High Street chains favouring UK employees

[R Mutt]

The proposed changes to immigration rules and claims by Priti Patel that these will see millions of jobs filled by Brits, and Farage's message to companies that this is the end of cheap labour got me thinking about who, in terms of nationality, really does and will do which job.

The like of Costa and Pret immediately came to mind as employing largely staff from Eastern Europe, in stark contrast to Sports Direct and Greggs, who in my experience are staffed by younger British workers.

What drives this? All of the above being British companies, having an international cache can surely be removed from the equation, as can the nature of the contracts, all being relatively 'flexiible' or 'zero hours', and all have similar tax liabilities or at least none minimise this through offshore channels entities. Will Brits be making coffees in the near future?

[R Mutt]

Bullett said:

I think it's cultural to a degree.
Service (table waiting) jobs are looked down on by a lot of brits, its seen as a min wage, temp until you get something better type job. I understand that waiter is seen much more as a vocation in Europe, especially in more foody cultures like France/Spain/Italy.

Except the people working in French or Italian restaurants for example aren't from France or Italy. At least not in London.

[R Mutt]

Bullett said:

You need to go to better quality restaurants! High end places are very well populated with French staff even if the food is not primarily French.

But I agree in general, as why would you move from somewhere your profession has a bit of respect to somewhere that has none for a basic wage. I was proposing that as the reason why Brits seem to do shop work over service based work. Not that the French are coming over and taking the jobs.

Yes it does vary by quality of restaurant but you've given me more chains to add the list of British employers of largely Eastern European staff. Zizzi, Prezzo. Ask, Pizza Express, Cafe Rouge.

[R Mutt]

Murph7355 said:

In the sort of places you refer to... In most places....

£

I suspect the demographics you refer to are more likely driven by your locale than any major cultural aspects. That and the £ people are prepared to accept.

It would make sense that British teens will be OK with zero hours contracts at Sports Direct whereas someone older from Eastern Europe would want something more stable, while both accepting close to minimum wage but I'm note sure how much contract terms would differ between the 2 groups of employers in question.

Maybe it's just as simple as British kids liking trainers and as such will want to work in Sports Direct, while roles in Greggs will be filled by the same demographic, as they are too far removed from the restaurant biz or barista coffee to attract an Eastern European in their 20s.

Still doesn't really explain why there's not a greater crossover though unless there is a very firm minimum a Brit will work for once they have finished school or uni, which Pret or Prezzo simply do not pay.