Serena Sends All Employees on Unpaid Leave until Further Notice

Serena Hotel is the latest victim of Covid-19 in the hospitality sector as it sent all employees for unpaid leaves effective from June 1, 2020, until further notice.

In a memo sent to all its employees, Serena Hotel said that it had canceled its initial plans of resuming operations in June. This could have been impossible since the Covid-19 cases continue to spike.

“Further to our memo dated 2nd April and the separate communication sent out to staff regarding April and May 2020 salaries, it is clear that our units will not open for business in the Months of June. The situation is being monitored and we hope and pray that we are able to open for business in the not too distant future,” announced the Serena Managing Director Mahmud Jan Mohammed.

The Hotel through its management made the announcement adding that only staff that will be providing essential services will be allowed to work, but they will only receive 30 percent of the usual pay.

“Where staff is needed on a rotational basis to keep the properties serviced; the staff shall be paid for the days worked,” Mr. Jan Mohammed added.

All the affected staff will receive a 10,000 shillings allowance excluding the NSSF and NHIF deductions for the month of June.

The management urged its staff members to understand the current situation and support the decision until normal operations resume.

Serena Hotel now joins a long list of Hotels that have closed or have laid off employees due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, Fairmont Hotels announced that it had terminated the contracts of employees since it could not sustain its business during the Covid-19 crisis.

“It is regrettable that our Hotels, Fairmont The Norfolk and Fairmont Safari Club have since ceased their operations as a spiral effect o the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent flooding of the Fairmont Mara Safari Club,” the Fairmont Hotels had announced.