Who is the employer?

[Wingedharpy]

Posting for traffic.
Can anyone tell me, if an individual works at for eg. WHSmith on a motorway services, are they an employee of W. H Smith or are they an employee of Moto, Welcome Break or whichever company owns the site?
Tried Google but it was no help.
Thank you.

What does their contract say?

WH Smith I believe

WHS smith.

Whose name is on the payslip or contract?

Starting point is to check the contract of employment - that should state the legal entity that employs them. Just beware if it’s very old though, as employment sometimes transfers between legal entities - for example, if a different operator took over the site.

Each services & company has negotiated a completely different set up.

I used to work for a company that did contracts eg with Waitrose at services. The manager & team leader worked for the services operator but the staff on the tills & stocking up were employees of Waitrose. The Starbucks was a franchise & employees were paid by the franchise owner so neither Waitrose or the services operator.

The contracts are complex and an individual employee could work for the services company eg moto, the company directly, a franchise owner or could be agency staff

Apologies - didn't want to bog down thread or ramble but, no access to payslip or contract of employment.
I wish to write to their employer but want to ensure it goes to the right company.
I'll just add, it is to submit a compliment to the member of staff/employer for going above and beyond - not to complain.

I'd address it to the store manager directly - it might be a concession of WH Smith or it might be a franchise.

In that case you could direct it to WH smiths or to the services company. As long as you give the location they can forward it on.

we've done this for a Costa drive through within a services.

Sent the letter to Costa just stating which services area we'd visited.

Thank you all.
I knew you'd know.

I just want to say what a lovely thing to do, so many people don't pass on praise and only negative comments seem to be worth writing to the "boss" about.

As pp have mentioned you could email both the services and the retailer? Should definitely get to the right person then.