Like many hotels across the country, the 49-suite Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., has had to temporarily close due to COVID-19. During this unprecedented time, it has taken several steps to help support its employees.
Perhaps most importantly, the resort plans to pay its full-time and salary employees—including full-time servers, cooks, housekeepers and front desk agents—over the 30-day closure. During this period, eligible employees will not have to use sick time or personal time off. Additionally, all managers will be able to remotely complete and receive credit for management training courses.
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Rancho Valencia Resort also plans to distribute all perishable food, such as milk, eggs, juices and produce, to hourly employees. For employees and families in need when the shelter in place orders are lifted, the resort is launching a canned food drive in partnership with local San Diego nonprofit ProduceGood to provide them with excess fruits and produce from local farmers and residents. Over the course of the resort’s closure, it also plans on holding a weekly employee raffle, gifting gas cards, grocery cards and more.
"Our employees are the heart and soul of our resort, and we are committed to keeping them healthy and safe,” GM Coni Thornburg said in a statement. “During these difficult times, our focus is on service to those in need, both within and outside of our Rancho Valencia family.”