Maitland has closed one other restaurant – and 25 staff are instantly out of labor – simply as the vacation season comes into full swing.
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Employees at Jaspers Bar and Grill, which till just lately was known as Teak Neighborhood Grill, mentioned they discovered they have been unemployed by way of an e mail despatched to them by their normal supervisor Monday night time.
The e mail got here a day after staff have been informed the restaurant can be closed on Monday, and solely Monday, as a result of that was the slowest night time of the week.
“We have been all very confused and very pissed off,” server Chelsea Proenza mentioned. “I’m a mom of 4 kids. This is our livelihood. I’ve to work.”
It’s been a rollercoaster second for Proenza and his colleagues. Weeks earlier, Maitland had celebrated the sale and renaming of the restaurant by its new homeowners, who promised to show the place round.
Teak had seen declining gross sales, staff mentioned, and recalled feeling assured concerning the adjustments, which included breakfast on weekends.
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More importantly, the workers mentioned they have been informed their jobs have been protected.
“I used to be leaping on board and really attempting to push different individuals to place confidence in it,” Hayle Silva mentioned.
WFTV reached out to the Sumter County homeowners by way of their different eating places however didn’t obtain a response. The e mail despatched to staff said that the homeowners had misplaced confidence within the firm and now not believed it to be worthwhile.
Employees additionally mentioned there have been Christmas events deliberate that needed to be canceled.
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“They simply gave up hope and went again to The Villages,” Stacey Rodriguez mentioned. “I am unable to think about anybody who would not be heartbroken to lose their job two weeks earlier than Christmas, particularly when you’ve got younger kids.”
Rodriguez mentioned she was doing odd jobs to get by way of the vacations.
All three mentioned they recognize the neighborhood’s help and hope to obtain their last paychecks by the tip of the week.
“Just watch out who you’re employed for,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Not everybody goes to care in the event that they put you in a scenario the place you are struggling.”
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