Bosses accused of divisive elitism

INDUSTRY

British industry operates an "upstairs downstairs" regime with many companies giving managers longer holidays, health insurance schemes and even separate lavatories and showers, according to a new report.

A survey of 550 workplaces by the Manufacturing Science and Finance union revealed "wide gaps" in status and perks between staff and their bosses. Senior managers have separate dining facilities in almost one in five firms, 38 per cent have health insurance schemes, one in three have longer holidays and one in five have separate toilet facilities. MSF general secretary Roger Lyons said: "Until we move on from this Victorian style `upstairs downstairs' segregation of facilities and benefits, how can we work together to meet the challenges of the next century?"