UK’S ‘poor work ethic’ costs cafe applicant a job
A CAFÉ owner has faced criticism after admitting he turned down a job applicant because “British people have a poor work ethic”.
Jullian Preston-powers, who is a supervisor at Intenso Espresso in Hove, East Sussex, stood by his remarks after they were publicised.
He said that the “very poorest type of employee is a British one, full stop”.
Victoria Atkins, a 22-yearold job applicant, was scheduled to come in to the café for a trial shift but sent a text to Mr Preston-powers asking to reschedule after she was “soaked” by rain on the way in.
He responded by rescinding his offer of a trial and adding that a “poor work ethic is highly synonymous with being British”.
He also wrote: “It’s probably better you did not succeed in getting the job because you can never be late for or miss work at our business. Ever.
“We are British, but generally cannot ever manage to hire British due to poor work ethics.”
The café owner sent a series of messages to Miss Atkins, including one where he championed a staff member who hadn’t had a day off in three years because that was normal for “thin, healthy people who don’t eat bacon”.
Miss Atkins from Brighton, East Sussex, said: “I’d taken the bus and left plenty of time, but due to delays I soon realised I would be late. By this time I was soaking wet because the bus only went half way.
“I was already a couple of hours late, so asked if I could go at a later date.”
Mr Preston-powers defended his remarks. He said: “Our experience of running a small, private, family-run coffee shop in Hove is that the very poorest type of employee is a British one. Full stop … It’s just a preference.”
A Trades Union Congress spokesman said: “It’s illegal to discriminate against job applicants based on their ethnicity.
“Britain’s workers put in billions of pounds worth of unpaid overtime each year.”