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Chef and restaurant owner in Bristol, UK has hit out at other chefs walking out of their jobs as soon as they get paid.
Charlie James owner of the popular Jamaica Street Stores in Stokes Croft, claims that as many as 30 chefs have gone AWOL on him in the ten years he’s been running the restaurant.
It has led him to add the words “Absolutely no Wastemen” to the ‘Staff Wanted’ sign outside the restaurant.
James claims that chefs are in high demand and it has become all too common for chefs to simply walk out of a kitchen and leave the restaurant in the lurch.
“It’s rife in the industry and I know not every chef is an absolute wreck head, but a lot of them are,” James told Bristol Live.
“I’ve had 30 chefs in my career go AWOL on me after payday over the last ten years.
“This tends to happen a lot after payday. It’s always the worst because a lot of the time you’ll pay people and never see them again but it just gets on my nerves.
“I just get really bored because you put so much time into training a chef and then there’s so many times when they’re two or three months in and then someone just decides to go on a three day bender and then doesn't come into work.”
James is now determined to find loyal kitchen staff you will commit to building a strong and consistent team in his restaurant.
The chef is concerned, not only for his own establishment but wonders how chefs can grow in their careers unless they stay around in one position long enough to learn.
“I think in this industry it’s really common because chefs are high in demand, so it’s really easy to just walk in and walk back out and then get another job,” he said.
“But, I haven't been so blunt about it in the past and have given people chances which to be honest never really paid off for me.
“When I’ve given them a chance I’ve said ‘Yes, you can walk out of this job which pays £8.50-£9.00, but you’re never gonna build up a CV with some sort of consistency and substance’.”
“I understand for the young ones it’s easy to stay out all night and not come to work, but you’re never gonna progress.
“I busted my ass to get to head chef level. When I see people walking out of jobs in their early 30s, I think ‘come on mate, what are you doing?”.
“If you don't pull your finger out you’ll never get given a real chance,” James said.
