Fury in Ibiza as restaurant employees ‘forced to rip tourists off’ | World | News
A restaurant employee in Ibiza claims she was forced to rip off tourists, particularly Brits, otherwise she would be threatened and face degrading treatment. One former worker says she was dismissed mid-shift when she refused to take part in the scheme which would see managers forcing their employees to add surcharges and unrequested extras to tourists orders who would have been none the wiser.
The ex-employee of a fast-food restaurant alleged that staff were told to swap standard menu items for more expensive versions to make tourists pay more. A typical example, she said, involved replacing a regular cheeseburger with an extra-large version and adding extras such as additional burger patties, cheese, or chips, all without the customer asking. “We had to do it without them realising”, she claimed.
The name of the fast-food restaurant is unknown. She said management claimed she had failed her probation period when she refused to rip off sun seeking holidaymakers leading to her dismissal mid shift, Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera and Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
The woman’s problems only worsened from there as when she attempted to return her uniform and collect her final pay her manager refused to accept one item of the clothing. She alleges her boss cited stains and a hole.
Conditions at the eatery were one of intimidation and humiliation, claims the former staff member. Kitchen staff endured long shifts, finishing at 4am and starting just five hours later at 9am.
Recounting one incident where a colleague was allegedly forced to mop the floor with her hands the woman claims that many employees had either been sacked or left, she said, while others stayed because they had no alternative.
This isn’t the first time tourists have seemingly been taken advantage of and made to pay a higher price whilst holidaying in Europe.
Just last month a shocking undercover investigation revealed that tourists are being charged as much as 50% more than French customers in Paris.
Le Parisien, the city’s leading newspaper, found several disgruntled holidaymakers visiting France’s capital had complained about being overcharged.
