Day 166 - 28 Sep 95 - Page 16


     
     1
     2        Drink breaks are at the management's discretion, and it is
     3        true that on occasions when we were very busy it may not
     4        have been possible to let staff take a break exactly when
     5        they wanted.  However, I would always ensure that staff
     6        took a break as soon as possible and often I or other
     7        managers would cover for them while they did".  Do you
     8        stand by that?
     9        A.  Yes.
    10
    11   Q.   Paragraph (13):  "There was certainly no under-staffing
    12        policy at Marble Arch.  Permanent under-staffing would have
    13        quickly affected both morale within the store and the
    14        quality of the service to customers which we could provide,
    15        which has always been a priority.  The level of staffing
    16        was a matter entirely left to me.  There was no set number
    17        of employees required for the restaurant to be operative.
    18        The level of staffing would depend on whether or not it was
    19        anticipated it would be a busy period.  We were only
    20        under-staffed when a number of crew fell sick at the same
    21        time and I was unable to get cover.
    22
    23        Magill is also wrong in saying that we never used all the
    24        grills at one time.  During the busiest periods at the
    25        restaurant, which tended to be during the school holidays
    26        or weekends, all four of the grills were regularly used".
    27        Do you stand by that?
    28        A.  Yes.
    29
    30   Q.   Paragraph (14):  "Magill is correct in saying that Marble
    31        Arch was one of the busiest stores in Europe.  Depending on
    32        the time of year, I would have between 110 and 200
    33        employees on the store's payroll at that time.  I do not
    34        understand what point Magill is trying to make regarding
    35        the ethnic breakdown of staff; my policy has always been
    36        that I hire anyone who is able and willing to do the job
    37        regardless of race or sex".  Do you stand by that?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   Just on that point, you have promoted people from ethnic
    41        minorities?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   Paragraph (15):  "I certainly never hired anyone to work at
    45        the restaurant on any shift was under 16, nor did any of my
    46        managers", do you stand by that?
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   Paragraph (16):  "Magill is completely wrong in saying that
    50        staff costs were not allowed to exceed 15 per cent of 
    51        turnover.  It was entirely up to me to set the level of 
    52        staffing that I considered the restaurant required. 
    53        I recall that on many occasions staff costs did exceed 15
    54        per cent".  Do you stand by that?
    55        A.  Yes, that is my comment.
    56
    57   MR. ATKINSON:  This is the point, my Lord, when we need to look
    58        at the documents that were disclosed this morning, the
    59        Budget Report and the store Profit and Loss statement.  (To
    60        the witness):  So, Mr. Atkinson, have you the Budget Report

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