Former staff of Eight Acres Hotel share 'shocking treatment' after the hotel closed to house asylum seekers
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FORMER staff members of an Elgin hotel – which has closed to house asylum seekers – have expressed shock at their treatment.
The Eight Acres Hotel in Elgin closed its doors on April 30 to the general public.
The abrupt closure of the hotel has caused distress for both staff members and guests, with up to 20 staff members losing their jobs and guests having their plans disrupted with very little notice.
One staff member said: "We were all pulled into a meeting with the HR on March 22 and told that all reception, food and beverage, leisure, events jobs were potentially on the line.
"They did not confirm that it would close and we only found out one week before it was closing that we were actually losing our jobs and our contracts would be terminated on April 30."
According to the staff members, who wanted to remain anonymous, the asylum seekers will be there for between 18 months and three years.
The hotel has 52 rooms and a capacity of around 200. It is understood that at present there are ten asylum seekers staying at the hotel, with a further 40 expected to arrive in the town over the next four weeks or so.
The Eight Acres is currently housing only young single men, but it is expected that women and children may be housed at the hotel once further facilities – like separate eating areas – can be put in place.
Security provided by the Home Office is in place at the premises, but as asylum hotels are not detained accommodation, the residents are free to come and go.
Guests and gym members were also left with little notice of the plans. The hotel rooms had sold out for the weekend of April 30, when the closure was announced, causing guests' plans to be ruined with very little notice.
Staff members were also instructed to keep quiet about the news and to continue business as usual.
One former employee said: "The last week was a nightmare, management were not allowing us to cancel reservations or tell anyone what was happening, I just think it's shocking, we had a lady getting married in September and she was not informed until three days before the hotel closed that her wedding was cancelled.
"So many people have been lied to for weeks now, management telling staff to lie to customers and behave as normal."
"It is absolutely wrong how they have treated staff and guests, if I had chosen to leave my job I would have had to give them four weeks notice, for them to give us less than a week is completely unfair."
The hotel management kept on a few employees including chefs, housekeeping, and maintenance staff to cater to the needs of asylum seekers.
