Wonder workers - American hotelier impressed by Jamaican students on summer programme
Published:Monday | October 29, 2018 | 12:00 AMErica Virtue
American hotelier Richard Gregor has one major wish for next year, more Jamaican tertiary students for seasonal employment in his three hotels.
Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner from Lake George in New York recently, Gregor had nothing but praise for his Jamaican seasonal employees, who travel to the US on the summer work and travel cultural exchange programme.
"They are an awesome group of workers and they are like family to us. They are great employees. Some of them started out in housekeeping and have been promoted to front desk, like Samantha Roberts. She is already locked in for the 2019 season as long as she gets her visa," said Gregor, whose wife Nerisha is Guyanese.
He pointed out that Lake George, which is about three hours drive upstate of New York City, is very cold and by next week his three hotels, Lake Haven, Motel Montreal and The Sundowner, will all be closed, until May next year.
When they reopen Gregor will need 17 more seasonal workers and he would not mind if they were all from Jamaica.
"Other than the fact that they are an awesome group of kids and remind me of myself at their age working their way through college, they are trainable. And when we train them, it's better if we have them back, so we would not have a need to train new individuals," said Gregor.
He argued that it is easier to train the Jamaicans as English is their first language, than to train non-native English speakers, because of the language barrier.
Gregor noted that many of the Jamaicans he employs each year are recommended by those who preceded them because they know who will do a good job, and many are friends.
They include Samantha Roberts, a final-year student at the University of Technology.
She has worked with the Gregors for three consecutive years, and has enjoyed her time.
'HEARD HORROR STORIES'
According to Roberts, before going on the summer work and travel cultural exchange programme she heard stories of students being badly treated by employers, working long hours for little pay and having to deal with racism. But that has not been her story.
"My experience has been great. My bosses treat me very well. I can't speak for other bosses, but mine treat us like family. If we have to go shopping for supplies they are the ones who take us," said Roberts.
"In terms of work hours, when you first go, you may not get long hours, because they have to see how you work. The better you work, the longer hours you get," added Roberts.
For Gregor, treating his Jamaican employees kindly comes easy as he is on the same team with them.
"They have dreams, and I tie their work and performance to bonuses at the end of the season. So if there is something they want to buy for their families they can do so," declared Gregor.
He said the problem for some employers is that they view their seasonal employees as commodities.
"You lose one you get another but mine are like my family," said Gregor.
"I do better financially when my employees are happy, because if they are happy they make my guests happy. If my guests are happy they will come back," added Gregor.