There's up to an 18% increase in minimum wage too, on top of any tax and NI changes. This affects not only our own wage bill massively, (since hospitality primarily employs young people, we'll be hit hard by the 16.3% increased 18-20 year old category) but also our suppliers too. Even if you pay just above minimum to youngsters, as we do, their wages must still go up accordingly.
The wage increase will hit hospitality and retail hard, most people in these industries are paid at or just above minimum wage. So prices there will go up sharply at the end of winter, without a shadow of a doubt.
If you thought 20-50p on a pint was bad last year, just wait. We have no choice, increase and see a drop in footfall, or stick and see annual losses even higher than last year's losses. Either way it will lead to job losses. And I need to keep a roof over our head, so I'd rather be a quieter pub, with less staff, but breaking even, than busy fools, with lots of staff, but losing money. If that's even going to be possible! Wages are always going to be our biggest cost, so they'll always be the first expense to cut into.
I also think this balancing of the minimum wage categories, as in, bringing up the minimum wage of youngsters at a much higher rate than adults, is a bad idea all around. In hospitality and retail, (and probably other low skilled sectors too,) adults are also paid at or close to minimum wage more often than not too. If youngsters are near enough the same cost to a business, why employ so many? Put a youngster with no experience, no track record of reliability up against a more experienced, proven reliable, job candidate, without the difference in cost to the business, and who do you think will win the job? Rightly or wrongly, cost to the business is a factor when making hires, so traditionally, that has given youngsters the edge in low skilled sectors. Mark my words, this IS going to lead to higher youth unemployment.
Sorry mattiloy, I quoted you then went off on a completely different rant... 🙈🤣
Intersting post after the last one as the exponential rise is due to the industrial revolution / fossil fuels. Cheap energy is inextricably linked to growth, life expectancy and the removal of child labour and slavery from society.
I am absolutely praying he'll be announced to headline but this place has reduced my confidence in that! Out of the front 3 in the lead for rumours (O-Rod, 1975, Young), there's only one I "might" make an appearance for if there's literally nothing else on. Fender would save if for me. Plus I have some newbies coming along who'd see him too.
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