Employment experiences of Polish migrant workers in the UK hospitality sector

Abstract

The research explores the experiences of Polish migrant workers in the UK hospitality sector. It reports quantitative and qualitative empirical data on the migrants' reasons for entering the hospitality workforce and their subsequent employment experiences. The findings reveal the main motive for entering employment in hospitality is for self development as migrants wish to use and learn foreign languages, gain work experience and receive other benefits that the sector provides.These self development opportunities are viewed as a means to improve career prospects in the UK or upon return to Poland. Once in the sector, positive experiences associated with hospitality employment include opportunities to meet people and work in a lively environment. Negative aspects relate to working conditions, low pay, physically demanding jobs, discrimination and management behaviour. The research suggests that certain practices and working conditions in the sector pose an obstacle to the long term commitment of migrant workers. Suggestions for the management of migrant human resources are outlined.

Human capital development in socio-economic malaise: evidence from the UK

“…This suggests that majority of the migrants are in low paid employment and to compensate their household expenses, they claim working tax credits. This is consistent with the earlier findings of Janta et al (2011), who found that migrants employed in the hotel industry in the UK are on lower wages. Another interesting observation is that since one third of the migrants meet the prerequisites of claiming working tax credits (i.e., one must be employed or has worked in the UK to make this claim), this suggests that migrants come to the UK for work and not to merely claim social benefits as suggested by the earlier literature (see Boeri, 2010;Drinkwater and Robinson, 2013).…”

Consumer behaviour in tourism: Concepts, influences and opportunities

“…However, there are distinctive features to the tourism consumption patterns of migrant workers that have important implications for tourism flows and market segmentation. With labour migration increasing (see Janta et al, 2011), trips from the new home back to the birthplace or old home become a common occurrence (Duval, 2003), for not only visiting friends and relatives, but also to access services, such as medical or dental care. Connell (2013) accordingly notes that a large portion of international medical travel is by diasporic populations.…”

International Migrant Labors in Tourism and Hospitality: Developing a Framework of Motivational Pull Factors

“…Several studies indicate that the hospitality and tourism industry has historically relied on migrant workers (Christensen-Hughes, 1992;King, 1995;Janta et al, 2011;Baum, 2012). Further, Janta et al (2011) also emphasize that migrant tourism labors make work and a casual lifestyle as a combination by engaging in seasonal employment as well as having entertainment and gain life experiences in tourism.…”