Workers laid off from their jobs at the Edinburgh Dungeon have expressed their relief at the news they will get furlough pay after all.
Actors and front of house staff at the world-famous tourist attraction were laid off just one day before Boris Johnson announced government protections for 80% of workers’ pay on March 20.
Edinburgh Live broke the story of workers’ outrage at being sacked en-masse in the middle of the pandemic.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live at the time, two former employees described how workers had been ‘blindsided’ by the decision, taken by owners Merlin Entertainment, to terminate their contracts with no notice.
They described how they had been left ‘feeling like pieces of meat’ and looking for work in the middle of the pandemic.
Speaking at the time a worker said: “I’ve just moved into a new flat I had to spend my savings on a the deposit – there are a lot of us in similar situations.”
The news they had lost their jobs came just a day before the government’s announcement that workers could be furloughed with the government paying up to 80% of their salary - but dungeon staff feared they had missed the boat, until now.
Today the 19 Edinburgh Dungeon workers who lost their jobs were delighted to receive an email from Merlin confirming that they are being offered re-employment and furlough pay until they could return to work.
One relived worker told Edinburgh Live today: ‘Hallelujah Merlin have now offered the workers they laid off furlough payment’.
Today's news was met with delight by staff who can now look forward to some degree of financial security in these uncertain times.
Edinburgh Dungeon General Manager Kathryn Angel confirmed: “Nineteen seasonal employees from Edinburgh Dungeon had their employment terminated following the closure of the Edinburgh Dungeon due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“Following the launch of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme we have subsequently been able to reach out to those employees and offer them employment back.”
