NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Four Seasons Ocean Club said yesterday it will continue to support and work with its employees throughout the transition to a bi-weekly payroll from the previous weekly one.
The move has angered the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (BHCAWU) into threats of industrial action.
In a statement to Eyewitness News Online, the resort said: “At The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, we value our staff’s well-being and strive to ensure that our resort operates as a great place to work for all.
Recently, we migrated to a bi-weekly pay program following a six-week notice to all employees and the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union.
“All other terms and benefits of employment remain the same. We understand that change may not come naturally for all; during this six-week lead we employed a third party consultant to provide weekly counseling sessions on successful budgeting and fiscal planning to support our employees during this change.
The resort added: “We will continue to support and work with our employees throughout this transition.”
BHCAWU president Darrin Woods said last week the union’s 6,000 plus members were effectively on ‘work-to-rule’, and were instructed to not go beyond their job descriptions in their employment contracts.
The union’s position has been fueled by the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of its bid for an injunction that would have prevented the Four Seasons Ocean Club from switching to a bi-weekly payroll and away from the previous weekly one.
Mr Woods has argued that the new payroll system is being introduced at the worst possible time during the low point of the tourism season.
