The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hotel staff walk out over wages
Bookings still being taken despite staff being owed thousands
A Fife hotel is still accepting bookings despite staff walking out over unpaid wages.
Kitchen and front of house staff at Banner’s House in Markinch are understood to be due a month’s pay, with one worker claiming she is “well over £1,000” out of pocket.
There have also been claims the hotel and restaurant in High Street has failed to pay suppliers.
Banner’s House, which recently changed ownership, admitted it was currently resolving “one or two issues”.
Chef Linda Hutchison, 37, said she was supposed to be paid at the end of November but was still waiting to be remunerated for 160 hours of work.
“I’m due 160 hours. That’s well over £1,000,” she said. “Apart from another chef who has been paid £1, nobody else has been paid.”
A spokesperson for Banner’s House said: “It has been necessary to change the nature of the structure in Banner’s, in an effort to streamline the overall business.”
Staff at a Fife hotel say they have not been paid a month’s wages just before Christmas.
Kitchen and front-of-house staff at Banner’s House in Markinch have walked out after not being paid last month, with one worker claiming she is “well over £1,000” out of pocket.
The hotel and restaurant in the town’s High Street is still open for business.
However, there are claims that suppliers as well as staff have not been paid.
Banner’s House, which recently changed ownership, admitted it was currently resolving “one or two issues” and said there were efforts to “streamline” the business because of difficult trading conditions.
Chef Linda Hutchison, 37, said she was supposed to be paid at the end of November, but was still waiting to be remunerated for 160 hours of work.
The mother of two said: “I’m due 160 hours. That’s well over £1,000.
“There are other people who have not been paid. My husband works, so I’m not in the worst situation. But there are people wondering if they are going to be able to support their families. It’s just terrible.”
She said she had been told that a pay packet was on its way.
“It’s not happened so far,” she said. “Apart from another chef who has been paid £1, nobody else has been paid. They are just totally taking the mickey.”
“Suppliers have been phoning because they have not been paid.”
Mrs Hutchison said the hotel could be a “brilliant, vibrant business.”
She added: “It’s like they have completely destroyed it.”
According to Companies House, Kevin Penman was registered as the director of Markinch Limited based at the hotel’s address in September.
He appears to have previously been involved in a number of companies that have since been dissolved.
A spokesperson for Banner’s House said: “Banner’s House has been operational for the last four years, and in this period, the economy has changed dramatically for the hospitality industry.
“Customers are using pubs and restaurants less.
“It has been necessary to change the nature of the structure in Banner’s, in an effort to streamline the overall business.
“This has regrettably led to one or two issues that are currently being resolved.”
People are wondering if they are going to be able to support their families