The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The British Colonial Hilton yesterday confirmed it has given staff the “option” of taking two weeks’ vacation leave as it joins Atlantis in seeking to reduce labour costs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pablo Casal, the downtown Nassau resort’s general manager, told Tribune Business that staff were not being forced into this choice and had to consult with their respective line managers first before taking it.

“It is for whoever wants to take a leave. They can ask and talk to their managers and arrange it. They aren’t forced to take leave; it is optional,” he explained. “This is an ongoing situation and we are monitoring day-by-day.”

The British Colonial Hilton’s move came as Atlantis asked staff to “volunteer” to take two weeks unpaid leave after it revealed that occupancy levels had plunged to 50 percent, as opposed to the high 80 percent to low 90 percent range it normally achieves during the peak March winter period, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The timing and content of Atlantis’ message to its roughly 8,000 staff shows just how drastic, and sudden, the fall-off in booking pace and business levels has been following the various travel bans and other shutdowns coming out of the US in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen Carey, senior vice-president of human resources for The Bahamas’ largest private sector employer, presented staff with two options - to either take earned vacation days or “volunteer” to take two weeks’ unpaid leave with immediate effect - as the resort bids to align costs with the unprecedented drop in revenues.

“While our efforts continue and we work on this together, it is now essential and important for us to make changes and take further steps to help us all manage through this as situations evolve,” Ms Carey wrote in her letter.

“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. We encourage you to speak with your manager today and confirm your dates.”

Seeking to rally morale, Ms Carey added: “Over the years we have continually demonstrated our enduring values regarding the safety, satisfaction and well-being of our guests and team members. In the current climate, where Covid-19 is impacting everyone globally, it is no different for us....

“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. We are all in this together, so let’s continue to be resolute and strong. We remain optimistic that we can count on your support and co-operation at this critical time. We will get through this.”