FairPlate: hospitality workers rate bosses and venues on new star rating website

Does the fact celebrity chef George Calombaris underpaid his staff nearly $8 million stop you from eating at his restaurants? What if you knew staff at your local eatery were mistreated? A new TripAdvisor-style website is giving diners that choice.

Celebrity chef George Calombaris’ professional reputation is in tatters, but would that stop you from eating at his restaurants?

More than 1600 venues have been rated by employees on a contentious website some business owners have tried to silence.

More than 3000 comments have been posted on FairPlate.org.au, where staff rate the bars and restaurants where they work or have worked.

The site was launched by hospitality workers’ union Hospo Voice, and union Victorian Secretary Ben Redford said its popularity showed anger voiced by many hospitality workers over the Calombaris wage scandal was the “tip of the iceberg”.

“The horror stories of workers being abused and ripped off keep pouring in,” he said.

“Interestingly, what we’re also seeing now is a growing number venues being rated highly by current and former workers.”

The website posters give their bosses a star rating similar to TripAdvisor but instead of rating decor, service and food staff give employers a score out of five for how they treat staff, whether they pay correct wages and the work environment.

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Staff comments from some of the worst of worst include: “Absolutely horrible place to work”, “Staff are regularly abused by management” and “beware anyone looking to work here”.

Union Victorian Secretary Ben Redford said conscientious customers “have a vital role to play in supporting venues that do the right thing”.

“With FairPlate it’s never been easier,” he said.

”You can find out what staff at your favourite venues really think, and feel good about where you go.

“Some (employers) have always respected their staff and paid properly but an increasing number of venues can see the ground is shifting and need to change too.

“Hospo workers simply won’t put with wage theft any longer and they are fighting back and the community is right behind them.”

one reviewer wrote of a CBD eatery: “Wages were paid weeks later, or not at all! Owner showed little respect or appreciation for his staff. Constant bullying and threats from the owner.”

Frustration at payment methods and wage levels is a common theme on the website.

“Absolutely horrible place to work. All pay is below the award rate, including that of junior managers. They make staff sign a non-disclosure agreement upon cessation of their employment, and refuse to release pay until this is done,” this one-star review reads.

Another reads: “They underpaid and fake it on the book...hours on the payslips are different.”

One worker at a CBD restaurant complained of “unwanted sexual advances”.

“Other boss was well aware and did very little to combat it. Shifts were dropped with no warning or reason — though women who welcomed the boss’s flirts received more shifts.”

The website states moderation processes and policies are in place to ensure it does not violate any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

Hospo Voice said several employers had demanded the site be shut down.

paul [e-mail]