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The Hyatt hotels in Boston have elminated 100 of their housekeeping staff, replacing them with employees from a company called Hospitality Staffing Solutions. 

Not surprisingly, it is both the laid off workers and the workers from the outsourcing company who lose the most in this situation.  From the Boston Globe today :

“It’s unbelievable,’’ said Lucine Williams, 41, who has worked at the Hyatt Regency Boston for nearly 22 years and was making $15.32 an hour plus health, dental, and 401(k) benefits when she lost her job. “I don’t know how they can treat people like that.’’

The new housekeeping staff will make $8 an hour with no benefits.

Equally disturbing as this news is a comment in the article from Paul Sacco, president of the Massachusetts Lodging Association.  He claims that the staffing change will save the hotel money and guests won’t be able to see an change,

“If you stayed at the Hyatt last night and you bumped into the housekeeper, would you notice a difference?’"

His comment gets at the heart of this issue: these housekeepers are seen as invisible.  They can be fired and replaced by lower paid workers and no one will notice. 

Please let the Hyatt know that you do notice by not patronizing their hotels.

Full article from the Boston Globe.