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Work UK
FAQs
Sometimes arranging employment overseas requires adherence
to employment law, practice and requirements that Australians
may not be familiar with. Here’s a list of issues that
will help broaden your understanding of what’s on offer.
Further detail is included in the Manual which we send to those
who have submitted an application and deposit.
| What
job will I be placed in? |
Hotel management will place you in a position according
to your skills, experience and interests as well as meeting
their needs. Since the hotel management or human resources
manager has not met you personally, it might occur that,
after your arrival or after your first week of working in
your new job, you might be moved to a job other than the
one you had been originally offered. This is exceptional
but it has happened before. It is general practice in the
hotel industry (as in other industries) that you may be temporarily
placed in a different position due to shortage of staff in
other departments. For example, you may be officially employed
in the entertainment team but the manager might ask you to
temporarily help out in the restaurant or bar. Generally
speaking, you should be flexible regarding the duties and
tasks you will perform on the job. Sometimes there will be
special events, like birthdays, weddings or large conferences.
At these times, your employer might need your support in
areas you may not be used to - such as decorating rooms,
cleaning windows, helping out in the kitchen, preparing meals,
or working in bar service.
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| Where
will I be placed? |
You may certainly make requests for a specific geographical
location in the UK but we can’t guarantee that location.
The location of your job will depend on a number of factors,
including your skills and experience, your preferences, plus
where the vacancies are occurring. Note that our application
form provides you with space to indicate your preferences.
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| How
long is the program? |
The program is for 12 months. However, shorter stays are
possible. The decision regarding how long you want to stay
abroad should be made by the time you complete your application
form. An early termination of your contract on your part is
an annoyance to your employer and to the Academy. You are
relied upon and your labour is needed. An extension of your
contract is also possible or to participate more than once.
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| When
does the program start? |
Successful applicants can commence their training program
in Germany during the last week of any month of the year.
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| May
I take my spouse/partner? |
Assuming that your spouse/partner meets the eligibility
criteria, there is nothing to prevent you both applying for
the Work UK program. However, employers in the UK are not
too keen on placing couples in the same hotel. Problems may
arise if you both want the same time off, or if one of you
is not happy. We can’t guarantee placement in the same
hotel. However, if you’re partner would like to apply,
we can work together to see if we can have you placed in the
same town.
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| Why
does the Eligibility Criteria require that I am “well-groomed”? |
Working in the hotel or restaurant industry
means direct contact with guests. Therefore, your grooming
and personal hygiene are important facets of your acceptability
as an employee. A daily shower and deodorant is a must, especially
during summer. Visible body piercings are restricted to discrete
earrings only for women. Tattoos must be covered by clothing.
Female employees should wear only subtle make-up and wear
their hair tied back in a plait, pony-tail or bun. Male employees
must shave daily as they are allowed no facial hair and must
be willing to remove earrings.
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| What
clothing do I need to take? |
Some employers will provide you with a uniform. Nevertheless,
please always take with you one outfit that is suitable for
your position (white blouse or shirt, black skirt or trousers
and black shoes with flat heels). Some hotels will provide
you with only one uniform, which you will need to wash after
each shift in order to have fresh clothing for the next day.
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| Can
I have visitors to stay? |
During your employment abroad it is generally not appreciated
if you have visitors from home. If your accommodation is supplied
to you by your employer you won’t be allowed to have
anyone else live there. Exceptions can be made for one or
two nights, but this is at your employer’s discretion.
If your friends or family do visit you must ensure that you
don’t neglect your duties and, if necessary, ask your
employer for a day off.
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| What
if I get sick? |
You must call in sick at your workplace if you are unable
to work due to illness. In some cases the employer might ask
for a doctor’s note. In some hotels you will get sick
pay, in others this is not the case. Please ask your employer
about this matter when you arrive at your destination.
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| Termination
of contract |
Hotels have to keep their personnel in accordance with
the number of rooms booked. That means if there is a lack
of guests due to economic, political or seasonal reasons,
your employer may terminate the contract ahead of time. Also
the hotels reserve the right to give dismissals. In both cases
dismissals are with notice, and we shall give you more information
about this during your course at the Academy. In such a case
the hotel will inform you and us at the same time. Also the
hotel can dismiss you without notice in cases of severe misconduct,
for example theft, repeated lateness or similar.
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| What
if I don't like it and want to leave? |
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Your employer has decided in favour of you and is counting
on you. Should you run into problems at the beginning, talk
to your employer about them. Student Placement Australia and
the Academy are of course available for you to discuss any
problems that should occur. Together with you and your employer,
we will try to find a solution. If you are 100% certain that
you don’t want to stick with your new job, you should
give written notice to your employer and also pass one on
to The European Hotel Academy. This should be done two weeks
in advance, so a replacement can be found in time. In some
cases we have been able to place candidates in another hotel,
but for this we need two weeks notice as well. Your employer
and his or her team depend on you. So please consider very
carefully if you really want to quit. In all jobs, work sometimes “bites” but
that passes, and afterwards one might regret a decision made
in haste. If you do decide to terminate your contract, you
will have to move out of the accommodation if it’s been
supplied to you by your employer so that your successor has
a place to live. Problems that can seem unsolvable are quite
often solved surprisingly quickly just by discussing them
with us or your employer. If you, on the other hand, continuously
break rules or do not follow orders, the hotel can and will
dismiss you. This dismissal will be in writing, and your contract
will be terminated when the legal period of notice has passed. |
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