HR
professionals working in the licensed premises sector will face major staffing
problems following the provisions in the Queen’s Speech enabling pubs, bars and
restaurants to stay open all day.
HR
director at Greene King Pub Company Julian Bradwell says longer opening hours
would put massive pressure on recruitment within the sector as employers
struggle to staff establishments for the longer opening hours.
"There
are huge implications – we would need to increase the number of managers by a
third and double the other staff."
However,
Bradwell welcomed the greater flexibility the proposals would offer employers.
He
said Greene King pubs would not open 24 hours a day because of the staffing
issue, but would look at extending opening where appropriate.
The
law will be finalised in the next parliamentary session and is designed to cut
disorder and offer more freedom to drinkers.
John
McNamara, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, which
represents 15,000 licensees, said staggered closing times would help remove
‘flashpoints’ at 11 pm, but must be combined with best practice guidelines and
more training.
The
new measures in short:
–
Flexible opening – up to 24-hour opening seven days a week
–
Powers to close pubs where disorder occurs, without notice
–
Children allowed access to any part of premises at discretion of licencee
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–
Less red tape – an integrated scheme for licensing premises
–
Local authorities to grant licences
