The management of Farmington Hotel Liberia says its attention has been drawn to a circulated allegation against the hotel’s management from a female employee that the hotel’s General Manager, Dominique Viard, physically abused or denigrated her while using a facility of the Hotel. Deloris McGill, from the Housekeeping Department, has informed the public that on January 19, 2022 the general manager humiliated her while using the guest restroom at the hotel’s Gym. “The management of the Farmington Hotel Liberia wishes to clarify that the allegations from Madam Deloris McGill against the general manger is false and misleading. At no time was Madam McGill humiliated or physically abused by the general manager as alleged,” a Farmington Hotel press release stated.
“The truth is on January 19, 2022, the General Manager, accompanied by his wife, was doing his regular search on the facility in performance of his duty when he first saw mess at the entrance of gym. Then he decided to go and see the housekeeping supervisor. During the period, the general manager wife heard a noise in the restroom. When they decided to check, they find out that the restroom was halfway open. When he looks, he saw a staff in person of Ms. McGill, who was using the guest restroom which is totally prohibited by the rules and regulations of the facility, he immediately closed it and apologized and waited outside with his wife.
“When he saw Mrs. McGill, who came out of the guest bedroom, he told her in the presence of his wife not to use the guest restroom anymore. He later informed the human resource manager about the issue, and after a few hours the human resource manager informed the general manager that Madam McGill had apologized for her action, at which time the general manager was not in the meeting—during the period she rendered her apology,” the release said.
According to the release, “The management of Farmington Hotel wants to make it clear that it is an established policy known to all employees not to use the guest restroom. Since Madam Deloris McGill was in violation of this policy, the Human Resource Department invited her for questioning. She urgently apologized to the management through the human resource.
“Though the employees’ restroom was just a stone away from the guest restroom being used by Madam McGill, the management accepted her apology. It is to our great dismay that Madam Deloris McGill, who apologized for her action, would embarked on a negative character assassination claim of labor abuse against the general manager and the hotel’s management. It is surprising that the management has been receiving calls and visits from media institutions about labor abuse against Madam Deloris McGill.
“It is unfortunate that a lady who apologized for violating a policy of the hotel could have tried maligning the character of the hotel’s hardworking general manager. The Farmington Hotel Management wishes to inform the Liberian people and the general public that the hotel is always open and has nothing to hide. The lady in question, Madam Deloris McGill, is still in the employ of the hotel and working on regular schedule. Farmington Hotel Liberia does not engage into bad labor, and wishes not to be drawn into politics.”
The release continued, “The hotel is not a political institution, and wants all to stop hiding behind unsubstantiated issues to derail the good working relationship of the General Manger, Dominique Viard, and the entire management team of the hotel. Finally, the Farmington Hotel Management urges all media practitioners to fast check their information on Farmington Hotel at all times before publishing.
“Henceforth, the hotel’s management extends thanks and appreciation to various institutions, including the Liberty Achievers Award (LYA), for recognizing us for our services and operation over the years. All can be assured that the hotel will not be complacent, but will continue to work for the betterment of Liberia’s hospitality industry.”