A Highlands hotel has made staff both jobless and homeless amid the global coronavirus outbreak.
Owners at Coylumbridge Hotel near Aviemore had to tell workers who live at the hotel resort to leave the premises, leaving one Spanish worker stating that his 'best option' is to live in a tent until his food runs out.
A letter was handed out, dated 19 March, which claimed the hotel was 'taking the latest government advice' and that his employment was terminated.
The letter had the subject line: "Services no longer required."
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It read: "Taking the latest government advice, this letter is to confirm that with effect from 19 March 2020 your employment has been terminated as your services are no longer required.
"Your final payslip will include all hours worked up to and including your final day, together with any accrued holidays not already taken and one week's pay in lieu of notice.
"Please understand that if you have taken more holidays this year than you had currently built up an allowance for, then, this amount will be deducted from your final salary, as per the term and conditions of your contract of employment.
"You are asked to vacate the hotel accommodations immediately, returning any company property to John Macfarlance, hotel controller before leaving the hotel.
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"I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in securing future employment and thank you for your time at Britannia Hotels."
As reported by BBC, one of the staff members the letter was sent to, Alvaro Garcia, had worked at the hotel for two years. From Madrid, he's unsure if or when he is able to return to Spain among the travel bans in place around Europe.
He said the letter was given to at least 13 people, most of which were waiters in the hotel's restaurant.
Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Scotland, he said: "I don't know what to do. They gave me the letter and they said I had to leave immediately. They didn't give me any notice. Even in my rota, they didn't put anything different."
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He added: "I don't know why. They didn't say anything. I don't have words to say. I feel useless, I feel bad."
However, Macdonald Hotels stepped in today to help the former employees of Britannia.
A spokesperson for the company said: "The entire hospitality industry is being hit really hard, with temporary closures and lay-offs across the board.
"However, when we heard of the situation at Coylumbridge Hotel, we immediately contacted the management there to offer their employees access to our staff accommodation at the nearby Macdonald Aviemore Resort to ensure they wouldn't be put out on the street.
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"Any workers from Coylumbridge Hotel who require accommodation should get in touch with Macdonald Aviemore Resort and we'll be pleased to help them."
LADbible has contacted both Coylumbridge Hotel and Britannia Hotels for comment.
Topics: uk news, Coronavirus