POST-BREXIT STAFFING

We’ve seen a dearth of staff in numerous industries including hospitality, aviation, ports and airports with the post-Brexit exodus of European workers. This has added to delays at ports and airports, and seen overstretched staff strike over working conditions. But the impact has also been felt overseas.

“One of the logistical impacts on British travel companies of Brexit is that they are no longer allowed to employ UK nationals overseas without a work permit from the relevant country,” says ABTA’s Sean Tipton. “This has meant that travel companies may have had to either replace the services of staff such as reps or chalet workers through other means such as helplines or apps, or by employing local people and outsourcing to local companies. Not ideal for the travel companies or their UK staff, but they will have done their best to minimise the impact on their customers.”

Various travel organisations, including ABTA, have been lobbying EU and British governments to implement a mobility scheme that makes it easier for 18 to 34 year olds (younger workers dominate the seasonal travel job market) to find short-term employment in European countries, with a reciprocal deal in the UK. How to deal with it: Reliant on seasonal workers, the ski industry has perhaps been most heavily impacted. Catered ski chalets, traditionally a popular option for British travellers taking winter breaks in the Alps, may be harder to come by via mainstream tour operators as the industry shifts towards self-catering and hotel accommodation.

For the widest choice of catered chalet options, choose one of the smaller operators specialising in chalet accommodation and book well in advance.