Casino offers staff pay deal
THE operator of the city casino is offering two weeks paid pandemic leave to the 2200 staff temporarily stood down this week.
The Star Group’s decision to offer two weeks pay to workers, in addition of allowing access to accrued annual and long-service leave, was praised by the United Workers Union, which said it was unaware of any other employers making such a commitment.
In contrast, embattled dental group Smiles Inclusive was yesterday forced to make an embarrassing backflip after telling staff they had been stood down.
The Burleigh-based company, which operates about 50 clinics under the Totally Smiles banner, told workers on Wednesday night that the company had been forced to “stand down all staff effective immediately”.
“The first attachment is a letter for casual employees informing them they will no longer be rostered,” the email reads. “The second attachment is a letter informing full-time and part-time employees of the stand-down.”
However, yesterday afternoon CEO Tony McCormack sent another message apologising for the email and stating it came from a “misunderstanding”.
He said the business was planning for a transition to a shutdown due to reduced bookings from patients.
“However, this is intended to be in conjunction with JVP’s, principal dentists and practice managers.”
Like most industries, dentistry is under pressure because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dental practices are classified as essential. However, The Australian Dental Association has issued advice asking members to restrict its procedures to treatment that does not generate an aerosol, which removes 90 per cent of emergency procedures.
Dr Philip Makepeace, who runs Totally Smiles Bundaberg, said the email was sent to him by a member of his staff.
“It created an immediate reaction,” he said.
“I was notified by a member of my staff who was basically beside herself, very emotional.
“The general feeling (of staff) was they have not stood us down, they have fired us.”
Dr Makepeace said he had since been assured it was a mistake and should not have been sent.
“They have now said we can continue under the ADA guidelines at our discretion.”
He said he would close as of midday yesterday and does not plan to reopen until the first week of May.
“They (Smiles) are not prepared to keep the doors open and pay staff and they are expecting emergency treatment to be done by call in (on-call staff) and I’ve elected not to participate partly for logistic reasons and partly for medical reasons.”