Highland hotel staff were sacked due to ‘government advice’

STAFF at a hotel i n the Highlands have been sacked on t he spot and told to leave accommodation immediately, with the company pinning the decision on government coronavirus advice.

A letter was sent to workers at the Coylumbridge Hotel in Av i e m o r e , run by Britannia Hotels which said the decision was made based on t he Covid-19 outbreak.

A member of staff at the hotel said some people had been affected but that it was not 30 as had been reported elsewhere.

But the l e t t e r, circulating on social media, has been slammed by politicians and members of t he public alike with Britannia’s offer of “one week’s pay i n lieu of notice”.

It says: “Taking the latest government advice, this letter is to confirm that with effect from March 19 2020, your employment has been terminated as your services are no longer required.

“Your final payslip will include all hours worked up to and including your final day, together with any accrued holidays not already taken and one week’s pay i n lieu of notice.

“You are asked to vacate the hotel accommodations immediately.”

Drew Hendry – MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey – called the hotel’s move “unacceptable”.

He also said: “It is a worrying time for the hotel trade, but everyone is i n this emergency together.

“This fails even the most basic test of how to treat people.

“I have written asking them to rescind these letters.”