Authority tidies up hotel jobs

Elaine White. Photo / Supplied

Elaine White was in charge of cleaning hotel rooms - but the Employment Relations Authority has ruled she should not have had to pick up a mop or duster.

Rydges Christchurch Hotel says the decision serves as a warning to other businesses.

White, a housekeeping supervisor, complained after she was made to spend part of each day cleaning. She asked for a ruling that she did not have to regularly clean, and an unspecified penalty.

The hotel general manager, Quenton Donald, said the hotel was glad it was over: "She was a long-serving employee and over the years the role had changed but the job description hadn't."

He said the hotel would now create a new position which allowed part-supervising, part-cleaning, though that would affect other workers' hours.

It was in March last year when White and the other supervisor were asked to clean eight rooms per shift.

White went to her union because her job was to supervise not clean.

"I don't think they were happy with how far I took it," said White.

"Twenty years ago I was made supervisor, which did not include cleaning.

"I'd help the odd day when it was needed but not every day." '

Donald told the authority that supervisors at other Rydges hotels would "routinely include room cleaning with their supervising duties".

But in his decision, authority member Philip Cheyne, said cleaning rooms was not part of White's terms of employment.

The authority awarded a compliance order against the hotel but did not order a penalty.