ABSTRACT
Having compassion for victims of oppression and learning to ask yourself ‘What’s it like not to be me?’ are important qualities to develop for all human beings but particularly valuable for would-be hospitality managers. Both slavery and neo-slavery involve the oppression of the weak by the strong and might be seen as a form of sociopathic behaviour, but in reality they demonstrate an ethical view that celebrates individual gain at the expense of others. This chapter outlines a number of ethical perspectives that assist in understanding how supposedly ‘moral’ people are capable of what might be considered immoral actions. Hospitality managers are typically in a position of power in relation to their employees. In the absence of the countervailing collective power of trade unions, the rates paid as well as the terms and conditions of employment are all determined by the employer, largely unchecked. Driven by commercial targets and limited public scrutiny of the impact of managerial decisions on a powerless workforce, employees are frequently oppressed and exploited for commercial gain. Yet this can be counter-productive, leading to high staff turnover and recruitment difficulties. Learning to manage in a way that does not exploit weakness and with compassion and empathy can create a more harmonious and stable workplace that ultimately delivers commercial objectives.
