ITM Bachelor 3. Sem
8076: Human Resource Management in Leisure and Tourism

Welfare, Health and safety

Welfare: policies directed at aspects of physical and emotional employee well being.

Three paradigms of welfare in L+T companies:

- legalistic-reactive: Complying to government regulations and legislation, but no active welfare policies

- Corporate consciousness: Strong welfare orientation based on recognition of importance of personnel

- Company paternalism: Based on work ethos, comprising also life outside work

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work:

"The hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) sector is one of the fastest growing in Europe. In 2004 more than 7.8 million people were employed (Eurostat, 2005) and the sector generated more than € 338 billion turnover (Eurofound, 2005). It consists mainly of restaurants and bars, which account for three quarters of the jobs. Other employers in the sector include camping sites, youth hostels and canteens. The overwhelming majority of businesses are small, employing less than 10 people. Women make up a little over half of the workforce. (Eurofound 2005: 'Hotels and catering - policies, issues and the future')

Jobs tend to be temporary, with irregular hours, low pay and few career prospects. There is a high proportion of young people working in the sector.

Characteristics of the HORECA sector which can have a negative impact on occupational safety and health (OSH) are:

• heavy workloads
• prolonged standing and static postures
• contact with (sometimes difficult) customers
• high levels of evening and weekend working, which disrupt an employee's work-life balance
• high levels of stress
• monotonous work
  
• harassment and even violence from customers, colleagues and employers
• discrimination against women and people from other countries."
  

Download:

Report: Horecareport.pdf

Factsheet: Facts.pdf

Management in Leisure and Tourism has especially to act against / react to consequences of:

- absenteeism

- Alcohol / drug misuse

Bacardi Campaign

- Sexual harassment (EU definition 2005: "any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature which occurs with the purpose of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment".)

Official working dress of "Hooters" waitresses

Other frequent problems:

- Noise and smoke pollution

- Stress from unregular working times

- Workplace violence

Why do you think are these problems especially dominant in the L+T sector?

  Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt FRGS
Bachelor and Master Program International Tourism Management
arlt@fh-westkueste.de, Office 2.018, Tel. 0481 8555-513
Consultation hours (during lecture period): Tuesday 16.00 - 17.00 h