Two issues - drinking water and being sold to a franchisee?

oliverp_2

Hi

I work for...errr...a large restaurant chain.

We do not an approved drinking water source, we had tests done on the water and it basically isn't acceptable to drink 'raw'. Nothing has been done about that.

So employees are allowed one 500ml bottle of water per shift, regardless of the length (could be 2 hours or 12 hours...and those extremes do occur).

Is this ok to not have drinking water available for employees?

Also...

Restaurants are currently being franchised, and - all the store employees only find out after they have been franchised. This means the employer changes from one to another, over night and without the prior knowledge or agreement of employee. The team are "sold" as part of the package.

Is this acceptable?

Many thanks in advance for any advice you have, it seems as though the company is currently screwing us all over.

maninthestreet

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf

ohreally

From the Workplace health safety and welfare regulations...(reg 22)


An adequate supply of high-quality drinking water, with an upward drinking jet or suitable cups, should be provided. Water should only be provided in refillable enclosed containers where it cannot be obtained directly from a mains supply. The containers should be refilled at least daily (unless they are chilled water dispensers where the containers are returned to the supplier for refilling). Bottled water/water dispensing systems may still be provided as a secondary source of drinking water. Drinking water does not have to be marked unless there is a significant risk of people drinking non-drinking water
An adequate supply of high-quality drinking water, with an upward drinking jet or suitable cups, should be provided. Water should only be provided in refillable enclosed containers where it cannot be obtained directly from a mains supply.

LittleVoice

oliverp wrote: »

Hi

I work for...errr...a large restaurant chain.

. . . .'.Also...

Restaurants are currently being franchised, and - all the store employees only find out after they have been franchised. This means the employer changes from one to another, over night and without the prior knowledge or agreement of employee. The team are "sold" as part of the package.

Is this acceptable?

Many thanks in advance for any advice you have, it seems as though the company is currently screwing us all over.

The employees are employed by the business. The business is sold. You are still being employed by the same business - it is just owned by some other people.

dzug1

ohreally wrote: »

From the Workplace health safety and welfare regulations...(reg 22)


An adequate supply of high-quality drinking water, with an upward drinking jet or suitable cups, should be provided. Water should only be provided in refillable enclosed containers where it cannot be obtained directly from a mains supply. The containers should be refilled at least daily (unless they are chilled water dispensers where the containers are returned to the supplier for refilling). Bottled water/water dispensing systems may still be provided as a secondary source of drinking water. Drinking water does not have to be marked unless there is a significant risk of people drinking non-drinking water
An adequate supply of high-quality drinking water, with an upward drinking jet or suitable cups, should be provided. Water should only be provided in refillable enclosed containers where it cannot be obtained directly from a mains supply.

Doesn't actually say 'free of charge', does it?

My wife's former employer used to make employees pay for drinking water - or rather the local manager did. Whether Head Office knew about it I've no idea.

So if the restaurant sells water, it could be legal. Very unsatisfactory if it is though.

Zazen999

A restaurant that does not have drinking water. WOW.

Dill

It's not really the point, I know, but I think I'd be tempted to re-fill a couple of the bottles at home and bring them in to work so you have enough to drink if you're doing a longer shift.

500ml for a shift lasting up to 12 hours doesn't sound like much, especially in quite a warm environment like a restaurant/kitchen where you'd probably also be losing fluid. Think it's recommended that people should drink about 1.3 litres of a water a day (?)

And it is strange that a large restaurant chain doesn't have acceptable drinking water..

oliverp_2

Yes it is odd we don't have drinking water.

We had tests done on the water, and they said it was our pipes causing the problem. They quoted £130 for cleaning them, so the company decided they'd save money and continue to profit by making customers buy mineral water instead.

About the whether it needs to be free or not, I'd be interested to know if it does or not...but I don't know who would have the answer to that!

I know maybe the issue seems petty, but they are petty with us so we need to do something!!

Many thanks for all your help with this.

Zazen999

oliverp wrote: »

Yes it is odd we don't have drinking water.

We had tests done on the water, and they said it was our pipes causing the problem. They quoted £130 for cleaning them, so the company decided they'd save money and continue to profit by making customers buy mineral water instead.

Er; what about when you wash the food - salad etc.

I find the fact that you have no drinking water completely vile to be honest. What depths do some employers go to save a little money?

They should be ashamed.

I take it environmental health are ok with this???

purple12

It sounds like an awful position to be in. I wish I knew which chain it was.....