Mohonk Staff Update

May 12, 2020

Dear Mohonk Staff:

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well at home. After careful consideration, we have decided to shift our anticipated reopening date from Monday, June 1^st to Monday, June 15^th. Extending the temporary closure an additional two weeks provides more time for COVID cases to continue to decline and also gives our management team ample time to call staff back to Mohonk for the necessary additional training that will be required in this new environment.

Our Executive Group has been working tirelessly to build an operating plan that will keep our staff and guests safe upon reopening. Our continuing mission of providing recreation and renewal of body, mind, and spirit in a beautiful natural setting is needed now more than ever. As such, we’ve built plans to be able to offer a Mohonk experience to guests this summer even while physical distancing and maximum sanitization measures are required.

What follows is a descriptive explanation of our amended operating plan. As you read this amended operating plan, please note that some services will be suspended when we reopen based on regulation limitations and therefore employees will not be called back to work all at once. Employees will be called back to work in phases.

• We will open the resort on June 15, 2020 only allowing a maximum of 300 guests per night – which represents less than 50% of our maximum possible capacity. This strategy is consistent with the way in which the State ramped down to ultimately close the non-essential and other service-related businesses. Reducing density is essential to helping reduce the spread of the virus.
• We will send guests a pre-arrival email form with questions regarding signs/symptoms. We will ask that if guests are presenting COVID-19 symptoms, have cold and flu-like symptoms, or have a compromised immune system, that they please reschedule their vacation with us.
• Arrivals at the Gatehouse – employees, guests, contractors – all people will be stopped at the Gatehouse to have their temperature checked – any measurement confirmed to be 100 degrees or greater will lead to that person(s) not being allowed to enter the property.
• Upon entering the property, all people will be required to wear a facemask when in any public area of the Mountain House property and anytime when the required six foot distance cannot be maintained, as has been ordered by the Governor on April 17, 2020.
• Upon arrival at the Mountain House, guests will be welcomed at the West Porch Cochere without valet as an option (self-parking in upper lots) and room keys will be pre-made to expedite the arrival process. We will only allow one family/couple at a time in the elevators. Once in the room, guests will not be offered daily housekeeping service nor nightly turndown, unless specifically requested by the guest.
• All commerce exchange will be touchless whenever possible and the Front Desk will have Plexiglass barriers to protect employees and guests in this closer-than-six-feet area. Departure will be expedited by allowing guests to drop keys, receive e-mail bills and preload their cars with bellmen and valet assistance based on guest’s comfort level/request.
• Our Food and Beverage operations will function as room service delivery or pickup, takeout from the Main Dining Room “Marketplace,” and Granary with no self-service permitted. Guests will choose to either order room service with no additional delivery charge or pick up their meals under a takeout model similar to how many restaurants now operate. Both services will be included in the rate. Takeout will be administered in the Main Dining Room “Marketplace” with appropriate measures in place to ensure reduced density through physical distancing and the use of disposable to-go containers to sustain cleanliness. We will control capacity at any given time with the usual lunch and dinner meal period sign-in sheets that we have become accustomed to with the Granary during breakfast. Once guests gather their takeout meals from the Main Dining Room Market they can choose to return and dine in their rooms, or select one of three al fresco dining spaces; the Parlor, Sunset or Lake Porches with appropriately-spaced picnic tables that will have their tablecloths changed after each dining party. Seating hosts and sanitation staff will be stationed at these locations to control and reduce density and cleanliness concerns. The same procedures will be deployed at the Granary with reduced seating capacity.
• Beverage service will be offered grab-and-go in the Main Dining Room during meal service and at separate locations throughout the core area of the House, including the Carriage Lounge, Lake Lounge, Spirits on the Sunset Porch, Granary, and other designated locations as to not encourage crowding. The primary goal will be to offer enough small “bars” to spread out the demand.
• Upon opening, we will not offer traditional tea service in the Lake Lounge because of high density concerns.
• Our Spa will remain closed for treatments until we learn from the State that it is safe to once again offer spa treatments. Spa and fitness retail will be available with limited capacity. The Spa wing’s indoor fitness room, verandas, steam, sauna and locker rooms will also be closed as we await further advisement. Limited capacity Motion Room classes and guest mindfulness and fitness programs which can be modified to the outdoors, or offered privately, will be integral to our wellness offering.  The indoor pool will be open, limited to half capacity and entry will be controlled at all times.
• Upon opening, we will not be allowing any day meal, day spa, or wedding business to ensure we maintain 50% or less capacity and no overcrowding.
• The Gift Shop will be open but only allowing 10 guests in at any time with no self-service coffee milk/sugar bar, more stringent cleaning measures and Plexiglass barriers at check-out.
• The majority of Mohonk’s recreation venues will be operational with physical distancing and cleaning measures in place. Kids’ Club will not be operational this summer as it requires co-mingling of children from various travel parties. Activities and Evening Entertainment events will be modified to incorporate physical distancing measures and will be designed at outdoor venues whenever possible and will ensure six-foot distancing between guests’ parties.
• Golf and Day Guest hiking will open before June with physical distancing restrictions in place.
• We will not open our staff dormitories. A significantly reduced number of resident staff will be housed in select rooms in the hotel, which provides independent bathrooms for each person and more control for ensuring physical distancing.

In the coming weeks, our Human Resources team will be contacting staff to communicate return to work dates. As you can imagine, things will be different than they were before. For example, staff and guests will be required to wear masks and heightened cleaning protocols will be the responsibility of every Mohonk staff member – which is for the safety of everyone and is in line with Governor Cuomo’s executive orders and CDC guidelines.

We know that even during these difficult times, our staff will still be able to provide a warm and welcoming environment for our guests.

We look forward to working alongside you once again.

Mohonk Staff Update

April 20, 2020

For our wonderful staff who are currently on furlough: We miss you! Mohonk is where we go to work every day but it is really much more than just a job. We become accustomed to seeing the people we work with every day.  People we enjoy, people we like, people we love. Many of our Mohonk staff have been friends for decades and accustomed to seeing each other on a daily basis. This has been possibly the most difficult part of all of this. I think that our hearts will jump for joy when we reopen, not just because we will get back to jobs that we know and are good at, but because we will once again be among our coworkers.

We hope you are staying safe and healthy. While you’re at home, we hope you’ll consider joining Nina Smiley for a virtual Mindfulness session tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jon Levin

Instructions to view/update your contact information via the ADP Employee Self-Service website

1. Login to ADP Employee Self-Service using a web browser www.workforcenow.adp.com.
2. At the top of the home page, go to MYSELF->My Information->Profile.
3. You can view/edit your personal phone number, email address, mailing address, and/or emergency contact(s). Please make sure your personal email address is being used for notifications so you receive important communications from Mohonk (there is a box you can check next to email “Use for Notifications”).

More Information For Furloughed Staff

April 6, 2020

Voluntary Benefits

The following is a guideline for staff who may be participating in various programs that result in voluntary deductions from paychecks, as of this date April 1, 2020. This is informational only and please consult with your Plan documents for any questions regarding your coverages:

March 30, 2020

We continue to follow the situation with the continued spread and resulting impact on Mohonk Mountain House of COVID-19 in New York State. We understand that there have been some questions related to our extension of the temporary closure to May 31, 2020, so we have included below the answers to some frequently asked questions.  We have also included some important additional information.

March 25, 2020

Dear Mohonk Staff:

Due to the current unprecedented situation facing us, and the rest of the world, that is the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have no choice but to temporarily reduce staffing levels at this time. The speed and vast reach of the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, as well as the declarations of states of emergency and directives at the federal, state and local level, including but not limited to: for individuals to remain in place, for individuals to avoid congregating, limit travel, and to work remotely were all unforeseeable. These sudden changes caused, and will continue to cause, among other things, a drastic impact on our business, including the closure of Mohonk Mountain House.

As a result of the ongoing issues, Mohonk Mountain House has determined that it must put most employees on temporary furlough status. You will be on temporary furlough status, which means you will not report to work and will not be paid for a period of time. This difficult decision was made only after careful consideration and evaluation of our options.

Your furlough period is scheduled to begin on March 30, 2020. At this time, we anticipate the furlough will last until the current situation allows us to return to business as usual, which we expect to be approximately two months. But there is a significant amount of uncertainty and this could be subject to change. This event is expected to be temporary and we do anticipate you returning to active employment status at Mohonk Mountain House in fewer than six months.

Below you will find additional details and answers to certain questions you might have. It is important for you to understand that your employment has not been terminated.

No Work for the Company While on Furlough: While on furlough, you are prohibited from performing any work for the company. You cannot perform work with your Mohonk email, conduct business over text messages, or participate in work related phone calls during the furlough period. Any important communications will be sent to your personal email address. Please ensure that your personal email address is included in your ADP profile so that you will receive these important updates. Mohonk Mountain House may restrict your access to company property or the company systems or network during the temporary furlough period, including your Mohonk email account.

Your Health Insurance Benefits: While on furlough, if you are receiving benefits through the company, you are eligible to continue to participate in medical, dental, vision and other benefit plans on the same terms and conditions that exist as of the date of this letter until May 31, 2020 as long as you remain an employee of Mohonk during this period of time. During the furlough period, your insurance premiums will be deducted from any paychecks that you receive from the company. Once you are no longer receiving paychecks from Mohonk Mountain House, the company will cover 100% of the employee portion of the health insurance premiums through May 31, 2020 to ensure that you will not have any interruptions in your health insurance coverage through May 31, 2020.

401k Benefits: Effective March 30, 2020, Mohonk Mountain House will suspend the employer match portion of 401k contributions, until further notice. If you are currently participating in the 401k plan, payroll deductions will continue as usual unless you make a change. If you want to suspend 401k contributions, this can be accomplished by emailing Paul Cunningham at pcunningham@mohonk.com. If payroll contributions are suspended, employees can renew their 401k contributions during future open enrollment periods, which are offered quarterly. For employees with outstanding 401k loans, contact Paul Cunningham at pcunningham@mohonk.com with questions regarding your loan repayment requirements.

Compensated Absence Time (Paid-Time Off): To offer you more financial assistance during this furlough period, Mohonk Mountain House will be paying out 50% of your total available compensated absence time showing in accruals as of March 30, 2020 in ADP. This will not be paid out in a lump sum but rather week by week. In other words, you may continue to receive paychecks from Mohonk Mountain House after the furlough period begins if you have paid-time off in your ADP accruals. Mohonk Mountain House will be deducting from employees’ time as follows:

For salaried (exempt) staff, we will pay out holidays first, then vacation days up to 50% of total accrued time. For full-time hourly staff, we will pay out holidays, then vacation, then personal/sick hours up to 50% of total accrued time. For part-time hourly staff, we will pay out 50% of personal/sick hours.

Please note: Effective March 30, 2020 for all furloughed staff, we are freezing accruals for compensated absence time (including holidays, vacation, and personal/sick hours). If your work anniversary or a company-recognized holiday occurs during the furlough period, your new balance of vacation and holiday time will not be added to your bank in ADP until you return to active employment status. When you return to active employment status, any unused compensated absence time will rollover to be used in the upcoming year if your paid-time off hours would have expired during the furlough period.

Unemployment Benefits: If you elect to apply for unemployment benefits during the furlough period, Mohonk Mountain House will not contest your application for unemployment benefits. Your eligibility for benefits will be determined by the New York State Department of Labor and not by Mohonk Mountain House. Visit the New York State Department of Labor website to apply for unemployment benefits.

Your Employment While On Furlough: While on furlough, you will remain an at-will employee of Mohonk Mountain House, meaning that either you or the company can end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. Nothing in this letter is intended to change your at-will employment status. Your seniority will not change as a result of being placed on temporary furlough. If you elect to terminate your employment before the end of the furlough period please notify Jon Levin at jlevin@mohonk.com as soon as possible so that we have adequate notice that you do not intend to return to work.

Contact Information: Please ensure that we have your current contact information in ADP including your personal email address so you will receive important updates. If your contact information changes during the furlough period, please make sure that it is up-to-date in your ADP profile.

These actions are based on the best information currently available to Mohonk’s management team. However, various factors still may affect our plans and you will be informed of any changes or as additional information becomes available.

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of this letter or any other matter relating to the furlough, please contact Jon Levin at jlevin@mohonk.com.

Sincerely,

Click here for the printable PDF version of this notice.