcos and their managers as the start of the new licensing regime draws closer.
"A lot of big companies are just ignoring [the managers]," said NALHM president Dave Daly. "The companies are not listening. All they are saying is that it's under control."
Brian Revell, who represents NALHM at the Transport & General Workers Union (T&G), said managers also expressed fears they may be pressurised to work more than 48 hours a week.
British employers can ask staff to sign a waiver on their contract and opt out of the European 48-Hour Working Time Directive.
"Our view is that people should have access to a 48-hour week," said Revell. "Their employers have to take responsibility in this situation to ensure that the directive is honoured."
Revell said there's "certainly a fear" some managers could be pressurised to work more than 48 hours against their will. "How real that fear is, time will tell."
NALHM warned managed pubcos to expect legal challenges if they put pressure on managers to discount heavily on drinks.
Daly said a number of managers were being "semi-bullied" into discounting and although there was less discounting now than in the past, managed pubcos were still not doing enough to stamp out irresponsible promos.
"As soon as a case comes up of a manager refusing to do discounts at the weekend, we would go straight into the argument and the legal team of the T&G would look into it," he said.
He called for managed pubcos to have greater consideration for managers' views when they decide to discount. "It's a licensee's prerogative to sell beer at a level that's socially responsible," he said.
