James Oliver Says Brit Workers Are Lazy.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403575/Jamie-Oliver-Why-I-rely-Brits-staff-restaurants.html

He may be right but that isn't the point, the question one has to ask is whether or not Olivier is being racist in his announcement?

[Gromit]

British young people work as hard as anyone else when they are properly incentivised.

Working for minimum wage for a world class twerk is enough to put anyone off.

[tonyav]

That's what I was thinking also, Gromit.

[Sycamore3House]

Well said Youngmafbog

[Octavius]

The catering and hospitality industry is famous for its appalling pay and work conditions, illegal long hours and minimum or even less than minimum wages, no extra pay or time off for bank holidays and the urge to top it up with tips.

Regardles of that, if Jamie finds that Brits turn their noses up at it, and eastern europeans jump at the chance to earn some money then his point is perfectly valid.

[EvianBaby]

There are endless examples of people who regularly work at least 12 hours a day as standard. It's just a stupid comment to garner media attention. I actually don't know but would bet my cat on him having a book/programme/some other boring crap he's releasing that needs to be promoted.

In answer to the question, no I don't feel it was racist.

[Octavius]

Its in the article.

"The campaigning chef whose new TV show, Jamie’s Money Saving Meals, starts next week..."

[EvianBaby]

I didn't read the article, I heard what he said on the radio. But there you go.

[Octavius]

I bet you peaked!

[EvianBaby]

Lol, nope. Brownies promise.

[jim360]

"He may be right but that isn't the point..."

If you make a statement that is factually correct then it can't really be considered racist. A sweeping generalisation, on the other hand, certainly can be thought of as racist/ sexist/ whatever-ist. And nearly all such statements of a type "people in group x are more such-and-such than those in group not-x" are wrong, or at least very misleading.

In this case, it may well be that in Jamie Oliver's experience those staff who were born in Britain are, on average, less hard-working than immigrant workers, but there will always be exceptions. Background, too, is important: For an immigrant looking for work may well take what they can get and gladly, but someone from this country who ends up working in a kitchen might view it as a failure, or a temporary solution while they look for something better. In short: our expectations have risen faster than the opportunities have.

[ummmm]

My OH would avoid hiring Brits. They tend not to last much more than a few weeks in his job. They would also be paid quite a bit over the minimum wage.

The last lad that jacked, jacked because it was raining...

[ummmm]

Actually....I shouldn't say Brits. He would avoid hiring English.

[DJHawkes]

he best keep his gob shut if he wants his new book to be top of the bookcharts.

[tamborine]

If Jamie said 'English' that would be racist.

[sherrardk]

He's on a bit of a roll at the moment - yesterday he was moaning about the less fortunate in society not being able to cook and today he says they are work shy. From what I can see, he has had a nice up bringing and has had the good fortune to do very well for himself (no doubt through a mixture of hard work and good luck). Good for him, but maybe he should get down off his high horse for a bit and think before he opens his gob.

[Ellipsis]

It's in the Daily Mail so I'm sure it must be exactly what he said and not quoted out of context at all.

[ukanonymous]

He is referring to British people who are a race. Therefore he is racist. Also there is no point saying these rediculous things. He will only gain favor from 50 % of the people who are living in London. Hang on a minute

[emmie]

not sure i agree with him, in my experience British were no more lazy than anyone else. I do agree that some won't take jobs that will be long and arduous, the catering, hotel industry has always been like that, for a relatively small remuneration. Whether they are British or not you will get lazy people, some who take the proverbial, and not just in work.

[Octavius]

I think he has taken on British people, its just after a few weeks they get their mums to phone in for them saying that they are too tired to come to work. If that happens more than once or twice, you can form an opinion.