The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
ATLANTIS has asked staff at the Paradise Island resort and casino to either take two weeks unpaid leave or take earned vacation days due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hurt the tourism and travel industry.
In a letter to staff on Monday, signed by human resources VP Karen Carey, the resort said it is essential to “make changes” and take steps to “help us all manage through this as situations evolve.”
“To this end we are asking team members to take earned vacation days or volunteer to take two weeks unpaid leave of absence effective immediately,” the letter notes, urging employees to contact their managers and confirm their vacation dates.
“We want you to feel absolutely confident that we are doing our best to shoulder the burden of our operations to secure our future and to lessen the burden that this situation imposes on you,” the letter continues. “We are all in this together to let’s continue to be resolute and strong.”
Ed Fields, Atlantis senior vice president, confirmed the letter was authentic, but he declined to offer any other comment on the matter saying he was in a meeting at the time.
Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union vice president Harrison Williams said the announcement appeared to be a precaution taken by the mega-resort.
“I heard about the letter and I am not sure what direction the hotel is moving in, but it seems to be in accordance to what is happening in the world,” he said. “The world is shutting everything down for a period and the prime minister spoke of the same thing. So maybe this is a precaution.
“Maybe Atlantis is going to be losing out and is making preparations for that, but the union will have to meet with Atlantis executives and determine what exactly is going on and do the best for our members. I really can’t speculate. We will have to meet with them first.”
On Sunday, Atlantis revealed that its occupancy levels, which usually peak at this time of year, are now at only 50 percent.
An employee of Atlantis who spoke to The Tribune on condition of anonymity said staff seem to be okay with it, so far.
“So far I haven’t heard anything negative about this letter,” the employee said. “Of course, we might just be numb or happy that it (the letter) doesn’t say ‘go home for good,’ but I have not heard any complaints about it. In times like this we have to cross our fingers and hope for the best. It’s really a watch and see situation.”
Asked whether the government will be ready to offer assistance to those whose employment will be affected by COVID-19 shut downs, Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes offered no direct comment, but said the government is giving consideration to all things connected to and affected by the disease. He added that Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest will offer more on this during his contribution in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Brensil Rolle, minister of public service and National Insurance, was also contacted about the same concern. He told The Tribune through a representative that the government has no position on this as yet and also referred to Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Assembly.
Attempts to reach Director of Labour John Pinder were unsuccessful up to press time.
The Bahamas announced that it recorded its first case of COVID-19 at a press conference on Sunday. A 61-year-old woman, with no recent travel history tested positive recently.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 8 months ago
What Ed Fields (a/k/a Uncle Tom) hasn't told the Atlantis staff is that the two-weeks of unpaid leave will be reassessed by management at the end of the initial two-week period to determine whether it should be extended for a longer period of time. And most workers know John Pinder and Dion Foulkes owe their allegiance to the employers as government's appointed representatives for smoothing over employer-employee tensions,
Everyone gets taken care of but the workers/staff in times of crisis. These poor souls always get told to just go home without pay and wait on the whistle to come back to work. Oh well, it is what it is.
bogart 4 years, 8 months ago
My..my...my...tut...tut...tut. This hotel granted special privilages having the MOST FAVOURED ARRANGEMENT....IN THE NATION ...by the Bahamian people to ecourage its growth and prosperity of this magnificant world well known hotel.....and now Bahamian Workers in the most worse of times Bahamian workers....facing crises having faced regressive Govt imposed VAT and even second wave of regressive VAT.........all workers struggling.....CUPBOARDS BARE......little or no money....to meet thise extraordinary expenses..NEEDING. MONEY to buy LIFE SAVING CRITICAL SUPPLIES FOR FAMILY, CHILDREN, BABIES.....And now in the worse of times HOTEL wants... to have workers go home unpaid leave. This is the time of all times to help its workers and children with money to buy supplies to have a better chance of staying alive and not expose staff added risks and God forbid losing thoroughly trained well trained staff going home on induced? unpaid leave.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 8 months ago
The past and current owners of this hotel property have long ago forgotten and taken for granted all of the concessions given to them by Bahamian taxpayers.
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
Maybe its time to reconsider the pillars of the Bahamian economy, but that would require visionary leadership, which is sorely lacking in this country!. One adverse event and everything shuts down? And just to think, hurricane season is right around the corner!
Porcupine 4 years, 8 months ago
joeblow, the world is shutting down. What can we do about it? Nothing except act responsible to those around us.
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
@Porcupine… while we ride out the storm we can plan for the future. The reason this economy is so vulnerable is because of the lack of planning that has been taking place over the last 4 decades. We put all our eggs in two baskets. One has shriveled to the point of no return and the other is perched on the edge of a cliff. Economies like China's survive because they think 100 years ahead, we are still stuck thinking about a job, feeling good and the next election!
Porcupine 4 years, 8 months ago
I will agree with that.
The_Oracle 4 years, 8 months ago
Sure, Many Bahamians live paycheck to paycheck, no different than our successive Governments. (what is the value of their unfunded liabilities? How many foreign medical vendors have the Government on cash sales only?) Many businesses also survive month to month. Employees don't deserve unpaid leave any more than a business deserves to bleed out on payroll without income, possibly without supplies to sell. What do you think will happen when a positive case is tied to a business location? I think the public will shut them down, with zero patronage. A rumor has that potential in this age of fake news. This situation is going to affect every aspect of life, GLOBALLY. Where is government going to find the money to buy ventilators (that don't exist) or needed meds? We suffer from hospital Bed shortages in normal times! No, unfortunately our politicos, Civil servants and a large % of the population don't look beyond that 5 year cycle.
TalRussell 4 years, 8 months ago
What time is it over on Paradise Island? Not time for the bullshit - to this end we are asking comrade how will they pay their bills team members to volunteer take unpaid time off.
Didn't another Billionaire Richard Branson, not just finished saying the same exact bullshit to his UK worried how will they pay their bills** team members.
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