BOSTON (WHDH) - Four Seasons employees who were laid-off during the coronavirus pandemic shared highlights from their recent victory over their former company.
On May 12, 194 staff members said they received brief phone calls notifying them of their firing and then later were given notice that they would not be allowed back on the premises and that their severance would be less than what they were told in the company handbook, according to a release issued by the Boston City Council.
After the workers voiced their concerns, with help from the community and labor groups, that decision was overturned.
The workers said they came together to speak up and fight for themselves and the industry.
“When you see something that’s not right you must step up so that’s what we did because we realized the hospitality industry is being attacked,” one former employee told 7NEWS.
They won up to 26 weeks of severance and medical benefits through the end of May.
A spokesperson for the hotel released a statement sent to city councilors Tuesday reading in part:
“Our initial decision on severance fell short of our duty to honor that service and loyalty. We have both apologized to the affected employees and reversed our earlier decision. Each affected employee has been offered separation payments under our standard terms – as if there were no global crisis – which grant up to 26 weeks of pay depending on longevity.
The hotel said they, like many others in the hospitality industry, have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Boston City Council voted last week to condemn the hotel following the employee terminations.
The spokesperson wrote that they hope the employees will be able to rejoin the staff in the future. They will not be asked to undergo a traditional application process and their tenure, vacation accrual rate and other benefits will be restored if they are rehired within two years.
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