Former employee says he was ‘forced to resign’ over resort’s coronavirus response

A former employee at Plantation Resort in Surfside Beach says he was treated unfairly and “forced to resign” in July after he brought up concerns about how the establishment was treating the coronavirus spread.

Jeff Hart, 52, worked as a painter in the maintenance department at the resort, 1250 US-17 BUS in Surfside Beach, for more than two years. Employees in his department were potentially exposed to COVID-19 three times in June and July, Hart said, prompting him to question management.

“I was the brave one,” Hart said, adding that other employees told him they were concerned for their health but also about speaking up.

A spokesman for the resort declined to comment, saying he could not discuss individual employees’ cases.

After a guest tested positive for the virus, housekeeping staff was asked to go home and quarantine, but maintenance members who worked closely with housekeeping staff were kept at work, Hart said. Soon after, an employee told others he was exposed. Management sent him home to isolate, but no one who came in contact with him was told to leave work, Hart said.

Finally, a resort bus driver who transports members of the maintenance department was sent home after showing cold symptoms, Hart said. The maintenance members who rode with the bus driver were kept at work, Hart said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said transportation vehicles like shuttles could increase risk of transmission.

“It’s leaving fellow employees hanging and leaving the guests unprotected,” said Hart, who lives in Surfside Beach. “And that’s their bread and butter, the guests.”

After bringing up his worries at a staff meeting, he was met with “cold condescension,” Hart said. Several management employees dismissed his concerns, and a secretary responded by saying “We’re all gonna get COVID anyway,” Hart said. One employee told Hart he shouldn’t be worried because he could just as easily catch the virus at Walmart.

Hart then went to the resort’s human resources director, who referred him to the assistant general manager, Andy Wolfe, according to emails obtained by The Sun News and reviewed by a reporter.

Hart gave an ultimatum: The company needed to answer his questions about possible COVID-19 exposure, or he would resign.

As of Sunday, there have been more than 8,800 cases of the coronavirus in Horry County, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Hart said he feared for his health. He said he understands the company’s responsibility to protect its employees’ privacy, but the management should have conducted thorough contact tracing.

“I wasn’t looking to get specifics, I was looking to see if there was possible exposure. Should we quarantine ourselves or what?” Hart said. “If I couldn’t get an answer … I was feeling forced to resign for my health.”

The next day, Hart said he worked until the end of the day and was called into Wolfe’s office, who told him they would accept his resignation. Hart turned in his keys and resort radio and left, but continued to exchange emails with Wolfe asking whether he would be told if he was exposed to the virus.

“At this point I still have to investigate that, but you will not be privy to the results of that investigation,” Wolfe wrote to Hart in an email, saying Hart was “immediately hostile” toward the company when he brought up his concerns.

Wolfe wrote in his emails that the resort has adhered to CDC social distancing and mask guidelines, and sent employees home who have been exposed to the virus. The resort hasn’t seen any positive cases since early June, Wolfe wrote to Hart an email July 19.

In an email to The Sun News, Wolfe said he can’t answer questions about employees’ employment status or circumstances. He said the resort has been an “open and comfortable environment for all.”

When a positive test is reported, management notifies employees in all departments and allows anyone to take time off to get a test if they wish, Wolfe said. He said the resort allows anyone to bring up questions and concerns, but they can only reveal limited information in order to protect privacy.

Since leaving Plantation Resort, Hart said he’s been working odd jobs while trying to find a part-time job that will allow him to attend Coastal Carolina University. He’s felt the impacts of leaving the job, manifesting in distrust of business managers and financial struggles, he said.

“It’s just me and my wife, however, we need both incomes to survive,” Hart said.

This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 6:00 AM.