FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on businesses to support their staff during the outbreak of coronavirus.
Sturgeon condemned the actions of Britannia Hotels after it sacked staff at the Coylumbridge Hotel in Aviemore, leaving some without accommodation.
At a briefing on the virus on Friday, Sturgeon said: "I would unreservedly condemn the approach that was taken in the Aviemore case, that is not how we want employers to operate.
"I won't underestimate and don't want to downplay the difficulty that businesses and employers are in, but we've seen so many good examples, like Macdonald Hotels stepping in to offer accommodation to all effected by that.
"We want to be doing everything we can to support businesses, but in turn we need employers to support their workforce too."
READ MORE: Scottish Tourism Alliance boss 'speechless' as Aviemore hotel sacks staff
At the same briefing, Scottish Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the virus will "bring out the best of us, but also the worst of us", referring to some business practices.
She said the outbreak requires an "unprecedented economic response", adding she hopes to hear positive news from Chancellor Rishi Sunak on worker protection when he makes a statement later.
Hyslop said: "The prime issue now must be on people's health. Employers must allow their staff to follow medical advice, to isolate themselves or indeed as part of their households, and workers should not be pressured in any way to breach that advice.
"We have to put the public health aspect first and foremost."
READ MORE: Aviemore hotel sacks and evicts staff 'immediately' in virus crisis
Sturgeon said there are now 322 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Scotland, and there have been six deaths.
Hyslop said there needs to be "some kind of system" to protect staff during what is expected to be a significant downturn in productivity.
She added: "That's why we're looking forward to hearing what the UK Government has to say this afternoon in relation to keeping people in employment with some kind of income support.
"If everybody – workers, business and government – work together, that's part of that shared endeavour that will help us get through what is an unprecedented health crisis."
Referring to the Britannia Hotels, Hyslop said: "The experience that we're in just now will bring out the best in people and it will bring out the worst in people."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here