Artcaffe Restaurants Exposed by staff

Hello Nyakundi,

Please hide my identity. I am a staff member at Artcaffé, and we are really suffering under the current management conditions at the branch.

First, last week our PHs, off days, and leave days were deducted simply because of the matatu strike, something that was completely beyond our control as employees. It is unfair for management to punish staff for a nationwide transport crisis that affected everyone.

Secondly, the transport situation for staff working late shifts is becoming dangerous. Imagine the staff van arriving at the branch around 1:40 AM, then dropping employees along the highway at around 2 AM and leaving everyone to figure out how to get home safely on their own. This is not secure at all, especially for staff members going home at such hours.

The worst issue is the “FUNGA FUNGUA” shifts. Right now it is around 3 AM and I have just come from the PM shift, yet I am expected to wake up again at 4 AM to prepare and report back to work. We barely get any sleep. You enter the next shift already exhausted and sleepy, which is extremely risky especially in a busy restaurant environment where mistakes and accidents can easily happen because of fatigue.

We are mentally and physically drained. Some of us cannot even sleep properly because by the time you reach home, it is already time to prepare for the next shift again. This is not healthy and it is affecting staff wellbeing badly.

Another major issue is staff meals. There is no proper breakfast and sometimes no lunch at all, yet employees are expected to work long exhausting hours. Nobody seems concerned about staff welfare anymore.

Please let this reach HR because workers are really suffering. We are asking management to listen to staff concerns and improve these working conditions before things get worse.