BY DUCK PATERSON
Holiday trips for longtime employees didnB次元官网网址檛 happen with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, but they can happen again now.
B次元官网网址淏y being with the company for a number of years, long-term employees reflect a stable work environment, which improves morale,B次元官网网址� said Jason Kelland, co-owner of the A&W restaurant in Ladysmith.
Jason, along with his wife and co-owner Lori, announced two years ago that they would be rewarding longtime employees with holiday trips to show the companyB次元官网网址檚 appreciation.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately the COVID pandemic rose up and all the travel restrictions came into effect, so our employees had to wait,B次元官网网址� Lori said.
Well, the wait is finally over for Katherine Aleck and Kelly Frenchy, who will be travelling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the beginning of November. Aleck, who has worked for the local A&W for more than 11 years and Frenchy, who has worked there for more than 13 years, were handed their tickets last week by Lori and Jason. Frenchy, who is married to AleckB次元官网网址檚 daughter Loretta, will be taking his wife and 11-year-old son along with them.
Aleck said they have never really been off the Island.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very excited, others have gone on trips and have said how great it was, but for me this will be an experience. Not only will this be my first but I am doing it with my grandson, daughter and son-in-law. ThatB次元官网网址檚 exciting for me,B次元官网网址� she said.
Aleck is known at the A&W as the B次元官网网址榬ing queenB次元官网网址� as one of her main jobs is to produce the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 onion rings.
B次元官网网址淭his is my second home,B次元官网网址� she said, B次元官网网址渁nd everyone knows if IB次元官网网址檓 not at home then IB次元官网网址檒l be at my home away from home.B次元官网网址�
As far as working every day, she said the owners are great to work for.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all family, everyone gets along,B次元官网网址� Aleck said.
Frenchy said the family is looking forward to the trip as it will be a first for him and his wife and son. The family will be staying in an all-inclusive resort.
B次元官网网址淭his will be quite something, lying on the beach or just sitting around the pool,B次元官网网址� he said.
The Kellands, who also own the A&W Restaurant in Mill Bay, say the basis of their business is the staff.
B次元官网网址淲e are a very personal business,B次元官网网址� Jason said. B次元官网网址淥ur staff are not just the face of our business but they are the hands and feet. They are the backbone that the public sees. We could have the best burgers but if we donB次元官网网址檛 have dedicated staff the customers donB次元官网网址檛 feel welcome and wonB次元官网网址檛 come back. So we have the best staff who produce the best burgers.B次元官网网址�
Lori said ownership wants staff members to be happy, and also to recognize them, thank them and reward them for years of hard work.
It must work because as the Kellands said, they changed how the restaurant operated during COVID, but the business kept up B次元官网网址渂arely scathed,B次元官网网址� with full credit to the staff.
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