Day 116 - 26 Apr 95 - Page 22


     
     1        A.  Yes.
     2
     3   Q.   I am not suggesting those are the only repeat occurrences.
     4        Croydon has now appeared four times in this analysis ---
     5        A.  Yes.
     6
     7   Q.   -- during a three or four month period?
     8        A.  Yes.
     9
    10   Q.   Two things about that:  In each case, of course, recording
    11        a young person under 18 has worked more than 96 hours,
    12        although no longer illegal, not, you tell us, advised by
    13        the company; is that right?
    14        A.  That is right.
    15
    16   Q.   First, how would it come about, in your experience, that
    17        that should happen?  There is Mr. Dawson, I think, twice
    18        over at Croydon four times, how would that come about?  Why
    19        should it be necessary for a store to employ young people
    20        for more than 96 hours?
    21        A.  To conform to our guidance to stores, they should not
    22        do it.
    23
    24   Q.   I know, but why would they do it?
    25        A.  What happens, in fact, is Croydon is a particularly
    26        busy store with a very, very large crew.  At one time it
    27        was, arguably, the busiest store in Europe.
    28
    29   Q.   In Europe?
    30        A.  Yes, indeed.  If they had a spate of no shows, in other
    31        words, crew people who had been scheduled to work phoned in
    32        and said:  "I cannot come in" for one reason or another,
    33        the management would have to get staff from somewhere.
    34        Very possibly, this person was there and said: "I will stop
    35        on; I will work".  No-one is made to work overtime, but if
    36        they request and if the manager requires someone to work,
    37        then he can give permission for overtime to be worked.
    38
    39        What we are doing here is highlighting those young people
    40        who are being asked.  This manager would be now seen and
    41        the reasons found out and, if necessary, counselled.
    42
    43   Q.   Take Croydon as the example:  If during that period Croydon
    44        has in four cases gone over 96 and Mr. Dawson at Croydon
    45        has done it twice by, I think, two-and-a-half and
    46        three-and-a-half hours in those two cases respectively,
    47        what, if any, action would be taken upon seeing those
    48        figures by Head Office?
    49        A.  Well, that would have gone out to that store's
    50        Operations Manager and that store's Operations Manager 
    51        would have got on to the restaurant and said:  "Why?" 
    52 
    53   Q.   Would have said:  "Why?"
    54        A.  Most certainly.  If they can come up with a reasonable
    55        explanation, that is the end of the matter.
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What does the "premium" mean?
    58        A.  Premium hours, sir.
    59
    60   Q.   Yes, but what are they?

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