Kirkendoll Management announces temporary paid sick leave policy

NEW ORLEANS, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Announced this afternoon, New Orleans-based hospitality management company, Kirkendoll Management (KM), is enacting a temporary paid sick leave policy that grants up to two weeks of paid time off to all employees, including non-exempt hourly workers, who suspect they've contracted COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The spread of coronavirus is having destabilizing effects on the hospitality and service industries, which rely on hourly workers who are often not allocated paid sick days. KM's new policy is novel in that it is companywide and includes non-exempt hourly employees. "The last thing we want is for our nearly 500 employees to choose between financial security and social responsibility. If employees are sick, we want to provide them with every incentive to stay at home and not worry about being able to pay their bills," said Vice President Caroline Kirkendoll. "The most effective way of combating the pandemic is by encouraging people to self-quarantine, which is more likely if they can do so without missing a paycheck."

KM hopes to set an example for other businesses with their proactive steps to prevent the further spread of coronavirus in the communities in which they do business. "Most people don't realize that the restaurant industry is the second-largest private employer in the United States, providing a $2.4 trillion economic impact to our economy. 1 in 10 Americans works in the restaurant industry and depends on it for their livelihood. We as an industry must take care of all of our workers, especially our hourly paid workers," said CEO John Kirkendoll.

The company owns and operates the Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant chain, which includes four locations in the Southern United States and one in Aruba, as well as five gentlemen's clubs throughout Louisiana and Florida. For more information on KM, please visit http://www.kirkmgmt.com.

About Kirkendoll Management
Founded in 1987, Kirkendoll Management (KM) is a private, boutique hospitality management and investment company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company, distinguished by its ability to create the ultimate guest experience, owns and operates restaurants and nightclubs around the world. In addition to its standalone company-owned and operated businesses, Kirkendoll Management owns Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant and is the master licensor for PENTHOUSE-branded goods and services worldwide. For more information on Kirkendoll Management, please visit http://www.kirkmgmt.com.

SOURCE Kirkendoll Management