Hotel Reception job - advice?

tickly1972

Been for an interview today, job is Hotel receptionist at a budget type hotel. Working between 3pm and 11pm 2-3 days a week .... which is all good, we have children and so this would not interfere too much with care and so on.
Interview went really well, very informal with the guy who runs this hotel and another 2 in group.

He was very honest about it being a budget hotel, and the clientele that you might expect (Stag do's etc), and that I would be working reception on my own - and that he is usually only 10 minutes away by car if at home or sometimes he stays at an apartment within the hotel and can be summoned if really needed. Basically though, I would be expected to deal with any problem guests and queries on my own - he was quite specific in saying that if anyone started any real trouble I should call the police first and then let him know what was happening (adding that he usually gets there before the police do ..).

This is fair enough - I have read reviews of the hotel and most are not the greatest it must be said, but I really want to get back into work and am prepared to try and do this to the best of my ability.

What bothers me is this. Health & Safety - is it usual to expect a receptionist to work soley on their own, and surely for Fire Alarm procedures/evacuation and so on their would have to be more than one person about?
Also, I was wondering if a hotel had to have a qualified first aider in the event of any accidents.
OH also pointed out lliabillity issues, and wondering what would happen in a situation of anything going missing etc, would it just be my word against theirs?

Am I looking at this too deeply perhaps, hee told me that he would let me know on Thursday

Any thoughts?

Fire_Fox

Just ask what sort of fire and emergency training you will be given. You don't need a first aider (three day course) you might need an emergency aider (one day) and the hotel may offer to send you on the course which is great for your CV. Even gyms only legally need emergency aiders and that is much higher risk than a hotel.

Do you mean if money goes missing? I've cashed up on my own in several jobs, you'd be stupid to steal and leave your own till down. I've had tills up more than once, if it was a large sum I ring someone to inform them/ ask what to do; if it's a small sum I always used to write in the diary so there is a record!

You can't be blamed for the loss of anything else other than from behind an office door you are responsible for locking. If you are on your own you can't be expected to police the entire hotel, and you have the drunken public at large who might well think it hilarious to steal random items. Are there any CCTV cameras? Do you have a panic button?

hethmar

Sorry, but it does all sound a bit divey and dodgey doesnt it. Can you hang on and find something which sounds more suitable? Have you thought about working as a care assistant to fit in with the family?

[QUOTE=tickly1972;29264623
he was quite specific in saying that if anyone started any real trouble I should call the police first and then let him know what was happening (adding that he usually gets there before the police do ..).

[/QUOTE]

dehaani

tickly1972 wrote: »

Any thoughts?

I worked nights in a Travel Inn (now Premier Inn). Did it for two and a half years. I was on my own, much as you're describing.

During my time, I...

Called the police about 30 times.
Had my nose broken once and was assaulted 3 times in total.
Was summoned to court as a witness 8 times for breach of peace etc.
Was summoned to court as a witness 1 time for a double murder.
Found a suicide victim in one of the rooms.
Had to clean up the room after the police attended the above.
Evacuated the hotel (fire alarms) about 10 times.
Routinely had to interrupt people mid-coitus when they wandered off to some corner of the hotel.
Had a lot of challenging situations with drunk people. Loads of stories to tell!

And I actually really enjoyed the job.

I only left after I found out the the three nearest branches to me had been targeted by armed robbers and nobody ever thought to get me a colleague to accompany me for security or even warn me to be extra vigilant. I felt really let down after all I had endured for them.

ziggy101

dehaani wrote: »

...Loads of stories to tell!...

You should write a book!

I stayed at a Premier Inn recently and there was a young receptionist guy (25 ish) and by day 3 we were TIGHT - he even had the key out for me when my car pulled into the car park. I bet he had a few stories too.

StrawberryYogurt

dehaani wrote: »

I worked nights in a Travel Inn (now Premier Inn). Did it for two and a half years. I was on my own, much as you're describing.

During my time, I...

Called the police about 30 times.
Had my nose broken once and was assaulted 3 times in total.
Was summoned to court as a witness 8 times for breach of peace etc.
Was summoned to court as a witness 1 time for a double murder.
Found a suicide victim in one of the rooms.
Had to clean up the room after the police attended the above.
Evacuated the hotel (fire alarms) about 10 times.
Routinely had to interrupt people mid-coitus when they wandered off to some corner of the hotel.
Had a lot of challenging situations with drunk people. Loads of stories to tell!

And I actually really enjoyed the job.

I only left after I found out the the three nearest branches to me had been targeted by armed robbers and nobody ever thought to get me a colleague to accompany me for security or even warn me to be extra vigilant. I felt really let down after all I had endured for them.

Wow! Are you really an extra in Eastenders?:eek:;)

I use to work nights in a Travel Lodge in a big city! Nothing so exciting happened. I was on my own to, use to read magazines and yawn a lot!

Darksun

As a lone worker, your employer has extra responsibilities to ensure your safety, there should have already been a risk assessment taken out.

From a practical point of view, do you have a monitored panic alarm fitted at reception? I would have though that would be fairly standard, since potentially situations would arise that place your personal safety in danger where dialling 999 wouldn't be possible. If you have any specific concerns, take them up directly with your employer and see what they can do.

ariarnia

If you're on jsa there might be complications if you quit, but if you discuss it with your advisor before signing off, I assume if you feel in danger for your welfare they would have no objection to you quitting in the first week or so. they offer a scheme to some people work trial or working trial, something like that, and you might want to ask if you're eligible.

if you're not on jsa then really you have nothing to loose in trying it for a week - you don't even have to put it on a cv if it's short term.

kazzieg

dehaani wrote: »

I worked nights in a Travel Inn (now Premier Inn). Did it for two and a half years. I was on my own, much as you're describing.

During my time, I...

Called the police about 30 times.
Had my nose broken once and was assaulted 3 times in total.
Was summoned to court as a witness 8 times for breach of peace etc.
Was summoned to court as a witness 1 time for a double murder.
Found a suicide victim in one of the rooms.
Had to clean up the room after the police attended the above.
Evacuated the hotel (fire alarms) about 10 times.
Routinely had to interrupt people mid-coitus when they wandered off to some corner of the hotel.
Had a lot of challenging situations with drunk people. Loads of stories to tell!

And I actually really enjoyed the job.

I only left after I found out the the three nearest branches to me had been targeted by armed robbers and nobody ever thought to get me a colleague to accompany me for security or even warn me to be extra vigilant. I felt really let down after all I had endured for them.

OMG:eek: I have had an interview for premier inn at the weekend, just waiting to hear how I got on but from reading that I am a bit concerned

Mudd14

Which Premier Inns do you all work at?

dehaani

ziggy101 wrote: »

You should write a book!

I had actually considered it but regardless of the fact that these things actually happened, I always had the feeling that it would have to read like a novel. I really don't read fiction at all, so I would be stuck for insight on the narrative and such. I've considered writing a story inspired by the real events but then I feel it would be more like a fanciful, embellished lie than a true work of imagination.

There were so many long, mundane nights, watching weird late night TV shows so some sort of journal would probably be ineffective.