I WATCHED a video of Mark Myers, head of Restaurants of Jamaica, where he speaks to his staff warning of impending lay-offs due to falling sales at his KFC and Pizza Hut locations.
He ends the video by saying how much the team means to him and imploring them to “keep safe”. I have a few questions for Mr Myers:
1) Are your stores losing money on falling sales or simply making less money?
2) How do you expect your employees who will be laid off to “keep safe” if they are not earning?
3) Does Restaurants of Jamaica have no reserves on which it can fall back on during this pandemic?
4) Did you compute the cost of paying your mostly low-salaried workers for a few more months versus the cost of reputational damage your business may suffer as a result of these planned lay-offs?
5) While I can see how your profits would be negatively impacted by shortened business hours, wouldn’t your expenses – light, water, security, etc – be likewise reduced?
6) Can you honestly say that your business had no alternative but to lay off staff? What about just making less profits but being humane?
Mr Myers, my small bucks may mean nothing to your bottom line, but I will spend my money with establishments that show that they value mankind over profits. I wonder if all of Jamaica chose to boycott your stores for even one day if you would then recognise the folly of your ways.
Lloyd’s COMMITMENT
On the other hand, I was delighted to read a story about Lloyd Pearson and Lloyd’s in Montego Bay; Mr Pearson said he will continue to pay his staff fully and just wants to sell enough to meet payroll demands. This commitment to his team must mean the world to them, and they are blessed to work for a man with such compassion and empathy for the plight of the common man.
Here is a small establishment – when compared to the mighty KFC – but a businessman who clearly has a heart and conscience and loves his ‘team’ not just by word, but by action.
Jamaica is a funny place, though: such is the hypocrisy that one can look for honours to be bestowed on Mr Myers in the months ahead, or perhaps his appointment to government think tanks or task forces, while poor Mr Pearson will have to await his well-deserved reward, hopefully, many decades down the road, in the afterlife.
Donkey was right when him seh di world nuh level.
Lydia Roberts
Kingston, Jamaica
Jamaica Peace Council 