Please allow me the opportunity to express my concerns and those of other employees about a frightening situation that is plaguing the good old faithful employees at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel and Casino. Over the last two and a half years, under the newly-appointed general manager, Great Bay Hotel has seen an alarming increase in turnover of senior staff, along with a large number of wrongful dismissal settlements, something no company can really afford at any time, let alone these very tough economic times.
Never before have there been so many labor related matters, many of which are either on-going, settled, or swept by the wayside. Staff are beginning to wonder if this new manager is on a special mission to make the dinosaurs extinct rather than having them as endangered species.
During that 2 year period Sonesta Great Bay Hotel has seen the exit of, to be exact, for senior staff:
One (1) Financial Comptroller
One (1) Guest service manager
One (1) Food & Beverage Manager
One (1) Head of maintenance
One (1) Head of Cleaning Staff
Two (2) Chefs
One (1) Sales Manager
All of these senior staffers have interesting stories to tell as they were either forced to resign or just simply walked away disgruntled.
From the inception there has been gross disrespect for local managers, two of whom were given awards as supervisors, a complete disregard for their managerial office, a situation unheard of in the arena of their immigrant counterparts.
As for junior staff the situation differs slightly but with similar trend.
One has to wonder, is this practice counter-productive, and if this industry of hospitality benefited in any way from this type of management, or is it evidence of an abuse of authority with no regards for our human resource.
Perhaps, there is a broader picture here, a desperate attempt to discredit the previous administration with whom all of the disenchanted served for many years, or most likely just a dictator who manages like that of a Mexican Drug Lord where you do or die.
Presently there are growing concerns by the remaining long serving staffers as they perceive a very grim future. Some of whom have already been threatened with dismissal or have been offered a honorable discharge, for reasons no less than that of boosting the dictator's ego.
It is so sad that very often after the fact the question is asked, "Why didn't anyone see a red flag?"
Well, today that red flag is seen flying on the Great Bay Beach Hotel despite the tranquility of the sea. I am appealing to the Ministry of Labour, the WIFOL president who represents the rights of the employees, and the property owners, to have a very serious look at the operations of Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel where the employees are experiencing serious abuse.
Thank You editor,
Willie Leak SXM
