London Bagel Museum Faces Scrutiny Over 'Shift-Splitting' Contracts, Raising Concerns of Overwork

London Bagel Museum's rapid growth is being shadowed by allegations of overwork among its part-time employees, stemming from 'shift-splitting' contracts. Workers are reportedly struggling with insufficient rest and excessive labor due to these fragmented work hours.

'Shift-splitting' refers to the practice where companies intentionally divide working hours into short segments to hire more employees, often with the aim of reducing labor costs. This type of contract has drawn criticism for exacerbating income instability and leading to overwork.

According to numerous accounts, part-time employees at London Bagel Museum are frequently required to work short shifts of less than four hours, often multiple times a day, or endure long hours without adequate breaks. They claim that these short shifts hinder their ability to get sufficient rest and that low wages make it difficult to make ends meet.

One part-time employee lamented, "Some days, I have to commute to work two or three times. Considering the travel time, I have to dedicate most of my day to London Bagel Museum." They added, "It's hard to cover living expenses with such short working hours, so I have to juggle other part-time jobs," highlighting the difficulties they face.

Another worker commented, "We're incredibly busy, but we're not given enough time to properly rest." They continued, "Standing all day makes my legs swell and my back ache." They expressed hope that "as the company grows, they'll also improve the working conditions for their employees."

While 'shift-splitting' isn't inherently illegal, it's facing criticism for potentially harming employees' health and overall quality of life. Experts argue, "Companies prioritizing short-term profits by demanding sacrifices from their employees is socially unacceptable."

Some critics claim that London Bagel Museum isn't fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. They argue that the company's success is due to the hard work and dedication of its employees and that this shouldn't be overlooked. There is growing support for the idea that companies should prioritize employee welfare alongside profit generation.

London Bagel Museum has yet to release an official statement regarding the controversy. However, it is anticipated that this issue will intensify calls for improved employment practices at the company.

Labor experts are urging the government and businesses to work together to foster a healthy employment culture to prevent cases like London Bagel Museum from recurring. They emphasize that companies must actively improve their employees' working conditions, while the government should strengthen its role in monitoring and penalizing unfair employment practices.

Furthermore, part-time employees are advised to assert their rights when facing unfair treatment. Labor-related NGOs offer counseling and legal support services for part-time workers and encourage them to seek assistance when necessary.

In other news, the South Korean national football team is scheduled to play a friendly match against Bolivia on November 14, 2025, at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium. The Korea Football Association plans to hold a ceremony during the match to celebrate Lee Jae-sung's 100th appearance for the national team.

The ceremony will take place before the match, and Lee Jae-sung will be presented with a trophy and commemorative plaque marking his 100th cap. Lee Jae-sung made his international debut on March 27, 2015, against Uzbekistan at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium.