Service Industry Takes Huge Hit During Pandemic–FIU Students Aren’t Excluded

By: Laura Antunez / Staff Writer

As last week’s unemployment broke records, those in the service industry felt it the worst, experiencing unprecedented amounts of layoffs and furloughs; a side effect of the quarantine put in place to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

“I don’t know if I have to continue [working] or job hunt now,” said Camila Insuasti, FIU student and former phone operator for the St. Regis Hotel at Bal Harbour.

Insuasti had been a full-time employee for the hotel before they closed their doors this past Monday in lieu of the current ban on nonessential businesses.

“I’d been working there for five years, so as a loyal employee I felt livid,” said Insuasti.

She was swiftly giving temporary unemployment and asked to use her PTO hours to cover the days that she will not be working.

“I can apply for unemployment once I’m completely done with those [PTO] hours,” said Insuanti. 

Despite legally having the right to five disaster PTO days, Insuasti is apprehensive about using the rest of her PTO in case she returns to work and needs to use it in the future.

According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, of the 8 million jobs provided by the hotel industry, 4 million total are expected to be lost throughout the course of the pandemic. 

Last week‘s record-breaking unemployment rate was five times the previous record. 3.28 million individuals filed unemployment, compared to 695,000 in 1982.

BEACH industries, comprising Booking, Entertainment and Live Events, AIrlines, Cruises and Casinos and Hotels and Resorts are the ones who have been affected.

Over the past month, it is estimated that within the BEACH industries alone, stocks have seen a $332 billion reduction in value. 

Prior to the pandemic, FIU student Cristina Leon worked for Cruiseport Destinations, as well as Three Chefs and a Chicken.

“They had to lay off a lot of people so everyone’s out of a job right now including the people at the office because there’s nothing to do,” said Leon.

Due to travel restrictions, many ports are not allowing cruises to dock, forcing them to close down for about 30 days, according to Leon.

Freelance Human Resources consultant Angelica Kunstmann said there are ways to seek aid during the current surge of unemployment.

“Anybody that’s been laid off can file for unemployment,” said Kunstmann. “People can even apply to partial unemployment benefits if they have another job or if they’ve seen a reduction in their hours.”

Despite the detrimental effects the pandemic has had on the finances of students, many still live with their parents and will offer their hours to those with families.

“I’d rather other people work,” said Leon. “I know they struggle a lot with the pay they get so I know them cutting down their hours is a big deal for them.”

Many students will even reject offers to go into work to limit the exposure they receive, as well as limit the chances of them passing it on to anyone else.

“My job is to take care of others, I hope they would take care of me,” said Leon.